Wu Chi-Yu 吳其育 » The Mountain Algorithms | AUG 2024

The Mountain Algorithms | AUG 2024

 

The Mountain Algorithms attempts to unfold the physical dimensions of time and geography, juxtaposing the wisdom of nature with artificial intelligence to create several compasses for understanding future ecological thinking and practices. The exhibition endeavors to redefine “ecological art” by examining how we can enhance and expand our sensory awareness, create organic processes and cooperative uses between natural and artificial technologies, and place greater emphasis on spiritual and cultural ecological thinking. It also explores learning different rhythms and metabolic schemes, building ecological communities, cycles, and relationships, and how art can navigate the complex, unstable, and seemingly disintegrating network relationships to transform ecology into an alliance, a culture, and a force. Artists from Asia and Latin America propose various methodologies that lean towards ecofeminism—questioning the multiple domination of nature by anthropocentrism and capitalism. This deliberate sampling allows us to consciously reflect on the historical processes and environmental changes from various uneven decolonization contexts, presenting plural and diverse worldviews.

 

Exhibition date|2024.8.17-2024.11.24
Exhibition Venue|Gallery 104, 105

 

Curators|Esther Lu, Carolina Castro Jorquera

 

Participating Artists|Fernanda Barreto, Tania Candiani, Patricia Domínguez, Huang Ding Yun, Rngrang Hungul, Ya-Chu Kang, Chitti Kasemkitvatana, Nicole L’Huillier, lololol, Luo Jr-Shin, Rice Brewing Sisters Club, Oscar Santillán, Angela Su, Su Yu Hsin, Henry Tan, Constanza Alarcón Tennen, Wang Yung-An, Jason Wee, Wu Chi-Yu

 


 

Wu Chi-Yu
Stories of Celluloid: Terra Nullius Data
Single-channel video, 8mm and AI-generated, 12’30”, with document archive, 2024

 

Stories of Celluloid: Terra Nullius Data is an essay film in four chapters that explores the evolving relationship between media history, technology, and the natural world in the age of AI image generation. This chapter, Terra Nullius Data, expresses the lost nostalgia and connection for the natural environment from a digitally native perspective. In the 20th century during the Japanese colonial period, Taiwan’s camphor tree industry thrived as camphor was an essential ingredient in celluloid which was used to make film. Once synthetic camphor was invented, demand for the raw material and thus the camphor forestry industry both declined. Today’s media development trends are transitioning from analog to digital and further propelled by AI technology. When looking back raises the question: where will our relationship with nature be headed next? This project examines the intricate connection between Taiwan’s forests and international media theory. The Mountain Algorithms exhibition debuts this one chapter from Stories of Celluloid and several accompanying archival documents, demonstrating the generative digital forest and the data dynamics behind the imagery.