LES Arts & Culture Open House 2024: Artists Alliance Inc. / Cuchifritos Gallery + Project Space

Lau Wai, W.A.I. The Cast of the Invisible (video still), 2024. Courtesy of the artist.

Artists Alliance Inc / Cuchifritos Gallery + Project Space 
12pm-6pm
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88 Essex Street no 21 New York, NY 10002

Join AAI staff for a tour of “W.A.I. The Cast of the Invisible” featuring new work by artist Lau Wai. A response to the ever-expanding interference of the digital world, “W.A.I. The Cast of the Invisible” prods at the line between one’s virtual and physical existence in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI).


Featuring three animated works by AAI LES Studio Program alum (2022-2023) Lau Wai, the exhibition introduces two short films and a single-player digital interactive work, all created using CGI (computer-generated imagery) software. Inspired by how the identities of CGI actors are lost beneath digitally imposed animation, “W.A.I. The Cast of the Invisible” stars W.A.I, a motion-capture-suit-clad virtual clone of the artist compiled over past video-based projects. While the character’s genesis started in work addressing how Western blockbusters imposed orientalist depictions of East Asian people, the focus of W.A.I.’s narrative takes a thematic departure in this exhibition. Elaborating on motifs of an infinitely mutable identity in the contemporary digital context, W.A.I. now must navigate the ontological implications of being a real-world replica whose purpose is to be digitally reproduced.


ADA Compliant | Wheelchair Accessible | Elevator Available | Seating Available | Gender Neutral Restrooms Available


Artists Alliance Inc. is dedicated to launching, strengthening, and advancing the vision of emerging and underrepresented artists and curators through fully-funded residencies, paid exhibition opportunities, and commissioned projects.


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