With the recent rapid advancements of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we are led to imagine a near future through its domination. Commissioned by Videotage and supported by Hong Kong Arts Development Council, The Arcana Intelligent (2023) concludes a 6-month research by artist Liao Jiaming. It creates an experience of “divination”, combining elements of various religion, meditation, occultism, and ritual, that employs AI algorithms developed from different eras. It is an attempt to subvert current relationships between human users and computational algorithms in most AI applications. The art of divination may not simply be interpreted by the omniscient, it provides access to the inquirer’s subconscious. AI becomes a conjugate of scientific and spiritual medium, and therefore positioned beyond the divine and secular.
*The meaning of “Arcana” comes from the terms “major arcana” and “minor arcana” in tarot card reading. Arcana is the mystery sought by the alchemists of the Middle Ages, and the principle of the world.
From 11 to 29 April 2023, you will be able to experience this unique divination powered by AI at 9/F H Queen’s, alongside HART’s exhibition “Postmodern Tales”.
Special Events
Opening Reception & Performance – 11 April 2023 (Tue) 5–8pm
During the Opening Reception, artist Liao Jiaming will perform a special ritual to initiate the “arcana”. Following that, a card reading specialist will help your private session.Artist Sharing – 29 April 2023 (Sat) 2–3pm
The project will end on 29 April 2023 with an Artist Talk by Liao Jiaming (2–3pm) to conclude his 6-month research on the topic of AI, commissioned by Videotage. During this event (2–5pm), a card reading specialist will be also be present to read your cards.The talk will be facilitated in English.
近期人工智能（Artificial Intelligence，AI）急速發展，引領我們持著AI主導來想像未來快將來到。由錄影太奇Videotage委託和香港藝術發展局資助，《萬試萬靈》（2023年）是藝術家廖家明六個月的研究成果。作品創造了一種集合宗教、冥想、神秘主義和儀式等元素的「占卜」體驗。該作品綜合採用不同時代開發的AI算法，試圖顛覆目前大多數AI應用中人類使用者和電腦算法之間的關係。占卜的魅力也許不是可以得到全知者的提點，而是得以通往問卜者自身的潛意識。AI在此成為科學和精神媒介的結合體，因而也被置於神性和世俗之外。
*英文作品標題之「arcana」來自塔羅牌占卜中的「大秘儀 major arcana」和「小秘儀 minor arcana」。Arcana為中古世紀煉金術師所追尋的奧秘，天地萬物運行的道理。
在2023年4月11至29日期間，你可在H Queen’s 九樓「後現代小傳」展覽中體驗AI占卜。
特別節目
開幕及表演 – 4月11日（二）下午5時至8時
開幕活動中，藝術家廖家明將以特別儀式啟動這一「聖物」。另外，占卜師會在場特意為你「解牌」。藝術家分享 – 4月29日（六）下午2至3時
「後現代小傳」展覽結束當天，藝術家廖家明將於下午2至3時分享他在過去六個月中由錄影太奇委任以AI為主題的研究成果。屆時下午2至5時，現場也會有占卜師為你「解牌」。藝術家分享將以英語進行。
About the Artist 藝術家簡介
Liao Jiaming (b. 1992, Guangdong, China) obtained his BA in Journalism from Sun Yat-sen University in 2016, and his MFA in Creative Media from City University of Hong Kong in 2019. Starting from images, Liao’s creative practice expands to different media including photography, video, installation, and etc. His works usually focus on the topics of urban life, minority groups and living space, questioning the relation between the real and the virtual, as well as the subject and the object.
Liao’s works have been extensively exhibited at solo exhibition “Myth Makers - Spectrosynthesis III” (Tai Kwun Contemporary, Hong Kong, 2022); “Till Love Do Us Part” (RNH Space, Hong Kong, 2021) and “Too Good to Be True” (HKIPF Satellite Exhibition, JCCAC, Hong Kong, 2021); and group exhibitions in Hong Kong, Shanghai, London, Zurich and other cities. Recently, he has participated in organising and exhibiting at ”Gay Games Hong Kong 2022” (Hong Kong Art Centre). He now lives and works in Hong Kong.
廖家明 1992 年出生於中國廣東。2016 年，他從中山大學畢業并取得新聞學文學學士學位；2019 年，他從香港城市大學畢業并取得創意媒體藝術碩士學位。他以圖像為創作基礎，并以此延伸至攝影、錄像、裝置等媒介。他關注都市生活、少數群體及生存空間等議題，以作品質疑網絡和信息世代中現實與虛擬、主體和客體的關係和連結。他的作品曾於香港、上海、倫敦及蘇黎世等城市展出或放映。廖氏現於香港生活及工作。