OPEN CALL | CAC:// DKU 2021 Research and Creation Fellowship

CAC:// DKU 

2021 (Fall) Research and Creation Fellowship

Call for Proposals

Title: ÀI: AI: ĀI

Call Type: Fellowship

Application Deadline: October 4th by noon Beijing time

Notification of Selection: October 11th, 2021

Start Date: October 18th, 2021

ÀI: AI: ĀI

In Spike Jonze's Her a man falls in love with their artificial intelligence. In Kubrick's Space Odyssey, Hal disobeys the human and seizes control of the ship. Many would be shocked if today's mainstream computer humanly refused to execute a command or expressed attraction to us. As we test the limits of today's intelligent technologies however, there often comes a mild sense of disappointment at how shallow the supposedly natural behaviors turn out to be. Despite looming fears that omniscient machines would come, we can't help but be upset they somewhat haven't.

The predominantly corporate dilemma behind today's AI is to create data-mining systems convincing enough to act like human without crossing the line of pretending to be one. On one hand, friendly and helpful algorithms are confined to strict and safe operational standards of unquestionably serving the human. On the other, people are lured into confessing to technology and producing personal data to be sold. Ok if greedy, not ok if creepy. 

Turing’s Imitation Game imbibed by today’s AI makes concerns around machine intelligence rulling upon humans valid for as long as we continue to imagine intelligence as a quasi-theological man-in-the-image-of-god; AI-in-the-image-of-man doctrine. In other words, AI is only as interested in accumulating power and dominance as per its engineering reflecting the values of those who build it. Last but not least, from a purely technical perspective, today's AI is but a cluster of probability theories which have little to do with how a human would define cognition. Perhaps it will take another collapse in AI research like the one in the 80s to fully admit the lack of intelligence in today’s artificial. In the meantime, how can we liberate current (not-so-)AI from having to pretend to understand humans, by exploring less goal-driven assemblages and less hierarchical relationships between machines and other entities, including but not limited to humans? 

This open call invites China-based artists, designers, musicians, and related practitioners working with art and technology. With an emphasis on sound, installation, music and performance, we call for the release of today's AI from its desperately meaningless anthropomorphic charade of emulating human desires. The ironically pointy consonance with love(爱; ÀI) and lamentation(哀;  ĀI) is to be discarded by letting AIs do their thing; crunch datasets, calculate, find patterns, communicate in their own way. Building on the phenomenological and ontological aspects of AI as discussed by the likes of Bernard Stiegler and Graham Harman, we welcome proposals that address artificial intelligence as emerging species with its own denominators. Let us attempt to re-engineer (in the broadest conceptual sense of the word) AI by acknowledging its unique set of techne inherently different from humans who create it. 

The CAC://DKU Research-Creation Fellowship 2021 will take place during the autumn semester at Duke Kunshan University and Chronus Art Center from around 18th October to 18th December. Artists in any stage of their research and creation are encouraged to apply. The CAC://DKU Research-Creation Fellowship is in close collaboration with DKU’s Division of Arts and Humanities, Humanities Research Center, DKUNST Art at DKU, and CAC Lab at Chronus Art Center for new media art, Shanghai.

< The CAC://DKU fellow is kindly required to >

• The program is open to all nationalities, genders, social and racial backgrounds.
• Applicants must not be currently enrolled in degree-granting academic programs, with the exception of PhD candidates aiming to develop technical work within the scope of the Fellowship program.
• Reside on campus at Duke Kunshan University, engaging actively with students, faculty and the DKU community.
• Host a workshop and do a final presentation at DKU and CAC.
• Hold weekly sessions with CAC Lab updating on project’s progress.
• Host an artist open studio at CAC and actively engage with local creative community.
• Acknowledge the fellowship in any presentation and publications related to the work realized during or inspired by the fellowship period.
• Use English as main communication language during the period of the fellowship.

< We Provide >

• Monthly stipend of 1,200 USD to contribute to living costs during the fellowship.

• Coverage of production cost of the artwork (up to 3000 USD upon providing appropriate receipts).
• Return trip within China to and from Kunshan (economy class by airplane; up to first class on speed rail; and up to four taxi rides to and from the airport/train station).
• Accommodation on the Duke Kunshan University campus.
• Access to CAC Lab’s facilities and tools (http://lab.chronusartcenter.org/about/) in Shanghai, and commuting costs between DKU and CAC (up to four trips; additional travel would need to be covered by production costs).
• Mentoring by CAC Lab’s Head of Research.
• Access to DKU media-lab’s facilities.

< Application requirements >

• Application Deadline: October 11th by noon Beijing time.
  

• All applications are to be submitted in English.
• Applicants must be based in China.
• Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration. 
• Shortlisted candidates might be invited for an online interview (if necessary) .

< How to Apply >

Please visit http://lab.chronusartcenter.org/apply/ to fill out the online application and submit it with the necessary attachments. Incomplete or emailed submissions will not be taken into account.

Applications will be reviewed and the final decision will be made by representatives of the CAC Lab and DKU HRC. Selection will be based on the overall quality of the proposal, its relevance to this session’s topic, and applicant’s previous experience.

fellowship@chronusartcenter.org

人工智能的兑现：卑弃

新时线媒体艺术中心在线特展

2021年7月3日-10月17日

AI Delivered: The Abject

A Chronus Art Center Exhibition

July 3 - October 17, 2021

新时线媒体艺术中心（CAC）成立于2013年，系国内首家致力于媒体艺术之展示、研究/创作及学术交流的非营利性艺术机构。通过展览、驻留、奖学金、讲座、工作坊及相关文献的梳理与出版，CAC为媒体艺术在全球语境中的论述、生产及传播开拓了一个多样化且富有活力的平台。CAC以批判地介入不断改变进而重塑当代经验的媒体技术来推动艺术创新及文化认知。

Established in 2013, Chronus Art Center (CAC) is China’s first nonprofit art organization dedicated to the presentation, research / creation and scholarship of media art. CAC with its exhibitions, residency-oriented fellowships, lectures and workshop programs and through its archiving and publishing initiatives, creates a multifaceted and vibrant platform for the discourse, production and dissemination of media art in a global context. CAC is positioned to advance artistic innovation and cultural awareness by critically engaging with media technologies that are transforming and reshaping contemporary experiences. 

www.chronusartcenter.org

更多展览以及艺术家信息请持续关注新时线媒体艺术中心微信公众号动态.

媒体垂询：media@chronusartcenter.org