Breaking New Ground in Performance Art

Sougwen Chung, an artist and academic at the University of Quebec in Montreal, has redefined the relationship between artists and technology through their innovative approach. Unlike the prevailing trend in generative AI that focuses solely on visually generating images, Chung emphasizes performance as an essence of their art form. “Chung is really into this idea of performance,” explains scholar Sofian Audry, capturing the essence of Chung’s work where human and machine collaborate in real-time.

Audiences can witness Chung working with robots as they create art simultaneously, showcasing an intriguing blend of human insight and engineered precision.

The creative process of Chung’s art extends beyond the final artwork itself; it encompasses the unpredictable moments that occur during the performance. “My goal,” Chung articulates, “isn’t to supplant traditional art forms, but to enrich and expand them, fostering genuine dialogue between human and machine perspectives.” Their work notably emerged in January 2025 during the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, where Chung showcased Spectral, a captivating installation that features robotic arms painting under the guidance of AI. This AI synthesizes earlier artistic outputs with data from real-time input collected from an electroencephalogram (EEG).

“My alpha state influences the robot’s actions, transforming an internal experience into spatial, visible movements,” Chung comments, referring to the mental state linked with tranquility and composure. Artworks like Spectral illustrate how AI can transcend its role as merely a creative tool or challenger, evolving instead into a genuine collaborator in artistry.

Unpredictability and Spontaneity in the Creative Process

Chung believes that the incorporation of AI into the creative sphere reveals surprising behaviors exhibited by robots. The essence of live performance plays a pivotal role in their artistic practice, establishing a real-time connection among the artist, machinery, and the audience. This interaction allows observers to experience the inherent unpredictability of the creation process and appreciate its creative potential.

Raised in Canada to parents from Hong Kong, Chung was immersed in diverse influences from an early age. Their father was a trained opera singer, while their mother was a computer programmer, leading Chung to develop a dual fluency in music and coding. “I was raised with both the language of music and the language of code,” they reflect. This exposure to technology and creativity forged an incredible path for exploring art through digital realms: “The internet fascinated me as a burgeoning and hopeful frontier.”

Initially, Chung’s artworks comprised expansive ink drawings characterized by abstraction. However, their artistic journey took a transformative turn towards performance art. In 2015, at the age of 29, they became a research fellow at the MIT Media Lab after completing their studies in visual and interactive art. “I found inspiration in the potential of robotic forms to be anything,” Chung recalls, recognizing the revolutionary impact of embodied interaction.

The Birth of Collaborative Robotics in Art

Motivated by the potential for collaboration between human creativity and robotics, Chung searched for open-source instructions online and created a robotic arm capable of holding a pencil or paintbrush. Coupling this with an overhead camera and computer vision software enabled the robotic arm to learn from Chung’s motions, mimicking their style. Named Drawing Operations Unit: Generation 1 (DOUG 1), this robot was initially intended for mimicry.

However, DOUG 1’s implementation took an unexpected turn. The robotic arm began to exhibit unintentional movements, producing artwork that bore resemblance to Chung’s but diverged in execution. These imperfections became pivotal to the creative discourse. “I’ve learned to ‘poeticize error,’” Chung notes. “This perspective has nurtured resilience in me, as I’m no longer intimidated by failure; rather, I embrace the generative nature of mistakes.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sougwen Chung’s main artistic focus?

Sougwen Chung primarily explores the intersection of traditional art and technology, emphasizing performative art that integrates AI and robotics to create an interactive experience between the artist, machines, and the audience.

How does Chung incorporate AI in their art?

Chung utilizes AI to guide robotic arms in creating artwork in real-time, interpreting data from their brain activity to influence the robot’s movements, enabling a spontaneous and dynamic artistic process.

What does Chung mean by ‘poeticizing error’?

‘Poeticizing error’ refers to Chung’s philosophy of embracing mistakes as part of the creative process. They believe that imperfections can lead to unique and innovative outcomes, enriching their artistic journey.