giant inflatable creatures and AI-generated gurus by ENESS land in taiwan

a giant twirling dancer, an AI-generated guru chanting words of wisdom, and a whimsical forest enliven the 1000 square meter journey.

Lyndal Hall edited by thomai tsimpou November 30, 2023 4 min

prefer designboom on google

eness unveils modern guru and the path to artificial happiness

ENESS’s whimsical new media exhibition, Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness, takes to Taiwan to ponder the future of art, religion, happiness, and wisdom in the age of AI. Following its debut in France, the showcase has expanded threefold to a sprawling 1000 square meters, leading visitors on an immersive journey amid fantastical characters, oversized inflatable installations, and dynamic interplays of light and sound.

Visitors gradually traverse a journey of ritual, realization, and revelation, culminating in the encounter with the Modern Guru, the central character. Floating above a ceremonial ring of LEDs, the translucent ovoid figure overlooks visitors with its four oversized digital eyes as it chants profound AI-generated quotes when photographed. A ream of absurdist messages emanate from Modern Guru’s mouth, delivering a new missive exclusively for those who choose to photograph life rather than fully immerse themselves in the present moment. ‘Will the audience stay in the moment, enjoying the installation or will they be compelled to take modern guru’s picture to receive his wise words?’ questions the design studio.

supersized modern guru tests the technological limits of inflatables and ai in taiwan — Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness | all images courtesy of the author

whimsical inflatables spout words of wisdom

Melbourne-based art and technology studio ENESS places the twirling Forest Dancer — a 10-meter-tall symbol of creative freedom in the contemporary world — at the heart of the installation. With a six-meter-wide skirt, a delicate balance is achieved through a fusion of geometry and precise air pressure calculations as art and technology intertwine. Overlooking the installation from inflatable steps representing his tongue, the Sun God commands attention with fifty separate inflatables forming this towering feature. Sturdy enough to accommodate numerous visitors simultaneously, it scales its expanse and beckons interaction and contemplation on the evolving relationship between deities and AI.

Ahead, the Wayward Forest presents a cluster of denuded trees which evoke an eerie aura juxtaposing the passionate freedom of the Forest Dancer, and prompting reflection on the future of AI and its implications for humanity. Nimrod Weis, artist and founder of ENESS, notes: ‘AI doesn’t care about sentience; to AI, a tree is a form to be manipulated. As sentient creatures we grasp the deepest significance of trees and in this way, the wayward forest reflects our current concerns about AI.’

in taiwan — Forest Dancer includes a six-metre-wide skirt of LEDs

project info:

name: Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness
designer: ENESS
location: Eslite Spectrum Xindian Store in Xindian District, New Taipei City

date: until 14 January, 2024

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.