Ying Miao (MFA 2009) Film at the Asia Society Museum in New York
A film by Miao Ying (MFA Electronic Integrated Arts 2009) is featured in the exhibition Mirror Image: A Transformation of Chinese Identity on view at the Asia Society Museum in New York through August 15
A film by Miao Ying (MFA Electronic Integrated Arts 2009) is featured in the exhibition Mirror Image: A Transformation of Chinese Identity on view at the Asia Society Museum in New York through August 15.
The film, “Surplus Intelligence” is a quest style romance story that was written by Artificial Intelligence, simulated on a game engine, and directed by the artist in 2021-2022. Using Machine Learning Text Generation Neural Networks and Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3, the artist trained the AI to study different styles of writing, including behavioral psychologist, B. F. Skinner’s utopia novel, “Walden Two''; the most popular Chinese online novel style “ 霸道总裁体 ”/ soft-core sadomasochistic cinderella story depicting a domineering boss; opposing ideological theories; and bible stories. The artist was able to develop a quest style romantic story between a citizen roach and an AI, who is monitoring her behavior. Taking place in a medieval magical fantasy land—Walden XII, is where a medieval papal indulgence system is used with digital bitcoin. In a structure similar to that of the medieval church, Walden XII is entitled to explain the ideological doctrine to its people and has implemented the technology to enforce citizen behavior, collect big data from its citizens, then rewards or punishes them according to their behavior score.
The exhibition presents artworks by seven artists, born in mainland China in the 1980s. As stated on the Museum website: "Belonging to what is referred to as the ba ling hou generation, they grew up in a post-Mao China shaped by the one-child policy and the influx of foreign investment. Comprising painting, sculpture, performance, installation, video, digital art, and photography, the exhibition reflects the dramatic economic, political, and cultural shifts the artists have experienced in China during their lifetimes.
The exhibition’s title, Mirror Image, refers to the double reflection at the heart of the exhibition. Rather than emphasizing their “Chinese-ness,” these artists’ respective practices are born of a contemporary China where Starbucks can be found in the Forbidden City and the internet permits them access—despite the obstacles of censorship—to a host of influences beyond geographical boundaries."
The work is on view at the 725 Park Ave, New York museum through August 15.