Alternative Realities: “Protect me from what I want” is a physical installation and an immersive experience. It is an ongoing conversation between the artist and participants that explores generative narratives of race, identity, and privilege in the Asian American community. This project interrogates our relationship with technology by using computer predictions as an extension to control our own futures. We tend to make decisions based on a vision of our own future. What happens when these visions differ or never come to fruition? The artist uses the model GPT-2 and trained it using transcripts of narratives about Asian American identities to generate alternative realities and possible futures. While this is an attempt by the artist to control her own future using technology, this is also a speculative, existential, and critical piece about the pervasive power and limitations of technology.
I want to engage with members of the Asian American community to better understand how diverse generational experiences affect the futures that we envision for ourselves. Asian American stories are not monolithic and span across hundreds of years of history in the US and multiple generations. Stories of intergenerational trauma come with emigration, guilt, shame, persistence, feelings of assimilation, as well as a desire to follow this notion of the American Dream.
We're hoping that many efforts and discussions will continue after Mozfest. Share any ideas you already have for how to continue the work from your session.:I want to engage with the Asian American community and work on a continuation of this research, participatory piece and create other generative narratives and add to my original collection of work.
How will you deal with varying numbers of participants in your session?:30 attendees - break out room discussions?
3 attendees - intimate discussion
Shirley is a multimedia artist, interdisciplinary designer and occasional gem hunter.
Her current work explores speculative futures in Asian American narratives through the use of machine learning and AI.