A collaboration between Oslo Internasjonale Teaterfestival 2021 and VEGA KINO.
A film reflecting on the struggles between humanity and artificial intelligence (AI), originality and algorithmic trend forecasting, art and artificiality.
“This song is like everything else. It’s perfect. It will go viral.”
Lawrence Lek’s AIDOL (爱道) is a computer-generated imaginary (CGI) film that forms a sequel to Geomancer (2017). Deploying 3D rendering and video gaming software, AIDOL is a dazzling and thematically-layered sensoric experience.
Set in the post-AI future – in sino-futuristic reality controlled by the megacorporation Farsight – we witness struggles between the human and nonhuman, between art and trend forecasting.
AIDOL is a story about Diva – a fading superstar striving to do a comeback performance at the 2065 eSports Olympic finale. Diva is seeking help from an successful AI-artist to create her new hit song. The human desire for fame is contrasted with AI-future – a future where originality is substituted by algorithmes, but where machines have the capacity for experiencing love.
Besides reflecting on the rise of AI, this partly non-linear film is setting light upon several struggles of both humans and nonhumans, raising many questions on topics considering art, labor and value in our present socio-political landscape.
Lawrence Lek is a multimedia artist, filmmaker and musician based in London. Lek uses advanced technology, game engines and computer graphics and describes himself as a ‘simulation artist’. His digital environments, installations, performances and films invites us to consider the impact of technology on our reality. Some of his recent works include the video game ‘2065’ (2018-), the video essay Sinofuturism (1839-2046 AD) (2016) and the film Geomancer (2017).
Top photo: © Lawrence Lek, courtesy the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London.