Shanghai,  CN  

OVERLAP SPACETIME

交叠 · 时空

Creators: YAANK & Tyler Tian
Exhibition: design shanghai @xintiandi design festival
Location: Xintiandi Shanghai
Photography: a RAWVISION studio

2023年的初夏，YAANK LAB联合Tyler田所创作的最新作品“OVERLAP SPACETIME 交叠·时空”，于5.31-6.11在设计上海@新天地设计节进行展出。我们从宏观角度思考，微观角度切入，聚焦到数字化时代的记忆碎片。以“透明的神明”和“AI盒子”这两个元素，将“日常记忆和数字化世界”意象化，以“光”为媒介让两者对话，并试图在这种对话中找到共振，重新思考时代发展的意义，探讨时代的“零光片羽 Plug-in-Illusion”。



In the early summer of 2023, YAANK LAB and Tyler Tian jointly created the latest work "OVERLAP SPACETIME," which was exhibited at the Shanghai Design Festival from 31st May to 11th June. We think from a macro perspective and approach the design from a micro perspective, also focusing on the fragments of memory in the digital era. The 'Transparent God' and 'AI Box' are used to visualize the everyday memory and digital world. 'Light' is invoked as a medium to bring the two elements into dialogue. The work seeks to find resonance through this dialogue and re-examine the significance of the era's development, exploring the "Plug-in-Illusion" of the era.

“ AI Box ”

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_{YAANK LAB}

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人工智能的出现引发了诸多领域产生颠覆性变革的前沿技术，在视觉、语音、自然语言等应用领域迅速发展，已经开始像水电煤一样赋能于各个行业，大大改善了我们的日常生活。但是由于人工智能深度学习模型存在的“黑箱”问题， 使得智能系统在应用过程中存在很多安全隐患。

对于人工智能深度学习模型存在的“黑箱”问题的探讨，我们参考了关于神经网络的相关论文，其中有一篇文章用光学类别深度学习是这样分析的：


The emergence of artificial intelligence has led to numerous groundbreaking technologies that have disrupted many fields. Rapid developments have taken place in the areas of vision, speech, and natural language applications, and AI is now empowering various industries, improving our daily lives significantly. However, the "black box" issue inherent in AI deep learning models results in many security risks in the application of intelligent systems.

To explore the "black box" issue in AI deep learning models, we refer to related research on neural networks. One particular article that analyzes this problem through optical-category deep learning is as follows:

②

从系统组成部件分析，光学组件有的起到反射作用，有的起到衍射作用，有的起到折射作用，有的起到散射作用，有的起到相位校正作用等等。深度学习组件（conv、pool、relu等等）有的起到学习空间相关作用，有的起到防止过拟作用，有的起到增加非线性作用等等。


From analyzing the components of the system, optical components have reflective, diffractive, refractive, scattering, and phase correction functions. Similarly, deep learning components such as convolutions, pooling, ReLU, etc. have spatial learning, overfitting prevention, and nonlinear amplification functions.

光学镜头模型

从结构来看，无论是深度学习还是镜头，都是一层一层叠起来的。光学也经历过黑箱时代，人工智能深度学习现在就是黑箱时代。目前对于人工智能的发展我们知其然，而不知其所以然，因此围绕人工智能深度学习模型“黑箱”问题我们展开联想，从光学角度去思考创作了"AI盒子”。


Indeed, both deep learning and optical lenses are constructed by stacking layers upon layers. Just as with optical technology in the past, AI deep learning is currently facing the issues of the ‘black box’. We may understand the development of AI to a certain extent, but we lack a full understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, we created ‘AI Box’ to explore the ‘black box’ issue in deep learning from an optical perspective.

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通过光和不同介质（材料）之间产生不同的相互作用，利用单面镜的特性用装置内外的照度差，使AI盒子在不同时段产生不一样的效果。白天，外部照度＞AI内部照度，人们看不到AI内部光源，只会看到一个镜面的盒子，反射出周围的环境和事物 ; 天色渐暗，当外部照度＜AI内部照度，内部光源会慢慢显露逐渐清晰，最终完全呈现在人们的视野中。


Through the interactions between light and different media (materials), "AI Box" utilizes the characteristics of a one-way mirror and the differences in illumination between the inside and outside of the device to produce varying effects at different times. During the day, when the outside illumination is greater than the inside illumination, people cannot see the internal light source of AI Box. They only see a reflective box that reflects the surrounding environment and objects. As the day progresses into night and the outside illumination becomes less than the inside illumination, the internal light source gradually becomes visible, eventually becoming completely visible to people.

⑤

不管是白天还是夜晚，AI盒子内部的录像系统无时无刻记录周遭事物，将时间和记忆叠加转换成数据的形式，保存在数据库中，这种数据的转换与发展使时间空间的界限变得模糊。


Day or night, the video recording system inside the AI box records what is going on around it all the time, converting time and memory overlays into data that is stored in a database, a transformation and development of data that blurs the boundaries of time and space.


我们鼓励观众去触摸，去互动，去记录，当你在观察AI盒子的时候，它也在观察你。


We encourage the audience to touch, interact and record. When you observe the AI box, it's also observing you.

