Making energy usage visible with Ali Phi

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Ever wondered about the environmental impact of your digital footprint? In this interview, Ali Phi discusses the creative process behind 'TWh (terawatt hours)'. 'TWh' is an installation that blends web technologies to explore the environmental impact of digital technologies. The installation was commissioned by the New Now Festival and exhibited at the Mixing Plant in Zollverein, an industrial coal mine complex and UNESCO heritage site in Essen, Germany.

Listen to this podcast to learn about:

  • How Ali uses installations to visualize energy and highlight the ecological footprint of digital technology.
  • How installation and performance have distinct possibilities and problems. 
  • How Ali designs immersive experiences with multiple layers of audience interaction.

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Highlights

  • (0:0:04) Exploring digital footprints through interactive art installations
  • (0:4:16) The environmental impact of data storage and digital technologies
  • (0:8:48) Art, technology, and social impact in Decompositions for computers
  • (0:15:56) AI-driven interactive art and its environmental impact
  • (0:17:13) Exploring AI and technology as tools for creative artworks
  • (0:19:49) Creating 3D models and prototyping
  • (0:24:12) Layers of audience experience in interactive art installations

 About Ali Phi

Ali Phi, originally from Tehran and now based in Toronto, is a new media artist and creative technologist. His work intersects art, science, and technology through installations, autonomous machines, and performances. Focusing on the interplay between physical perception and cognitive exploration, Ali uses computer programming and generative algorithms to create interactive media that blend geometry, light, and poetry.

 As the artistic director of TADAEX, he has been a jury member, mentor, and lecturer. His work has been exhibited at Ars Electronica, Mutek (Montreal, Santiago, Buenos Aires), the Ontario Science Centre, Patchlab Digital Art Festival (Poland), and Asia Now: Paris Asian Art Fair. He has earned awards from the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Arts Council.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ali Phi’s artworks serve as mirrors that reflect viewers to themselves, exploring themes of culture, technology, and environmental impact.
  • The “TWH” installation invites viewers to engage with their digital footprint in a visually captivating and interactive manner.
  • Technology is a tool for Ali, allowing him to create immersive experiences that provoke thought and discussion on pressing societal issues.
  •  By incorporating AI and web technologies into his art, Ali challenges traditional notions of artistry and explores the intersection of art and technology.
  • His approach to installations and performances involves considering the spatial dynamics, audience engagement, and the energy flow within the space to craft impactful experiences.

 Links from the podcast  

Posted 5 months ago by Robin Petterd