Tears of the Sky
The moment before the ending of thousands of civilizations? Or a fleeting delusional thought of destruction?
This short film is a poetic meditation on the cyclical nature of existence, the impermanence of life, and the enduring legacy of civilizations. Set against the serene backdrop of a timeless lake, the narrative follows the dramatic approach of a meteor, which slows to a graceful descent in its final moments. This celestial event reflects ancient practices of sky observation, where scholars sought omens to predict the fate of empires and the fortunes of humankind.
The film captures the profound connection between humanity and the cosmos, using the meteor’s approach as a metaphor for the delicate balance between creation and dissolution, harmony and chaos. As the meteor nears its inevitable touch, the landscape transforms through various epochs, from the dawn of civilization to the present day, emphasizing the transient yet impactful nature of existence.
The sky, shedding its tears through the gentle fall of the meteor, symbolizes the interplay between fate and free will, the known and the unknown. This poetic exploration invites viewers to reflect on the fragile beauty of our world and the timeless cycles that connect us to the universe.
2024
Generative AI, Unreal Engine
Artist: Yufan Xie, Xi Wang
2024 SIGGRAPH: New Media Architectures Projection Show
In the idea of time and destruction, we aim to create a ritual of “waiting for a meteorite”, to show a collective memory as a ritual that reflects our contemporary spirit. In the extended last moment, the fleeting brilliance of civilization and humanity may have once existed, or they might just be transient thoughts in our minds. In the end, once the present fades, only eternal nihility remains.
What does AI means to us, and what post-AI art is? It is a medium of creating derivatives of one single reality or pattern, which applies to all senses and messages. Above all, time and space are where such enormous amount of possibilities are generated and stored, also defining how we access them.
“Tears of the Sky”
Exhibition at 3rd Annual Metaverse Art @Venice
2024.8.28-10.29
Are we gazing at the same moon? – a project that argues the collective memories and the continuity of the moon, is showcasing at Palazzo Bragadin.
The 3rd “Metaverse Art Annual Exhibition @ Venice” in 2024 follows a path of innovation and exploration, coinciding once again with the Venice Art Biennale.
This year’s theme, “Weaving Through Time and Space” commemorates the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s death with “Marco Polo in the Miracle Forest,” initiating a series of independent avant-garde art exhibitions and events. These resonate with Marco Polo’s complex journey of exploration and cultural fusion, aiming to reflect on historical narratives while looking forward to the future of human creativity and the potential for collaboration with artificial intelligence. It heralds the arrival of a new era in art, promising to integrate historical traditions with avant-garde innovations.
“Weaving Through Time and Space” consists of a series of avant-garde exhibitions where most of the showcased works are co-created by human creativity and artificial intelligence. This challenges viewers to question the essence of creativity, reality versus illusion, originality versus appropriation, and to ponder the so-called “Muse,” meaning that the crystallization of human impulses and fantasies is art. The digital outputs or screens displaying AI have the ability to simulate past and future artistic styles and merge them into contemporary forms, thus challenging the previously unchangeable notion of the direction of time flow. In this unique intersection of art and technology, AIGC is not merely a tool but an active participant in the creation process. AI’s nonlinear understanding of time and its infinite perception of space add new layers and complexities to the artistic exploration of tangible realities.
2024 SIGGRAPH: New Media Architectures Projection Show
Live at Daniels & Fisher Clock Tower in Downtown Denver on July 28 night.
Organized by SIGGRAPH DAC.