“ Transparent Godse ”

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_{Tyler 田}

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从家里进城的一条路上，有一片杨树林，但因为前后没有生活区，这片区域很少有人光顾。一次去医院看病回来的下午，我们一时兴起骑着车子进了杨树林，走着走着我发现杨树林的里面有一片发光的花田。真是美得惊人，“因为无人走过它们才开的这么美吧！”我心想这一定是神明的力量！

——Tyler 田

There was a grove of poplar trees on a road into town from home, but as there were no living quarters before or after, this area was rarely frequented. One afternoon when we were returning from a hospital visit, we rode into the poplar grove on a whim and as we walked I noticed a field of glowing flowers inside the grove. It was amazingly beautiful, "They bloom so beautifully because no one walks through them!" I thought to myself this must be the power of the gods!

--Tyler Tian

“透明的神明”是Tyler田城市治愈计划的一部分，他代表了自然的无形力量。

当人类向自然索取了太多的树木，土地，阳光，空气，这个世界变得满目疮痍。人类透支着后代的资源，挥霍占有浪费，留下太多烂尾的楼群厂房和无人村落。却丢掉了对自然与人文力量的敬畏。当无意走进那些被废弃的地方，总会看到鲜花开满废墟的景象，仿佛这些植物在安抚着大地。或许，与我们交错的时空里，应该有神明来过，偷偷帮我们治愈着这片土地。


"Transcendent Deity" is part of Tyler Tian's City Healing Project, which represents the invisible power of nature.

As humans have taken too many trees, land, sunlight, and air from nature, the world has become devastated. Humans have squandered resources that rightfully belong to future generations and left behind many abandoned buildings and ghost towns. In doing so, they have forgotten to respect the power of nature and culture. When one accidentally stumbles upon these abandoned places, one often sees the sight of flowers blooming in ruins, as if these plants are soothing the land. Perhaps, in the space-time that intersects with ours, deities have been secretly helping us heal this land.

“ Overlap·Spacetime ”

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_交叠时空

我们从自然力量和数字化时代人工智能的发展方向去思考，以宏观的角度去看待时代的“ plug-in-Illusion · 零光片羽”这一主题，并从日常生活的细节切入，用光为画笔将“神明”与“AI”串联在一起。


We approach the theme of ‘plug-in-Illusion’ from a macro perspective, considering the development direction of natural forces and artificial intelligence in the digital age. Starting from the details of daily life, we use light as a brush to connect ‘deities’ and ‘AI’ together.


Overlap·Spacetime整体尺寸L:12.5m*W6.5m*H2.5m，主要材质由气模、单面镜、软膜、IC芯片光源组成，位于新天地时尚 I · 户外广场。

Overlap-Spacetime overall size L:12.5m*W6.5m*H2.5m, the main material consists of air mold, single-sided mirror, soft film, IC chip light source, located in Xintiandi Fashion I - Outdoor Plaza.

一个隐匿于城市的由人类所创造的“神明”，以沉睡的形态出现，其寓意来源于佛教中表达安抚众生的卧佛形象。



A "deity" created by humans and hidden in the city appears in a dormant form, its symbolism drawn from the reclining Buddha in Buddhism, which represents soothing all beings.

5：00 AM

7：00 AM

10：00 PM

“神明”用可回收pvc材质的气模表达，它的特殊性是气模的内部依然有一层气模。神明是一个虚无的概念，因此透明和空气感是这位“神明”的特性。最终希望呈现的是一种巨大但没有压迫的观感，这也是我们对神明的理解，它神秘、巨大、但温柔。


The "deity" is expressed through a recyclable PVC inflatable mold, with a special feature of having another layer of mold inside. Since deities are intangible concepts, transparency and airiness are the essential characteristics of this "deity." We hope to create a massive but non-oppressive visual experience, which is also our understanding of deities - mysterious, vast, yet gentle.

“神明”受人类日常生活中情感、记忆的滋养，体内有着流动、闪烁的如萤火虫一般的点点星光，这种温暖的光就像万家灯火一样，抚慰人心。

当人们看到沉睡神明心脏静静跳动的这一刻，也希望人们可以静下来去感受自己不变的心跳，而非不断变化的世界。


The "deity" is nurtured by the emotions and memories of human daily life. Inside, there are flowing and twinkling specks of light, like fireflies. This warm light, like the light of a thousand homes, soothes the heart.

When people see the "deity" heart beating quietly while in a dormant state, they might be reminded to slow down and sense their own steady heartbeat, rather than the ever-changing world around them.

流动闪烁的光将“透明的神明”与“AI盒子”串联起来互相传递信息，这种光的传递意向为“日常记忆和数字化世界”的对话，而我们试图在这种对话中找到共振，重新思考时代发展的意义。


The flowing and twinkling light of the "deity" connects with the "AI box," and they exchange information with each other. The intention behind this transfer of light is to facilitate a conversation between "daily memory and the digital world". Through this conversation, we try to find resonance and reconsider the meaning of the evolution of our era.

