Reflecting on the culmination of our residency at Lake Studios Berlin in November 20th 2023, “Meta-fictions: A Fugue entangled with several odd kins and intelligences” represents a significant milestone in my journey exploring the realms of generativity, dance, and AI. This performance was not just the result of collaborative efforts but also a testament to the boundless possibilities that arise when different worlds of creativity and technology intersect.
Throughout the residency, my focus was on leveraging the capabilities of generative AI, to create an innovative choreographic tool also inrelation with the history of the use of rule systems and improvisational structures by dancers and actors. We iengaged in a dynamic dialogue with AI. We created a generative loop of continuous improvisation in collaborations with AIs. This process illustrated the true essence of generativity — an evolving, unpredictable artistic expression.
In “Meta-fictions,” we delved into the realm of self-aware storytelling. The performance was a conscious blend of fiction and reality, constantly evolving and reshaping itself based on the interactions between the dancers, AI, and the audience. This approach allowed us to explore the narrative in a way that questioned and played with the very nature of storytelling in the digital age. We collaborated and performed with fabulation engines.
A key aspect of the residency’s outcome was its rich tapestry of cultural influences due to our nationalities and complex histories: Venezuela, Mexico and Spain. From ancient indigenous chants to the modern rhythms of Spanish pop and American hits, the musical landscape of the performance was diverse and vibrant. The inclusion of Miguel Bose’s iconic performance in drag from Almodovar’s “Tacones Lejanos” brought an element of cinematic flair, merging music, film, and dance. The movements, inspired by the dramatic essence of bullfighting, connected our digital creation with deep-rooted cultural expressions. Longings, belongings and exiles were present.
In this project, AI took on multiple roles — as a repository of memories, a source of imagination, an evidence of cultural mashup and as collaging unique worlds. Durinf the process, AI-generated visuals of ethereal forms of jellyfish and algae, were not just artistic elements but symbolized the blending of the natural and digital realms, hight art conceptuality and fantasize about alien rituals. These OddKins represented the symbiosis of life forms. We watched Donna Haraway documentary and also sang karaoke. Working with LLMs is going meta all the time.
As I look back on “Meta-fictions,” I see it as an exploration in the field of performance art and installation. It’s a vivid example of how computation and AI happens is time and time happened in semantic realms. This residency at Lake Studios Berlin was an opportunity to navigate the uncharted (yet familiar) waters of generativity, AI, and dance improvisation. Stuff that changes in real-time.
Thanks to the artists collaborators in this residency Dakota Comin, Cesar Rene Perez, and Vera Rivas and the support of Lake Studios Berlin.
All images are from Maria Kousi and were taken in November 17th 2023.
Read experimental process documentation on Lake Studios Berlin blog
