On Week 9 of the course AMCC5000 Creative Convergence: Foundations of Arts and Machine Creativity, Dr. Weidi ZHANG, a renowned new media artist and designer based in Los Angeles and Phoenix, delivered an inspiring talk titled “Artificial Memory and Collective Presence” 🧠🌐. Currently a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Immersive Experience Design at Arizona State University’s MIX Center, Dr. Zhang’s interdisciplinary research bridges immersive media design, experimental data visualization, and interactive AI art. Her work has earned global recognition, including awards from ACM SIGGRAPH, Red Dot Design, Prix Ars Electronica, and the Lumen Prize 🏆✨. With exhibitions spanning major international venues and collaborations with institutions like Harvard CAMLab, Dr. Zhang stands at the forefront of AI-driven artistic innovation.
The lecture explored how creative AI can reconstruct memory and foster new forms of collective experience through world-building processes. Dr. Zhang introduced her acclaimed ReCollection series and the interactive installation A Walled City, illustrating how artificial memory systems can shape shared narratives and immersive environments 🎭🤖 and inviting participants to consider how technology mediates identity, memory, and cultural presence in an increasingly interconnected world.
The session was both thought-provoking and interactive, with students and faculty engaging in lively discussions about the ethical, aesthetic, and experiential dimensions of AI in art. Dr. Zhang’s insights sparked curiosity about the future of immersive storytelling and collective memory-making, leaving attendees inspired to imagine creative possibilities beyond traditional boundaries 🌟🚀.
