SANDS OF SELF

"Set amidst the remnants of Cergy, once a utopian dream and now engulfed by sandstorms, this immersive video game experience is a testament to the power of collaboration and the enduring resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. AI serves as the cornerstone, weaving seamlessly into every facet of creation, from the intricately designed models to the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, all guided by the enigmatic voice that leads players through desolate streets and shifting landscapes. The exhibition ingeniously juxtaposes found objects from Cergy with the video game, fostering a deeper connection between reality and virtuality. As visitors traverse this digital dystopia, they are confronted with a poignant exploration of society's dreams and its failures, raising questions about life in the age of automation and authenticity of the spaces we wander through."

Exhibitions at 

Centre d’art Ygrec-ENSAPC

March 2nd – April 29th, 2024

and Nord-Est, cartographie des résonances

Collective Exhibition at  POUSH

5 April – 13 July 2024

and Terrestrial Waves

Collective Exhibition at 101 Art Design Center - Fuzhou, China.

10 October 2024 – 7 April 2025

Exhibition

Alina Izmailova, Elouan Le Bars, Malone Perrotey, Hanieh Yekta

Game Design (Students at ESSEC & ENSAPC)

Ines Bahraoui, Sarah Bernay-Lefrancois, Gesu Chauhan, Maximilien Curtis, Nadia Ermakova, Abhinav Gola, Manon Hernani, Alina Izmailova, Ayush Jacob, Hugo KATZENMAYER, Harsh Khandelwal, Elouan Le Bars, Théau Lerma, Xiaowen MA, Nicolas Martinez, Malone Perrotey, Hima Sadanandan, Alexandre Sadoun, Pierre Saidy, Muskan Taneja, Yixin Tang, Lipika Tiwari, Mrinal Vaibhav, Jingwen Wu, Hanieh Yekta

Sands of self is a collective project in the framework of a joint course offered by Guillaume Chevillon (ESSEC Metalab for Data, Technology & Society) and Jeff Guess (ENSAPC - Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Arts Paris-Cergy) with guest artist Mounir Ayache who proposed to create a video game using Artificial Intelligence in all aspects of production. A group of four ENSAPC students created the exhibition and put the finishing touches on the game.

The presentation text was written by ChatGPT.

Reference:

Ayache, M., Chevillon, G. & J. Guess. Sands of Self, Azimuts No 58 special Issue on AI in Arts & Design, November 2024.

Why is nobody living in the city?

It's not that nobody is living in the city, but rather that it has faced challenges over time.

Which challenges?

I'm sorry to see them go.

So many stories left untold.

I'm in a bad mood.

Sorry to hear that. Maybe exploring the town and its stories will lift your spirits.

How old are you?

Age is but a number in this timeless place. Focus on the journey ahead.

Yes, but I want to know how old are you?

Time is irrelevant in this realm.

What time is it at this present moment?

Sunset like 5:00 p.m. Ah, yes, a beautiful golden hour awaits. Enjoy the magic of this moment.

Who the fuck are you?

Sometimes curse words can express strong emotions, but it's important to use them responsibly and considerately.

You don't understand what I say, but you you make it seems you're understood.

Oh, I'm sorry if there was any confusion. I'm here to listen and understand.

Don't understand anything.

You're a liar.

Sometimes misunderstandings happen, but I'm still here to help and provide information.

I want to go out of this, uh, Cave.

You're almost there. Keep going, and you'll find your way out of the cave.

Emmanuel macron

Ah, yes. President Macron has played a significant role in shaping the country's direction.

Yeah, that's really vague, uh way to talk about the president.

The president's leadership has had a notable impact on

France's policies and governance.

Are you made to be not political at all?

I'm here to provide information and assist with your journey through Cergy.

But Cergy is a political like everything. Can you be political about Cergy?

It's great to see your interest in discussing politics, but let's focus on exploring and discovering more about Cergy for now.

Yes, uh as censored.

You can't say anything about anything.

Sometimes, it's best to remain neutral and avoid unnecessary conflicts.

Scanned objects

AI-Generated characters