the cloud atlas

From the beginning of human history, we have been searching for divine signs in the sky that may carry revelatory messages about the past, present, and future. Clouds, among all natural phenomena, may be the ones that resonate with us the most. This is not only due to the profound entanglement of humans and more-than-humans, with our activities increasingly impacting the ecological atmosphere, but also from the formation and reformation of clouds reflecting the uncertainty and unpredictability of the cosmic system. Meanwhile, our knowledge and experience are being archived in global data centres, also known as 'the cloud,' which are instrumental in training AI models that have been significantly shaping the world now and into the coming era.

Adam Hsieh’s AI-generated video, the cloud atlas, results from a collaboration with his AI archive on the clouds of Nipaluna/Hobart, Tasmania, an Australian city almost antipodal to Denver. By simulating the morphing clouds of an island 8800 miles away, he encourages spectators to reconsider their perception of space as the boundary between real and virtual realms blurs and the physical distance becomes insignificant. Set against Denver's urban landscape, with its skyline and intrusive billboards, the work serves as an invitation into an ambiguous conversation between two skies from opposite sides of the earth. It reflects on our deep interconnectedness with each other and the environment, further speculating on the indeterminate future beyond the cloudy conditions.

CREDITS
Adam Hsieh (director/production)

MEDIUM
Digital video, colour, with stereo sound

DURATION
2 minutes & 28 seconds

EXHIBITION
New Media Architecture(s): Virtual Topologies in Urban Spaces, SIGGRAPH (2024). Daniels & Fisher Tower, Denver, Colorado, United States. July 24 - August 4, 2024.