当我们思考时代发展的意义，大脑记忆或数据的调动引发的时空交错的体验感，看似立足于过去或现在，但却暗含对未来的预言。通过装置创造出的是一个即真实又虚幻的时空，观众可以从一个过去、当下、未来的视角来观看，现实意义中的时间节点在这个观看时刻被刻意模糊和消解掉了。


When we think about the meaning of the evolution of our era, the sensations of experiencing different times and spaces that are triggered by the activation of brain memory or data seem to be rooted in the past or present, but they also contain a hidden prophecy for the future. The installation creates a space that is both real and imaginary, where the audience can view from the perspectives of the past, present, and future. The time nodes in reality are deliberately blurred and dissolved in the viewing moment.

具有单面镜特性的“AI盒子”，可以制造出“另一个虚拟空间”，也可以透过盒子看到“真实的空间”，我们在此基础上尝试制作出“模糊的时空界限”。经过多次试验，最终在保证安全性的情况下降低了单面镜的厚度，6MM厚度的单面镜从远处看时，反射的物体会发生形变，只有靠近时才会变得清晰。虚拟与现实交融，既存在又不真实。

The "AI box" with its one-way mirror characteristics creates a "virtual space," as well as the ability to see the "real space" through the box. We tried to create a "blurred boundary between time and space" based on this concept. We conducted multiple experiments to ensure safety, and finally, we reduced the thickness of the one-way mirror. When viewed from a distance, objects reflected in the 6mm-thick one-way mirror appear distorted, becoming clear only as one approaches. The virtual and reality blend, existing yet not quite real.

“ Overlap·Spacetime ”在趋同模糊的城市中构建出一个当代人心灵的停驻之地，当在世界洪流里穿行的人停下来认真感受“ Overlap·Spacetime ”的时候，希望人们能在这过程中能抓住城市生活中细微而珍贵的部分。
当未来我们回忆起当下是带有过往记忆的时间叠加，还是存在于数据的图像，在记忆被调动时产生的“迷失”，是大脑数据的调动还是人心主观层面的激发的情绪。我们希望从这个角度去探讨这个时代的“零光片羽”，希望每个人都能留住匆忙生活中属于自己的“零光片羽”。


" Overlap-Spacetime" constructs a contemporary place for the mind to stop in the midst of the converging and blurring city. When people who are travelling in the world's flood stop to seriously feel " Overlap-Spacetime In the process, it is hoped that people will be able to capture the subtle and precious parts of urban life.

When we look back on the present in the future, it will be a time overlap imbued with memories of the past, or it will exist as an image in data. The "lostness" that arises when memory is triggered is either the activation of brain data or the emotional stimulation of the subjective level of the human mind. We hope to explore the ‘Plug-in-Illusion’ of this era from this perspective. We hope that everyone can hold onto their own ‘Plug-in-Illusion’ in the rush of life.

About the Creator  

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_{创作者简介}

杨可

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中国独立照明设计师、灯光装置艺术家，他所创立的YAANK是一群由装置艺术家、照明设计师和空间设计师合作建立的跨领域团队。致力于建筑空间照明设计中光、文化、自然和空间的结合，跨越产品设计和艺术的平行领域，进行多学科的探究。

YAANK乐于探索人类感知与光线的关系，通过结合光线视觉（Visual），人的生理（Biological）和情感（Emotional）的益处来支持人类的健康和福祉，并将可持续的发展的概念付诸于实践中，采用多元化环保材料，将实际需求进行诗意的表达。 


The Chinese independent lighting designer and light installation artist, along with a team of interdisciplinary artists, lighting and spatial designers established YAANK. The team is committed to exploring the combination of light, culture, nature, and space in architectural lighting design. YAANK bridges the parallel fields of product design and art to conduct multidisciplinary explorations.

YAANK is dedicated to exploring the relationship between human perception and light. By combining the benefits of visual (Visual), human physiological (Biological), and emotional (Emotional) effects of light, YAANK supports human health and well-being. They also put the concept of sustainable development into practice by using varied eco-friendly materials to express practical needs poetically.

Tyler 田

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青年艺术家，他的作品致力于探索历史和文化脉络与人的关系。用艺术的表达方式承载人文与自然的精神内核。发起人与社会、自然的和谐的议题；擅长以故事性、场景感和代入感的创作形式，引发年轻群体的广泛的共鸣，并通过社交媒体话题持续发酵，扩大受众范围 。

2022年开始Tyler田的“城市治愈计划”大型装置系列艺术作品，引发了全国性的持续热度，互联网话题热度达到300万+。 


This young artist explores the relationship between history, cultural context, and the human spirit through his artwork. He uses artistic expression to carry the spiritual essence of humanities and nature. He raises awareness for harmony between people and society, as well as nature. He specializes in creating works with storytelling, a sense of place, and empathy, which resonates widely with young audiences and continues to gain momentum through social media discussions, expanding his audience significantly.

In 2022, Tyler Tian launched the "City Healing Plan," a large-scale installation series of artwork, which has sparked widespread continued attention nationwide, with interest on the internet reaching over 3 million.