A visual exploration of future AI

Research-based new media artist Yiyun Kang returned to Seoul Design 2024 with the thematic exhibition, LIGHT ARCHITECTURE. Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and organized by the Seoul Design Foundation, this prestigious design festival unfolded from October 17th to 27th at the iconic DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza), a landmark and representative MICE facility in Korea. With the overarching theme of “/Imagine Tomorrow,” the event aimed to envision an optimistic future for the design industry. The renowned artist who has already held four exhibitions at DDP, contributed to this vision with her latest artistic experimentation.

Globally recognized for her innovative works, Yiyun Kang is also a professor at ID KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), the first science and technology university, established in 1971, and the first Industrial Design department within a college of engineering in Korea. Her recent achievements include participation in Decoding Korea, a media art exhibition at the Grand Palais immersif during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Additionally, she collaborated with Google Arts & Culture and NASA to create ‘Passage of Water,’ an interactive digital experience concentrated on global freshwater resources, last year.

LIGHT ARCHITECTURE, curated by Dae-hyung Lee of Hzone, a prominent curator of influential art projects like CONNECT, BTS, was brought to life with the technical expertise of C2 Artechnolozy. DDP, celebrating its 10th anniversary, provided the perfect backdrop for this large-scale installation. The exhibition was housed in Art Hall 2, a unique space characterized by its soaring 10 to 15.5-meter ceilings, 1,547 square meter area, and distinctive, pillar-less, all-white interior—a testament to Zaha Hadid’s architectural vision. It was within this inspiring setting that I had the opportunity to meet with artist Yiyun Kang.

A thematic exhibition is a place to ask questions rather than find answers. What questions did you ask yourself for this project? 

Yiyun Kang:

“As AI technology advances, we are faced with profound questions: Will it illuminate our future with groundbreaking innovations and solutions to global challenges? Or will it cast a shadow? Can humanity and AI coexist harmoniously? If so, what will it look like? … Through extensive research, I focused on this central question: “What will the future AI look like as it evolves alongside humanity?”

It took about 10 months of hard work to make it public. Please introduce the artwork. 

Yiyun Kang:

“In the realm of AI, neurons form intricate networks through which data flows. The underlying ‘architecture’ of these networks significantly influences the output. While we often center solely on the results produced by AI, I sought to explore the complicated processes that lead to these outcomes. Given the enigmatic nature of AI architecture, referred to as a ‘black box,’ I aimed to demystify this process and envision the future of AI.

To achieve this, I installed 24 Neuron Kinetic Light Modules on the exhibition floor. Each aluminum module, resembling a human figure, represented a neuron, the fundamental unit of a computer. These neurons rotated, interacted, and radiated light, creating mesmerizing patterns. The use of light as a medium was deeply symbolic, as it has been intertwined with human history and represented the concepts of intelligence and progress. By extending from the floor to the ceiling, the light installation mirrored the expansive essence of AI. An auditory experience accompanied the visual spectacle, with 12 speakers playing a collection of sounds from the digital world, including the keyboard and the data center. This immersive environment aimed to evoke a sense of being part of a vast neural network, highlighting our role as both data subjects and active participants in the AI era.”

When we turn our gaze to the ceiling, a video is projected on a huge square installation.

Yiyun Kang:

“Suspending a 6.8-ton, multi-dimensional, large-scale installation within 72 hours was a formidable task. This power source, akin to an umbilical cord, was essential for the aforementioned neurons. Projected onto a transparent screen, a video depicted human figures fragmenting and morphing into otherworldly, tentacle-like, or foxtail-like forms, symbolizing the dehumanizing potential of our data-driven society. In an era of pervasive data collection and utilization, I tried to convey a clear message: humans should never be reduced to mere hosts for supplying data.”

To what extent was AI technology employed in this work’s design process?

Yiyun Kang:

“While it is impossible to completely avoid using AI-optimized software when using computers, completing the work was a unique creative process. Generation by AI can’t be the same as being created by humans. What I mean is AI cannot replace the capabilities of human creativity and ingenuity.”

What is the last thing you would like to emphasize?

Yiyun Kang:

“The complexity of AI models presents significant challenges to understanding their inner workings and operating mechanisms, even for AI developers. As AI advances at an unprecedented pace, our ability to comprehend and control its development lags behind. This disparity raises concerns about the potential alienation of human beings and the increasing distance between human and AI co-evolution. I hope to spark a dialogue about a future where humans and AI can coexist harmoniously.”