The Most Familiar Strangers: From Pey-Chwen Lin’s Wannsee Conference
by Luchia Meihua Lee
Drawn in by the loud noise emanating from a video screen displaying the faces of 28 strangers, we notice that they are all speaking at once. In a strange way, their faces seem familiar. Upon closer inspection, we realize that these "strangers" are, in fact, leaders and celebrities from around the world. Upon gradually figuring out who these strangers are, viewers typically smile or laugh out loud, sparking an interest in exploring the ideas behind the artwork.
In this artwork by Pey-Chwen Lin, the faces of these celebrities merge with the AI-generated face of Eve Clone, resulting in distorted and grotesque appearances. In today's media-saturated world, we frequently see these public figures on news channels, talk shows, political interviews, and more. They become so embedded in our consciousness that they feel as familiar as our neighbors, relatives, or friends—even though we've never met them.
If we were to meet one of these celebrities in person, we might feel confused, doubtful, or even embarrassed for not immediately recalling their name, yet we'd be convinced that we should know them. This struggle can be unsettling. When we suddenly remember who they are, we're startled by the realization that the person we see so often on TV isn't actually a friend. This phenomenon reveals the deep and often unnoticed impact of public figures on our daily lives.
The 28 faces at the Wannsee Conference, modeled after real renowned individuals and made immersive through AI, are a powerful representation of how these familiar strangers occupy our minds.
Human vs. AI: Visitor Experience from Concept to Reality
Let us turn to the question that Immanuel Kant deemed central: "What is the human being?" This universal question has never lost its relevance. Part of the answer is that being human means embracing cultural diversity while valuing people as individuals. It also means holding on to aspirations despite the accidents of birth. Another aspect involves a reverence for natural and social systems, as explored through artistic discourse. As Socrates identified five core values—mercy, justice, righteousness, bravery, and love—will we be able to pursue these ideals in the future? Are these questions still pertinent, or will our understanding of humanity be reshaped in an era where AI or clones may follow different standards?
It has become fashionable to predict that our future—and increasingly, our present—belongs to high technologies such as AI, VR, and AR. In this vision, ethnicity and other humanistic concerns seem poised to dissolve into a utopian future. However, Stephen Fry argues that we are living on a flood plain, and a great storm is coming. Most urgently, and perhaps counter-intuitively, in order to prepare for a future brimming with technology, we must intensify our efforts to understand what it means to be human, what machines can and cannot do, and which of our priorities they can support.
Art and humanity are more crucial than ever. We need to comprehend our soul, spirit, sense of beauty, love, inspiration, loyalty, and empathy. The widespread use of machines will afford us much more time, making it vital to understand how and why we can fulfill our true destiny.]
A Conversation with No Talk
This concept reminds us that AI-generated images of world leaders and celebrities—like those from the Wannsee Conference—represent real people who have been merged into a created entity known as Eve Clone. Just as advanced technology and creative science from computer labs can generate an Eve Clone, a single DNA-enabled cell can develop into a real person. While we are aware that the concept of an Eve Clone may be on the horizon, it might not appear in the form of a robot. Instead, moral considerations will determine how far we allow this to progress. The real question lies in navigating the possibilities: how does a community both pretend and protect, and what strategies are necessary to prevent such scenarios from becoming reality, as the artist references from a Bible chapter?
In our current world, complexities arise across continents and various regions. Sadly, in the name of protecting their own people, national leaders often make claims that lead to conflict, resulting in the killing or kidnapping of members of other ethnic groups. This cycle fuels wars, leading to the deaths of thousands of civilians. Large countries like the United States or those in the European Union express concern for global peace while simultaneously providing high-tech weapons that contribute to violence. Thus, the great powers showcase their military might and demonstrate their capacity to dominate the world.
Pey-Chwen Lin's Wannsee Conference is a satire of a real-world economic forum, where many world leaders would take pride in participating in discussions and meeting other celebrities to gain recognition. The conference attempts to recruit more influential leaders from around the globe; together, these figures control world finance, politics, media, economics, and society. But in this conference, there is no communication - only babel.
We have witnessed various people's movements around the world: the Arab Spring, the fight for human rights in Chile, Taiwan's Sunflower Movement, which sought to preserve the country's democratic independence from China, and the most renowned yet unsuccessful Hong Kong Umbrella Movement, which involved 2 million people but ultimately succumbed to Chinese power. In Pey-Chwen Lin's artwork, these Wannsee Conferences reveal the sinister faces of leaders with the symbol "666" carved on their foreheads. Tragically, this societal decay continues to surround us, gradually taking over the world and stripping us of our rights.
