Aug 28

Aug 28 Sougwen Chung: GENESIS Exhibition

In her Munich exhibition, GENESIS, Sougwen Chung offers an incisive look at the intersection of art and robotics, questioning the role of technology in creative practice. The exhibition spans four major works, each probing different aspects of the human-machine relationship and redefining what it means to create in collaboration with intelligent systems.

The journey begins with GENESIS: Stage I, an installation that sets the conceptual tone for the exhibition. Through a combination of process film, sculpture, and organic forms, Chung introduces the audience to the central themes of their work. This piece is both an origin story and a meditation on the evolving dialogue between human and machine.

BODY MACHINE follows with a series of eight digital works that debut in 2024. Here, Chung extends their exploration into the digital realm, where the lines between human creativity and machine intelligence become increasingly fluid. These works are not merely digital artifacts but are reflections on how technology shapes, and is shaped by, the creative process.

The third piece, SPECTRAL, shifts the focus to physical collaboration. This kinetic robotic installation involves a robotic arm that engages in the act of painting alongside the artist. The resulting work is as much about the interaction between human and machine as it is about the final image on the canvas. The piece is a testament to Chung’s belief that machines can be more than tools—they can be partners in the creative process.

The exhibition concludes with ASSEMBLY LINES: Expanse [extending], a performance film that draws on the stark beauty of Finland’s landscape to explore themes of creation and collaboration. Filmed in 2022, this work reflects on the human condition in a world where technology plays an ever-increasing role in shaping our experiences and our art.

GENESIS is a powerful exploration of the future of creativity. Sougwen Chung’s work challenges us to reconsider our assumptions about technology, pushing us to see machines not as mere extensions of ourselves but as collaborators in the artistic process. This exhibition is a bold statement on the potential of art in the digital age.