What is it about?

"Fusion: Landscape and Beyond 2.0" is an interactive installation that dynamically blends urban cityscapes with traditional Chinese landscapes, influenced by AI's evolving understanding of our world. As viewers traverse the exhibit, their movements trigger real-time changes in the digital landscape, stimulating discussions about human, AI, and our shared ecological balance.

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Why is it important?

“Fusion: Landscape and Beyond 2.0” (2023) is an interactive art installation harnessing the potential of AI to redefine our relationship with urban and natural landscapes. Central to the concept of the installation is the synthetic memory, which dynamically adapts and responds to myriads of instructions, and in turn, influences our understanding of the environment. The installation offers an immersive experience where viewers play an active role. As participants traverse the exhibit, their movements act as triggers, instigating a real-time transformation of the AI-generated landscape. This interactivity reveals layers of cityscapes and landscapes, serving as a visualization of AI's evolving memory and its interpretation of our environment. The aesthetics of traditional Chinese landscape painting are deliberately incorporated to reinforce our discourse on ecological balance. The Chinese philosophies of nature entice us to embrace a worldview that deeply values the harmonious coexistence of humanity and the natural world. The relationship being sought is one characterized by compatibility, participation, and interconnectedness. Using the traditional Chinese brushwork technique, Cun, we have devised a model that fuses AI's textual interpretation of city aesthetics with traditional brushstrokes. This integration results in a unique visual calligram that blurs the boundaries between physical and digital experiences. The workflow of this project involves the use of a self-fine-tuned Stable Diffusion model and real-time visualization system. The system continuously synthesizes Chinese city images that echo our real-world urban experiences. These city images then metamorphose into an artificial nature imbued with the aesthetics of Chinese landscape painting, creating a visual poem or calligram. In the end, the installation not only blurs the lines between AI and human cognition but also emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between humans, AI, and the world we inhabit. This project harnesses AI to echo our collective consciousness, weaving a narrative of co-existence within our shared world.

Perspectives

"Fusion: Landscape and Beyond 2.0" is a transdisciplinary exploration of how artificial intelligence (AI) and cultural memory intersect to redefine our understanding of urban and natural landscapes. Amid these unruly times, the installation forms a bridge between the historical time of traditional Chinese aesthetics and the rapidly shifting digital time of AI. By implementing cutting-edge AI text-to-image generative algorithms in real-time visualization and interactive experience, the installation stands at the forefront of the creative practice. By harnessing AI's ability to interpret and reproduce cultural aesthetics, the installation presents a journey of “AI memory” through ever-changing landscapes. It provides an immersive, interactive experience that urges participants to engage with the turbulence of our times by confronting the impact of urbanization and the increasing estrangement between humans and nature. The work speaks to the theme, In Unruly Time. It tackles the dichotomy of our existence in the disorder of rapid urban expansion and the yearning to return to the tranquility of nature, highlighting the climate crisis and our disruptive impact on natural ecosystems. The interactive design, which uses infrared imagery to symbolize human intrusion into nature, serves as a reflection of these turbulent times. The visually captivating infrared light not only signals the fragile balance between humanity and nature, but also brings attention to the disruptive and often destructive impact that humanity has exerted upon fragile ecosystems. Crucially, through its multifaceted narrative and compelling visual language, this installation seeks to spur conversation around sustainable practices in our relationship with the environment. It promotes a kinder, more respectful interaction with nature, while also inspiring a dialogue on the potential of AI as a tool for preserving memory embedded in landscapes and fostering creativity.

Mingyong Cheng

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This page is a summary of: Fusion: Landscape and Beyond 2.0: An interactive AI generated art installation, December 2023, ACM (Association for Computing Machinery),
DOI: 10.1145/3610537.3622954.
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