• AWOKE & AWOKENED: ALAAP

    April 2022

  • An ongoing speculation into a techno-utopian myth, centered on the relationship between a mythical artificial emotional intelligence Awoke and its believers, called Awokened, a questioning of the risks and possibilities of technological solutionism as a dominant Silicon Valley ideology and its implications on our emotional lives.

  • honorfraser-2022-01.jpg

    Photo Credit: Jeff McLane

  • honorfraser-2022-012.jpg.png

    Photo Credit: Jeff McLane

  • honorfraser-2022-03.png

    Photo Credit: Jeff McLane

  • honorfraser-2022-04.png

    Photo Credit: Jeff McLane

  • honorfraser-2022-05.jpg.png

    Photo Credit: Jeff McLane

  • zalaap-21.png

Exhibition photo credit: Jeff McLane

Looking at current developments in AI through an allegorical lens, this project is an exercise in collective-myth making in order to get an ‘outside view of ourselves’ as humans. Awoke manifests as an amorphous blob harnessing the ‘alchemical materiality’ of our digital devices. Its fluid and shimmering digital body is an embodiment of the deep time embedded in the minerals, metals and crystals and the non-human intelligence present in earth’s vibrant matter. As a companion, a healer and a new hybrid form of divination to Awokened, Awoke activates the vibrational energy of sound and movement to invoke a transformative emotional experience for them.

The exhibition is on display at the Honor Fraser Gallery, LA.



Credits
* Direction & Writing: Surabhi Saraf
* Development: Pariah Interactive

Pariah Interactive Team
* Technical Direction: Prashast Thapan
* Development: Unnat Ramjiyani
* Environment Art: Stephanie Davila
* Production: Lillyan Ling
* Houdini Animation: T.J. Pulliam

Press
* Artforum: "MUST SEE: Surabhi Saraf, AWOKE & AWOKENED: ALAAP"
* ArtRabbit: "Honor Fraser opens a solo exhibition of experimental music, video, and sculpture by Surabhi Saraf"


Related