We are pleased to present "Silver Trail -dialog() spinoff-", the exhibition by Ayumu Nagamatsu and Chih-Yu Chen.

Statement

In 2024, the generative art exhibition "dialog()" toured major cities across Asia, bringing together a total of 40 artists from Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, and Beijing to explore the expressive possibilities brought forth by algorithms. This exhibition created a space that transcended linguistic and cultural differences, fostering pluralistic dialogue and opening new creative perspectives. We are now pleased to present "Silver Trail," a spin-off exhibition that carries forward the spirit of dialog().
To further deepen the dialogue established through the original exhibition, this new presentation features a collaborative work between one artist each from Japan and Taiwan. The participating artists are Chih-Yu Chen (known as CYC), a generative artist from Taiwan, and Ayumu Nagamatsu, a generative artist from Japan. CYC explores the fluid relationships that lie between reality simulation and poetic expression through algorithms, developing works that span from generative art to interactive design. Nagamatsu has been active in both the practical application of generative expression through programming and theoretical consideration of these practices, with deep interest in algorithmic aesthetics and the relationship between data and creativity. The process of dialogue between these two artists from different backgrounds, mutually stimulating each other's creativity, forms the core of this exhibition.
The collaborative process employed GitHub's framework. The two artists utilized comments and commit messages to engage in communication that transcended mere code writing. Under the rule of "complete freedom," where both artists could freely modify or delete each other's code, they imposed upon themselves the discipline of making one commit per day, valuing even the smallest changes and aiming to maintain daily progress without interruption. The accumulation of verbal communication that occurred parallel to the code update process is visualized on GitHub as a creative trajectory leading to the work's completion. This attempt to shape works through daily online dialogue, building code and ideas line by line, presents a new form of "dialogue" through generative art creation.
Furthermore, this project represents a step forward in the collaborative relationship between two platforms: Volume DAO, a creative collective from Taiwan, and NEORT++, a digital art gallery from Japan. Born from the Asia-centered network of dialog(), this exhibition presents a new model case for co-creating digital art that transcends geographical and cultural distances. If we were to build an Asian code culture together, what would it look like? This exhibition serves as one response to such a question, while simultaneously being a starting point leading toward further dialogue.
As suggested by the exhibition title "Silver Trail," which evokes the image of a path illuminated by moonlight, we hope for the continuation of gentle yet certain dialogue and creative activities among artists across borders.

About dialog()

“dialog()” is a generative art exhibition that connects Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, and Beijing. The exhibition explores the expressive possibilities brought by algorithms and features works by a total of 40 artists from these cities. We aim to open up new creative perspectives through diverse dialogues that transcend linguistic and cultural differences.

About VOL DAO

VolDAO, established at the end of 2021, is the first art NFT group composed of creators, curators and collectors in Taiwan. It bridges Web2 and Web3, decentralized networks and art, and the virtual and real worlds through curations, exhibitions and various projects.

“Vol” is the abbreviation of “Volume”. Aside from “volume” or the extended meaning of “buzz” in the context of social media, it is also a unit for collection, like “volume,” “book,” or “part.” We collect works worthy of investment and able to make history of art in the future. Meanwhile, we curate events and endeavor to build a better public sphere for the metaverse. Let us pursue artworks worthy of collecting and be collectors of action.