The Occupancy of the Self: Imagining Hybrid Moments

"The Occupancy of the Self: Imagining Hybrid Moments" is an art documentary film that explores the impact of climate change on our future environment and the concept of climate evolution, using dance as the primary medium for storytelling, and artificial intelligence (AI) to render visuals and special effects. As a result of rising temperatures, droughts, and changes in precipitation patterns, plants and animals are adapting at an accelerated pace, leading to the process of evolution. The expansion and decline of a particular species due to climate change may result in short-term changes in that species and others that are affected by the continuum chain. Climate change may eventually lead to the emergence of a future hybrid human species, which is a possible outcome of evolution. These phenomena are depicted through modern dance and AI generated special effects.

The film comprises three chapters, and the interviews with experts and the general public are interwoven throughout the narrative, with the characters being the interviewees and imaginary characters (future hybrids). The documentary was produced using AI as a responsive tool, which helped to predict the future through planning and production methods. In pre-production, choreography and hybrid human character design were implemented based on AI programs. Specifically, the data I collected was trained on AI so that it could be produced according to the movie's contents, and it was induced to predict the future. For AI learning data, I collected visual texts from past Korean folk culture, interviews with experts from a scientific perspective, and interviews with the general public on climate change. Through the use of AI, we can explore the possibilities of the future of our species and ecosystems. I also used AI to better understand the impact of climate change and to inspire action to protect our environment. The film was created utilizing technology such as text to image, face generation and GAN, which played a pivotal role in not only planning and production methods but also in predicting the future. During pre-production, AI programs were employed to implement choreography and hybrid human character design, using data that had been collected and trained by engineers and me. The AI system was specifically trained to produce content that aligned with the documentary's central theme and to project a vision of the future. The use of traditional Korean folktales adds a unique dimension to the film. These folktales have been passed down through generations and have inspired many Korean artists, including myself. By weaving these stories into the film, we hope to bring a sense of cultural identity and connection to our viewers. These stories also provide a way to connect with our past and understand how it shapes our future.

There are three dance theater chapters in total, each filmed as a performance both outdoors and indoors. In Chapter 1, the identity of species living in the ecosystem, such as birds and tigers, is discovered. I use deoksugung palace as our world to depict the nature’s force, damage because of climate change such as bird migrating and facing pain and confusion due to global warming. I used tiger and birds to show food chain and their life cycle which connects to human. In Chapter 2, their instinctive reactions and desires in extreme situations at the limits of nature are compared to the past and present. This also is filmed in the palace and as a performance to demonstrate the past as in the palace and future can be  traced from the outside of palace with tall buildings in Seoul city.  In Chapter 3, the process and results of evolution due to climate change are expressed through dance, with a focus on predicting the future. For instance, migratory birds' physical changes, such as their bodies getting smaller or their wings getting bigger, is choreographed as global warming causes them to change their habitats.  Additionally, these changes will be visualized as they transform into the appearance predicted by AI.