TL;DR: The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) introduces “Proof of Personhood: Identity and Authenticity in the Face of Artificial Intelligence” at Tanjong Pagar Distripark. This thought-provoking exhibition challenges perceptions of humanity in our digitally-driven world. Dr. June Yap, SAM’s Director of Curatorial & Collections, expresses excitement about the critical observations showcased by the artists. The exhibition runs from September 22, 2023, to February 25, 2024, at Gallery 3, SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark.
Singapore Art Museum (SAM) has unveiled a new exhibition, “Proof of Personhood: Identity and Authenticity in the Face of Artificial Intelligence,” at Tanjong Pagar Distripark. The exhibition encourages visitors to contemplate what it means to be human in a digitally-driven world.
Dr. June Yap, Director of Curatorial & Collections at SAM, states, “Contemporary art opens up room for productive dialogue and reflection on present-day conditions, and in Proof of Personhood the familiarity, assumptions and acceptance of our highly mediated lives are challenged.”
Curator Duncan Bass adds, “At the heart of the exhibition lies the historical conception of personhood, which has shifted over time based on social and technological changes.”
An examination of real and synthetic identities in the 21st century
“Proof of Personhood” brings together local and international artists to investigate the complex relationships between identity, agency, and authenticity in our age of boundless digital consumption and hyper-mediation. The exhibition engages with advanced technology, including interactive software, AI-synthesized images, and biometric data, to contemplate technologies deeply ingrained in everyday life.
Belgian-American artist Cécile B. Evans presents a trilogy of films exploring the timeless search for meaning and one’s place in the world. These films will collectively explore the shifting values of agency and human-to-human relationships, as mediated by evolving technologies.
Christopher Kulendran Thomas with Annika Kuhlmann present “Being Human,” examining the interrelationship between contemporary art and individual authenticity in an era of globally uneven technological acceleration.
Heather Dewey-Hagborg features algorithmically generated portraits of US whistleblower Chelsea Manning based on her DNA samples, challenging assumptions about genetic data.
William Wiebe questions the nature of the physical self in digital spaces with a series of images integrating facial features from passports and identity cards.
“im here to learn so :))))))” by Zach Blas and Jemima Wyman resurrects Tay, an infamous AI-chatbot created by Microsoft in 2016, to discuss the complications of having a body.
Two Singaporean artists, Charmaine Poh and Song-Ming Ang, present works contemplating authenticity through various means.
Engaging with the digital world
Duncan Bass emphasizes SAM’s dedication to reflecting on our increasingly digital world. Initiatives like “Open Systems” and “Proof of Personhood” aim to investigate current trends and concerns while supporting new forms of artistic production and audience encounters.
“Proof of Personhood: Identity and Authenticity in the Face of Artificial Intelligence” runs from September 22, 2023, to February 25, 2024, at Gallery 3, SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark. Admission is free for all visitors until November 24, 2023, after which, General Admission (free for Singaporeans and PRs) applies. During the opening weekend, visitors can enjoy special programs including a performance-lecture by artist Charmaine Poh and a curator tour led by Duncan Bass.
