2024
Image credits:
© Sihui & Shifan
"The Semi-Manual Era" seeks to investigate the relationship between people and machines in the age of artificial intelligence through the medium of publishing. The book is organized into six volumes that cover all of the displayed works, curatorial essays, exhibition prefaces, and relevant discussion from the five units of the 2024 Summer Exhibition at Beijing Gravity Art Museum. This exhibition presents the reactions of 44 artists and 5 (groups of) curators to the subject of what painting means in the age of modern media.
In today's environment, machines have become extensions of our senses, integrated into our bodies. However, this process may eventually cause us to lose sight of our fundamental vitality. The intuition of human hands in the creative process, as well as the vibrations caused by emotions and experiences, are invaluable deviations and blunders that go beyond algorithms. The concept of being "imperfect" represents the basic distinction between humans and machines, emphasizing the unique characteristics of humanity that cannot be replicated by machines.
The catalog has brilliant colors and a considerable texture, with six rather independent volumes each presenting a unique perspective on the Semi-Manual Era. The inner pages use a variety of handmade techniques, including books within books, collages, and hand-stamping. The cover design used Bezier curves generated by a graphic programming language, demonstrating unlimited possibilities inside huge, unknown data and representing the rich creativity shown by artists in this era.