Heather (Hyerin) Im

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The New Canvas of AI





How can artificial intelligence become a new canvas for exploring ecological collapse and its human consequences?
And how might participatory AI systems enable the public to co-create meaning and new narratives together?


Held at COEX, The New Canvas of AI was the first major exhibition in Korea dedicated to AI artists. The curatorial framework centered on two themes: a speculative exploration of ecological collapse, inviting audiences to reflect on the psychological and societal consequences of environmental loss; and an interactive system using generative imagery, enabling visitors to co-construct meaning through participatory engagement with AI-generated visual narratives.

Over 60,000 visitors experienced the installation. By combining experiential design with accessible AI technologies, the exhibition fostered public engagement with environmental awareness and AI literacy, highlighting how emerging technologies can mediate complex emotional and ecological discourses.

Following its successful debut, the exhibition later traveled to Hyundai Outlets across the country and was also presented at BEXCO in Busan.


Art Director / Artist
Heather Hyerin Im
Bona Kim

Client
Urbanbreak

Venue
COEX, Seoul
Hyundai Outlets, KR
BEXCO, Busan



Featured
<Blockchain Idols and AI Artists: The Future of Art Unfolds> : Maeil Business News
<AI-Powered Interactive Art Engages the Audience> : Ilyo News
<Artwork by AI Artist ‘PZLO> : Yonhap News
Dates
Jul, 2023



COEX





PZLO is imagined as an artist from the planet URBK, created through AI technologies. The exhibition was structured into three main sections , all centered on his story:

  1. The World of URBK: A narrative installation that depicts PZLO’s home planet, where plants and animals have vanished. Designed like the walls of a museum, this space illustrates how nature disappeared and what the planet looks like in its absence.
  2. PZLO’s Works: A gallery of artworks generated by the virtual artist, where AI reimagines the revival of flora and fauna and envisions harmonious coexistence with humans. His works emphasize renewal, balance, and the deep interconnection between people and nature.
  3. Audience Participation: An interactive space where visitors used generative AI to create new animal forms and send messages of encouragement, symbolically bringing life back to PZLO’s planet.








Designed as a participatory experience, the project invites audiences to engage with a new media canvas powered by AI. Visitors encounter artworks created by PZLO, along with ESG-themed narratives, positioning AI as both a creative collaborator and a medium for public reflection.







As Lead Art Director, I guided the project across all stages, including spatial design, generative AI workflows, and the creation of PZLO’s persona, ensuring a cohesive curatorial vision.





The exhibition was featured in more than ten major domestic media outlets.





With Hyundai Premium Outlets





Following its successful debut, the exhibition later traveled to Hyundai Outlets across the country







Interview