Artists like Pey-Chwen Lin use new media to expose this troubling trend and raise public awareness. Her AI-generated faces, starting with the central female figure of Eve Clone, initiate a conversation, followed by others who imitate world leaders. The conversation begins democratically, with one person speaking, then two, then three, until the entire crowd is speaking simultaneously, each in his or her own language. This chaotic scene symbolizes a lack of genuine dialogue, where everyone expresses his or her own ideas without regard for others. Although it appears that these leaders are democratically discussing important issues at this conference, there is no real intention to communicate.
Isn't this a reflection of our current world situation?
Eve on the Tower of Babel
In another new video piece, the Tower of Babel serves as the backdrop where a blue, awkwardly moving Eve Clone bends and stands atop the tower. According to the artist, this Eve Clone is “dancing” to show off herself. The blue Eve Clone continues to swing on top of the world's iconic skyscrapers, such as New York’s Empire State Building. One interpretation of "babel" is meaningless mumbling, and it also symbolizes the collapse of the last Babylonian empire. In this context, the Wannsee Conference represents world leaders engaged in their own babble without any meaningful communication. This piece aligns with the Wannsee Conference and other semiotic symbols to suggest a world headed toward collapse due to high technology, exemplified by the AI-generated Eve Clone. These AI world leaders, much like their human counterparts, seem to drag us toward a global disaster.
While innovative technology is often used to explore outer space, here it is employed to create an immersive, interactive art exhibition. In other contexts, AR and VR technologies engage visitors in a discovery of meteors and shifting universes through different time-space continuums. Pey-Chwen Lin's Eve Clone series, which she began developing in 2002, showcases innovative methods including VR, AR, AI, and motion capture photography that blend history, art, theology, digital engagement, and education. Her work reflects a mission to engage and inspire the community, echoing a Renaissance-like revival in the contemporary art world where form, concept, and technique are seamlessly intertwined.
Through seemingly traditional media such as drawing, mathematics, and writing—whether on paper or digital canvas—the artworks serve as a historical treasure hunt curated to create an intimate viewing experience. They delve deep into the connection between human beings and AI technology. However, innovative ideas cannot take root without the individuals tasked with leading them. These people serve as liaisons across various sectors, facilitating implementation, shaping ideas, managing processes, and measuring outcomes to gauge success.
Eve Clone Series and Humanity
Since 2002, artist Pey-Chwen Lin has been developing her Eve Clone series, initially exploring the concept of clones—human-made beings that range from simple robots to today’s AI-enabled machines. As technology advances, we find ourselves gradually entering a world where we may need to defend moral and virtuous principles. In this evolving landscape, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between a fetishized, human-like mechanical creation and a lifeless, cold body. These entities are not confined to the virtual world; they are gradually becoming part of our reality. As they replace human labor, we are left questioning the fundamental value of being human.
When we lose sight of what it means to be human, even if we don't merge with an Eve Clone marked with "666" on its forehead, can our conscience rise and assert itself? Each day, new technologies are developed, and skills that seem mysterious or complex or kaleidoscopic can distract or mislead us. As a new media artist, Lin always aims to raise questions about human values in her work. Machines and equipment can continuously improve and evolve into sophisticated new technologies. However, the more pressing question is: What is the concept behind these artworks?
In an era where technological advancements blur the lines between human and machine, the Eve Clone series challenges us to confront the ethical, moral, and existential questions of our time. As we navigate a world increasingly dominated by AI and digital replicas, it becomes crucial to reassess our understanding of what it means to be human. The rise of these new technologies—whether in the form of cloned beings, AI-generated faces, or virtual realities—forces us to examine the core values of humanity: conscience, empathy, and morality. By raising these critical issues, the Eve Clone series compels viewers to consider the implications of our choices in shaping a future where technology serves as a tool for progress rather than a catalyst for dehumanization. In this way, the series becomes more than just art; it becomes a call to reflect on the delicate balance between innovation and the preservation of our fundamental human values.
Foot notes:
[1] (Louden n.d.), Louden, Robert. n.d. Kant’s Human Being: essays on his theory of human nature. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Accessed May 4, 2019. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f0e6/da6197978d213e17dc76dfa63448decff5b6.pdf.
[2] (Fry 2017), Fry, Stephen. 2017. Shannon Luminary Lecture Series - Stephen Fry, actor, comedian, journalist, author. Oct 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24F6C1KfbjM.
