Jiayang Li's artistic direction seamlessly blends posthumanism with digital art, aiming to depict a novel tableau of symbiosis between humanity and the environment. Her works transcend traditional boundaries, employing artificial intelligence, textual creation, and visual expression to present a distinctive form of speculative art. Through the enchanting fusion of digital media, the intention is to challenge the audience's conventional perceptions of art and the future, guiding contemplation on the profound relationship between humans, technology, and nature. This interdisciplinary creation is not merely an experiment but a relentless pursuit of uncharted territories, aspiring to prompt viewers to contemplate the possibilities of the new era.
Jiayang Li (Jaya) Graduated from China National Academy of Art (Beijing, China) with a Master's Degree, studied at Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts (Tianjin, China) with a Bachelor's Degree, and now lives and works in Beijing.
Contact: [email protected]
Gaia ™
2023
"Gaia™" is an imaginative exploration encapsulated in the form of a fictitious scientific journal. The project unfolds by reporting and tracking the states of organisms after the extension of their organs, offering a diverse spectrum of imaginings about the symbiotic relationship between humanity and nature. This edition of "Gaia™" focuses on the reproductive system as a pivotal point of dialogue, serving as a bridge between humanity and the natural world.
The choice of the reproductive system as the nexus is intentional. It stands as the foundation for all life, a key driver of biodiversity, an evolutionary force, and the most fundamental means of transmitting the essence of life. The artist extends the reproductive systems and integrates various reproductive morphologies from diverse organisms to present a concept of "universal life force." Through this process, humans acquire the genes of nature, and in turn, nature assimilates the genes of humanity.
Nomad, Blender, 3D print，monitor, desk, AI, copperplate, ferns, microscope, egg cells, etc.
In terms of presentation, the artist has established an editorial office for the fictional science magazine "Gaia™", objectively embodying the role of an "editor" crafting narratives for each reproductive form. With a scientific approach, they envision a dialogue between these forms and nature, aiming to infuse the artwork with an unquestionable sense of fictional "authenticity." The artist hopes for prospective "editors" to join in, collectively redefining humanity and unveiling the inherent symbiotic relationship of peace between nature and humans.
The "Gaia™" journal is committed to ongoing creation and writing to build comprehensive authenticity.
Organism
2022
“Organism” is a metaphorical exploration of the essence of life material and its countless cycles. However, the life material it refers to transcends human beings; it encompasses all things through which energy flows and inert substances that gain life through the influence of pollution. Various changes occur within it due to the interactions between the various components of organisms.
The artwork portrays a multifaceted transformation facilitated by the interplay between different components. A lawn made up of circuit boards sprouts mushrooms, suggesting that circuit boards are rich in bacteria and nutrients, capable of sustaining life. This capacity may no longer be limited to providing electricity but could extend to providing life itself. This paradoxical growth and substitution signify the extension of life. The fine wires on the circuit board represent our capillaries, while the thicker wires symbolize arteries. The freshly grown mushrooms may also symbolize a fresh beginning for humanity.
“Organism” challenges conventional notions of life and existence, blurring the boundaries between organic and synthetic, animate and inanimate. It suggests that everything, even the seemingly nonexistent or forgotten, can become a fundamental component of our everyday existence.
AI, soil, mushrooms, circuit boards, wires, glass covers
The Forbidden Fruit
2021
"The Forbidden Fruit" is a conceptual art piece that delves into the intersection of artificial intelligence and taboo literature, akin to a retelling of a piece of erotica through the lens of an unsophisticated AI. Through a multifaceted presentation involving sound and textual display, the artwork explores themes of innocence, curiosity, and the allure of forbidden knowledge.
At the core of the installation lies a recitation of excerpts from a pornographic novel by an AI system. However, the AI, akin to a naive child, mechanically processes the text without understanding its deeper implications, much like adhering to religious dogma. This process unfolds as the AI "tastes" the forbidden fruit, symbolized by the ubiquitous apple, which conceals certain truths while igniting a strong desire to comprehend the full extent of human nature's complexities.
The code of the AI's computational process is audibly and visually presented, reminiscent of a recitation from sacred scripture. Despite the absence of explicit language, the mechanical voice and script evoke an atmosphere that transcends the salacious content, leaving viewers with a sense of ambiguity and intrigue. As spectators engage with the "scriptures," browsing through strings of code and observing ambiguous yet compelling imagery, they partake in a paradoxical visual and auditory experience, akin to participating in a sermon or ritual. "The Forbidden Fruit: A Mechanical Recitation" thus serves as an experimental exploration of conflicting visual perceptions, inviting contemplation on the intersection of technology, morality, and human desire.
AI, Display, Imaging, Book, Apple
Genesis Nexus
2021
"Genesis Nexus" is an avant-garde exploration that intertwines the principles of stem cell division and differentiation with computational learning. The process commences with an initial human stem cell subjected to computational analysis of its division and synthesis. Through deliberate interventions, over two hundred unprecedented cell morphologies are induced, diverging from conventional human cellular forms. The subsequent phase involves the systematic arrangement and combination of these two hundred distinct cell types. Employing the fusion of existing organ morphologies as a training mechanism, a potential organ repository emerges, reflecting the amalgamation of artificial and natural design elements. Guided by this organ repository, the transformed organs are then artistically reconstructed to manifest various embodiments of the "Genesis Nexus." This metamorphic entity, akin to a hyper-being, encapsulates the essence of the project — a testament to the symbiosis of cutting-edge science, computational learning, and artistic expression. "Genesis Nexus" challenges conventional perceptions of the human form, presenting an innovative narrative on the convergence of biological and artificial realms in the creation of a transcendent entity.
AI, Art Microblast
