By Lily Essilfie

Seugjin Lee’s Opening Presentation

DigiAna Matsuri begins with Seugjin Lee, organizer, discussing his journey, passions, the meaning of matsuri, and the significance of community. Since Seugjin arrived in New York from South Korea ten years ago, he has crafted a community while bridging the gap between humanity and technology through art. Without really knowing anyone or much of the English language, Seugjin was able to build a world where artists could find freedom and acceptance.

Matsuri is the Japanese word for ceremony. Many indigenous, traditional, and diasporic communities are rooted in ceremonial and spiritual practices. An essential aspect of these practices is community, the people who breathe life into us. No man is an island, and for people to thrive in limited spaces, they need connection.

Seugjin stresses that traditional art scenes often stick to what they know, neglecting many talented artists. Instead of buying into a cutthroat art world, Seugjin works to do the opposite by showcasing the works of a variety of artists whose mediums intersect the digital with the physical.

Art Exhibitions

Between performances, artists had the opportunity to present their work in more detail. All the Artists: Mike Romeo, Rui Yang, Cameron Alexander, Wamoo, and Seugjin Lee capture the realms between the virtual and the material. I wish I had taken videos of all the pieces on display because photos alone can not capture the intrinsic, innovative, and thought-provoking nature of each work.

I saw a slice of each artist woven into their creation. Each piece tells its own story that fits into the explorative DigiAna Matsuri theme of mythologies through a metamodern perspective. The in-between truly comes to life through the artists’ work by connecting the past, present, and future.

Coming together as a collective and establishing a space where artists can showcase their art while forging strong bonds is truly moving. When artists both create and cultivate, something beautiful happens. Even if the artists never got the chance to explain their work, every piece still clearly articulated electric and stimulating concepts wordlessly.

Andrew Yoon’s Presentation

Knowing your art is important. The tools and systems used to create carry weight, and as AI integrates into the world of art, mindfulness is key. Andrew Yoon, a programmer, musician, and writer, discussed the social implications that arise from the use of AI not just in the art world but also in our everyday lives.

Andrew breaks down the inner workings of AI in a digestible way for all listeners. AI is constantly being fed data, so it can ultimately generate and facilitate specific tasks. Although reports have suggested that AI’s growth capabilities are slowing down, AI remains quite advanced. Andrew also addresses the bubble-like state of our AI-driven market. Unimaginable amounts of money are being funneled into AI by tech companies, so once that bubble bursts, the effects on the American economy could be catastrophic.

Numerous young students are using AI to cheat, depriving themselves of a valuable educational experience. People are also struggling to distinguish between the real and the fake, which leads to dangerous socio-political crises. And of course, there are major concerns regarding privacy and ethics. Our current legal system and government fail to keep pace with the rapid progress of AI. We should not take their inaction as permission to act with irresponsibility; instead, we need to weigh the cause and effect before embracing AI with open arms.

Live Performances

DigiAna Matsuri followed a specific and well-timed set list. The event lasted for six hours, and each performing artist had between 15 and 30 minutes to showcase their creative work. Once the performances began, I felt as though I had teleported into the future of sound and visual artistry. I love the variety; it really spoke to each artist's unique style.

Sound is such an enthralling form of art; especially when paired with visuals, it can compose such a captivating experience. The ability to evoke a range of emotions from your audience and draw them is a truly compelling skill. It was evident that identity, thoughtfulness, and creativity were at the forefront of every performance.

Whether it was to establish a connection between being, technology, or spirituality, every performance ensured space for inquisitive wonder and amazement at the direction of art. Throughout the pauses, we were left to sit with everyone’s distinct artistic dexterity. I envision a future more like this, one where both visual and sound defy human expectation.

Conclusion

DigiAna Matsuri can only be described as a communistic ceremonial gathering of the arts. Everyone involved worked hard to make this communal event, celebrating talented New York artists, a success. Every artist embodied who they were through their work, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to experience so much artistic ingenuity.