Co-Poiesis

CO-POIESIS explores how technological creation redefines humanity’s bond with nature. It centres on the Fired Timber Pavilion, constructed from trees felled by typhoon Beibiya in Shanghai. These salvaged timbers are transformed through digital fabrication, combining traditional carpentry with robotic precision to create an architectural space that speaks to themes of environmental adaptation.
The pavilion houses a performance featuring human musicians and humanoid robots engaged in collaborative drumming and dance. While the humanoids begin by mirroring human gestures, they transcend mere imitation by processing these inputs through their unique computational framework. Unlike human perception, which is grounded in biological and emotional experiences, the robots interpret rhythms and movements through algorithmic patterns, transforming them into distinctive expressions. One robot translates the captured drumming patterns into percussive responses, while another transmutes these rhythms into dance movements. This interaction examines the potential for authentic creative expression in mechanical beings and questions the nature of consciousness in an increasingly technological world.