CREDIT
Breaking the inevitability of history.
During the 2024 Taiwan Cultural and Creative Expo, we presented an
installation artwork with the theme of history at Lane 321 Art
Settlement. The core concept is to challenge the notion that
historical development is inevitable. The course of history is not
something that happens naturally; each key event in the past has
the potential to alter the world we live in today.
This artwork aims to provoke the audience to think: What would
Taiwan and the world look like today if certain key events in
history had never occurred? We have selected several pivotal
historical factors that played decisive roles in the development
of history. Through this interactive installation, the audience
can engage with these historical events, choosing what would
happen if these events had been altered, and explore how the
course of history might have changed.
Each result generated through interaction is unique, with
different choices leading to different possibilities unfolding in
their own respective universes. This concept resonates with the
**Many-Worlds Interpretation**, which suggests that any event with
a chance of occurring will inevitably happen in some universe.
Thus, our work allows the audience to visually experience that no
matter what the result is, as long as it is possible, it could
exist as a reality in some universe.
Once the audience makes their selection, our system conducts
historical simulations in the background, incorporating various
factors and assumptions to generate this historical outcome. This
process does not solely rely on AI technology but also
incorporates collaboration with historians. They assist in
adjusting and refining the data and analysis in the simulation
process, ensuring that each result is both plausible and
reasonable.
Through this interactive experience, we hope to make the audience
realize that every event in the present moment is composed of
numerous historical factors, each coincidentally coming together.
Each pivotal event in history has profoundly impacted the life you
are living today. This artwork not only aims to bring the audience
closer to and understand the history of Tainan but also to bridge
the gap between history and people, helping viewers realize that
history is not something distant; it is the very fabric of the
present we live in.
