Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Zhijin Hu.
Annie Zhijin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
“You love drawing so much, why don’t you study art?” I started drawing from elementary school, but at that time, I had never thought about studying art, nor did I imagine becoming a multimedia artist.
My true odyssey in the world of art commenced during high school when an impactful decision was made: attending an esteemed art college within the United States became my aspiration. Initially believing that mastery over drawing constituted true artistic prowess- little did I know how vast and expansive this domain truly is.
Throughout those formative four years in high school, an assortment of mediums like woodworking, metalworking ceramics, and fiber arts crossed paths with me on numerous occasions. Each new material introduced me to uncharted territories; their unique techniques granting access into worlds previously unseen – captivated beyond measure. The subsequent fusion of these distinct mediums enabled me to conjure one-of-a-kind works imbuing them with multiple dimensions.
However intriguing technique may be though – what resonated profoundly was being taught by mentors who urged contemplation upon artwork’s underlying meanings. Viewing art through a critical lens allowed for profound introspection; no longer confined solely within displayable talent-skill – but transcending barriers, allowing exploration and expression from deep within encapsulated soulful aspirations…and thus began focusing more intently on “why” creation transpired rather than restricting ourselves merely towards comprehending “how.”
During my BFA studying in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), my exploration of art entered a new phase. Now centered around establishing rapport between creations themselves alongside their intended audience—art metamorphosed from mere visual—transformed into an immersive experiential phenomenon rousing dormant thought processes and undulating emotions anew. This broader understanding spurred explorations encompassing the realm of new media arts, unveiling even greater possibilities heretofore undiscovered.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In the tumultuous year of the pandemic, when I went back to China in the lockdown environment, I witnessed the increased use of online apps and QR codes, a phenomenon that both made life impossible for the elderly or those without electronics and illuminated the dual role of technology, favoring convenience over human freedom and becoming a constraint for many people’s life. The resulting dilemma left me in despair and confusion, compelling me to reexamine the meaning and inherent logic of technological development. The book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari played a significant role in shaping my research focus. The cognitive revolution, a topic of importance in Harari’s book, triggered questions about society, its existence under a virtual umbrella, and what the essence of humanity truly is. In pursuit of these answers, I began to look at society with the mindset of an observer; at the same time, the rise of artificial intelligence in the post-pandemic era gradually reshaped the world, which became a focus of my continued research.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My interest in social development and individual psychological adaptation stems from observing the accelerated urbanization process in China. In this era of global transformation, profound changes in the economy, society, interests, and ideological concepts pose unprecedented challenges to individual psychological acclimation. As the engine of societal change, the development of artificial intelligence not only shapes global social dynamics but also directly impacts individuals’ work, life, and self-perception. My current research focuses on the interactive effects of social development and artificial intelligence on individual psychological adaptation, delving into the nuances of social development through visualizations to encourage discussion.
The constant updating of artificial intelligence and machine learning inspires a desire in me to explore and learn how such innovations work, and with that understanding, I would like to find out how I can use this new technology and use it as an artist. To truly immerse myself in this topic, I enrolled in courses in the Art and Technology department at SAIC, challenging traditional artistic languages through diverse thinking. During this time, I delved into decentralization through blockchain, produced alternative visual effects using Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), and collaborated with artificial intelligence to explore the dynamic between humans and technology. These works collectively represent an effort to dissect reality within the virtual.
The evolution of technology and its ramifications for society foreshadows a moment in which humanity is poised to undergo a new cognitive revolution. Viewing society as virtual and technology as physical, technology currently stands for nothing more than the definitions set up by language, so what can technology do for us if we break free of those definitions? As a multimedia artist, I integrate technologies such as machine learning, creative coding, and 3D animation into my artistic practice, aspiring to unearth how audiences interact with and perceive art in a technological context.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I was born in Shenzhen, China, a rapidly developing technological metropolis where countless skyscrapers rise each year. I lived on the ninth floor of a high-rise apartment. Across from my home was an area I had always been forbidden by my mother to enter – Baishizhou. She told me it was an ‘urban village’ filled with migrant workers and was very unsafe due to the unstable flow of people, so I was never to go there alone.
Throughout my junior high years, I never set foot in that area. My understanding of it was limited to information from the internet and descriptions from friends. However, everything changed during my third summer vacation in high school after returning from my studies in the United States. Curiosity about this once-forbidden place overwhelmed me.
That summer, my uncle came to Shenzhen from Inner Mongolia and suggested we go to Baishizhou to buy vegetables. Initially reluctant – as I had always seen it as a dangerous place – my curiosity soon overcame my fear. Agreeing to my uncle’s suggestion, we crossed the street together and headed towards the narrow entrance of Baishizhou.
Once inside, I was immediately captivated by the atmosphere. The chatty crowds from various regions, the bustling small vendors, and the affordable prices were alluring. The lively human touch of Baishizhou sharply contrasted with the cold skyscrapers surrounding it. Though not tall, the area felt expansively spacious. That summer, I began to frequent Baishizhou.
By 2020, when I returned to Baishizhou, I found it surrounded by fences set to be demolished. My mother told me it was part of the city’s redevelopment. Standing there, I couldn’t help but reflect, ‘Ah, as the urban vitality gradually fades, where will people find warmth and a sense of belonging amidst the cold ambiance of this city?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.anniehuzhijin.com/
