Aligned Illusion(AI)

A 20-minute performance where Yuting Tao’s AI and AR visuals, Malu’s portrayal of a cyber-alchemist, and Ti Wen Hsu’s augmented viola set intersect. Three artists unite their expertise in AI training, non-human character embodiment, and experimental viola music to explore the fusion of nature, technology, and the spaces between them.

October 28, 2023

4:30pm

Harvestworks Art and Technology Program

Nolan Park, Building 10a,
Governor’s Island, NYC

“Aligned Illusion”: A Convergence of Realms

In an era where the boundaries between the real and the virtual blur, we, as an interdisciplinary trio, seek to explore and question the very essence of existence, identity, and reality. “Aligned Illusion” stands as a testament to the evolving tapestry of human experience in the digital age.

Yuting Tao’s projections, AI-generated and ethereal, immerse audiences in a visual dialogue that questions the nature of our perceived reality. It’s an invitation to contemplate the evolution of our surroundings, where the organic seamlessly transitions into the digital, crafting an interstitial realm of coexistence.

With Malu’s embodiment of Sally, the cyber-alchemist, we delve into the heart of identity in a cyberland space. Sally, an un-alienated haptic-avatar, represents the complex interplay between technology and mysticism. As a femme bot, she crafts magic technologies, blending the primal with the progressive, highlighting our continuous journey towards integration in a constantly changing world.

Ti Wen Hsu’s viola set, sonically amplified and transformed by Max Msp, serves as an auditory voyage through time and space. It’s a symphony of the past, present, and future; a testament to the versatility and timelessness of music, transcending boundaries and defying categorizations.

“Aligned Illusion” is not just a performance. It’s a sensory experience, a philosophical query, and an artistic exploration of where we stand amidst the ever-evolving nexus of nature, technology, and self. Join us as we journey through realms both tangible and imagined, and ponder what it means to truly be alive in this multifaceted universe.

About the artist(s)

Ti Wen Hsu, hailing from Taipei, Taiwan, has been immersed in classical music from a young age. Her recent works predominantly involve the collection of urban street sounds, which she skillfully combines with MAX/MSP, electronic soundscapes, and instrument performances. Beyond composing and performing, she has also worked as a recording engineer for jazz trios and various student projects.


Yuting Tao is a forward-thinking media artist based in New York City, who investigates social interventions through immersive installation with narratives, technology and extended reality. With a focus on narrative development, Yuting endeavors to bridge the generational divide between Gen Z and earlier generations, fostering a shared understanding and appreciation for the evolving societal narrative.


Malu (b. 1998, Rio de Janeiro) is a performance artist and creative technologies. Her artistic practice revolves around performance, sculpture, installation, and the exploration of haptic technologies and interactive music. At the heart of Malu’s artistic vision is an intuitive mode of worldbuilding, she crafts virtual realities and brings them to life theatrically.