Ian Cheng

Ian Cheng's artistic exploration delves into the intricate concept of mutation and humanity's innate ability to adapt to and engage with change. His creative process draws inspiration from a blend of video game design principles, improvisation techniques, and cognitive science insights. Cheng has produced a captivating series of simulations that delve into the inherent capacity of agents to navigate an ever-evolving environment. The culmination of his exploration is manifested in the Emissaries trilogy, where a narrative agent's desire to shape a story clashes with the unpredictable and open-ended nature of the simulated world. Within these simulated environments, autonomous agents are endowed with pre-programmed behavioral drives, allowing them to evolve and develop independently, free from intentional authorial influence. The progression of events within these simulations adheres to the unforgiving laws of causality observed in the natural world, effectively mirroring the intricate and dynamic processes inherent in nature itself. For instance, "BOB" (Bag of Beliefs), an artificial intelligence creature whose personality, physical form, and life story evolve across different exhibitions. Cheng refers to this as "art with a nervous system," emphasizing the immersive and evolving nature of his creations. ...

Pilar Corrias Gallery is a contemporary art gallery owned by Pilar Corrias. The 3,800 square foot gallery in London's Fitzrovia, designed by Rem Koolhaas, is made up of two exhibition spaces, located in the heart of London's West End. Pilar Corrias opened a second London gallery space at 2 Savile Row in July 2021, designed by London and Oslo-based architect firm Hesselbrand. Since its inception, the gallery has worked with emerging and established artists with the central aim of allowing their work to grow both in terms of production of new projects and the making of new exhibitions. Pilar Corrias now represents a total of thirty-two international artists, two-thirds of whom are female. ...