Beyond the Singularity the Finale Exhibition of ARTS • TECH Exhibition 2.0

Exploring AI’s impact and potential in the art world

From 16 March to 7 April 2024 Free Admission

The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) proudly presents Beyond the Singularity, the highly anticipated final exhibition of ARTS • TECH Exhibition 2.0. Curated by Isaac Leung, Beyond the Singularity is the first of its kind, Hong Kong’s premier AI-themed exhibition that delves into the profound impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on human existence and artistic expression, constructing a journey through dynamic landscapes and dialogue to probe its ever-evolving potentiality. Running from 16 March to 7 April 2024, Beyond the Singularity will be presented at the SHOWCASE of HKADC in Wong Chuk Hang.

Inspired by the metamorphic term “singularity” – which at its advent described the infinite density and gravity of a black hole’s centre – and expanded to denote a future where AI surpasses human cognition, Beyond the Singularity aspires to establish a benchmark in the use of AI technology while raising thought-provoking questions about the role and significance of humanity in the context of the advancing integration of intelligent machine within the realm of art.

Engaging artists from across disciplines, Beyond the Singularity showcases a variety of art objects crafted in collaboration with AI tools, spanning mediums including ink art, western painting, photography, music, lyric writing, performance and arts criticism.

Adopting a process-oriented approach, the project introduces AI tools to creatives through workshops, months-long tutorials and instruction from AI experts – encouraging them to incorporate technology where they haven’t before. Throughout this process, participating artists are empowered to discover how AI technology can push the boundaries of their work and compel them to contemplate the limits of language, AI’s influence on culture, the blurring line between reality and artificiality, authorship, free will, human-machine collaboration, originality in art and AI’s inherent limitations.

Isaac Leung, Curator of Beyond the Singularity, said “Probing the condition of art in the 21^st century, this exhibition stands witness to a fascinating convergence: where the role of artist, AI expert, and intelligent machine become one and the same – intertwining to disrupt conventional boundaries in the art world. This collaboration destabilises our understanding of authorship, reshapes artistic methods, and ultimately obscures humanity’s function in art production.

Ms Winsome Chow, Chief Executive of HKADC, said “The advent of technology brings infinite possibilities for artistic creation. Themed as AI, Beyond the Singularityencourages artists to explore the intersections and sparks the interaction of arts and technology, introducing novel arts experiences to the audience.  We hope the exhibition locating at the SHOWCASE, our brand new arts space in Wong Chuk Hang, will bring arts tech into the community, reaching out to the general public.”

Participating artists from different generations and arts genres include Kurt Chan Yuk-keung, Chow Yiu-fai, Chui Pui-chee, Mak2, So Hing-keung, Phoebe Wong, Stephen Wong Chun-hei, David Chan and Kingston Lo, Frog King & Frog Queen (Kwok Mang-ho & Cho Hyun-jae), and Virtue Village.

Exhibition highlights: Challenging AI: The Paintings of Chui Pui Chee by Chui Pui-chee presents a unique confrontation between AI and artist that examines how AI can ‘compete’ to capture and perhaps even surpass the celebrated styles and techniques of historical figures in ink art; Between Reality and AI by So Hing-keung employs AI to artistically transform photographs into paintings – mimicking the style of greats like da Vinci, Botticelli, and Caravaggio in generated paintings of Hong Kong; My Drawing Teacher by Wong Chun-hei trains an AI on the artist’s personal diary entries, processing the data in order to instruct the artist to create a series of paintings; Frog AI Topia 2024 by Frog King & Frog Queen blends elements of AI-generated art into a mixed-media artistic production, treating AI as a collaborator rather than simply a tool.

Over the course of the exhibition, HKADC will host a wide range of public programmes and educational events that explore the complexities of AI tools and their potential impact on humanity. These events include workshops, artist talks and guided tours. Interested parties can register online for free to experience the unique work of the artists.

ARTS‧TECH Exhibition 2.0 information is available on the official website: https://arts-tech.hk/

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