Mapping the 21st Century: artist Qiu Zhijie talks to Croucher News

20 December 2023

Croucher Foundation: How do you adopt or use scientific concepts in your work?

Looking back through millennia, the intertwined nature of art, science, technology, and experiential living becomes evident. During a visit to a school in Europe, I uncovered its connections to the Bauhaus movement. Intriguingly, the school’s founder had a hand in rural development movements, tying it to the early days of modern agriculture. This experience deeply influenced my thoughts on the interplay between evolution and progress, themes central to my work.

By that time, my fascination with technology had taken firm root, but I advocated for a fusion rather than a clear division between art and technology. Objects we regard as art today were once breakthroughs in technology, like ancient architecture and bronze swords.

I also explored the concept of camouflage, viewing it as a dynamic exchange of information between an individual and their surroundings. More than just a method of disguise, camouflage is intimately linked to the notions of evolution and progress.

A number of your recent projects have involved the making of maps. Can you tell us how you started making maps and why they are important to your practice as an artist?

My long-standing fascination with maps began during my early travels in Xinjiang and Tibet. There, I employed anthropological, geographical, and sociological approaches to map out the intricate layout of villages, focusing on their religious and commercial hubs, residences, and burial sites.

The journey into map-making became a significant part of my life, especially after a pivotal moment in 2010 when I was invited to a conference in Munich. Despite a language barrier that led me to believe map-making was essential for the theme “Mapping the Twenty-First Century,” I crafted a map representing the era, integrating timelines, global dynamics, and diverse dimensions such as politics, economy, society, technology, culture, and geography. This experience of blending cartography with art was exhilarating, satisfying my multifaceted identity as a researcher, curator, calligrapher, and a skilled draftsman in printmaking.

Maps serve as tools not just for geographical orientation but also for connecting and contextualising.

Many people find the sheer wealth of data and news that comes to us these days to be overwhelming. How do you maintain your creativity in the face of that?

In today’s world, we face the immense challenge of dealing with a deluge of data. Historically, people had a more defined worldview, believing the world was made up of elements like heaven, earth, humans, spirits, and gods.

Presently, we are inundated with information. Without a suitable framework, this can lead to a sense of overload. However, with a structured approach to knowledge, we can manage and organise this information effectively.

Having a system of concepts allows us to categorise information and provides the opportunity to delve into the fringes of knowledge. It’s akin to finding one’s way through a maze; without direction, one might lose their way before even beginning the journey of creation.

How do you see the rise of AI, first in relation to your own artistic practice and secondly in terms of its potential for good or harm in the world?

I’m of the conviction that the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) is an inescapable reality. Its inherent nature is neither good nor bad; rather, it is shaped by the intentions of those who wield it. My perspective is that technology is fundamentally neutral, and AI’s development, whether motivated by good or ill intentions, is an inevitable part of our modern world that cannot be halted.

My stance towards AI is one of cautious optimism. I am eager to explore what AI can contribute, particularly in the realm of the arts, while being mindful of the challenges and conveniences it brings. I believe those who engage with AI should do so with responsibility and a humanistic approach, guiding its evolution positively. Nonetheless, AI carries inherent risks, much like all technologies throughout history. It can be as dangerous as fire or as lethal as automobiles, but it also possesses the potential to revolutionise, much like how photography transformed the art of painting.

Given the inevitability of AI’s integration into our lives, we must adapt to coexist with this new technology.

Given the inevitability of AI’s integration into our lives, we must adapt to coexist with this new technology, just as we have adapted to living with other technologies like air conditioning and cars. AI encompasses both risks and rewards, and it’s crucial that we learn to strike a balance between these elements.

Do you have any advice for young scientists (or would-be scientists) seeking to make their way in the world?

On my visit to Hong Kong a few years ago, I was thrilled with the chance set up by your foundation to meet and exchange ideas with over twenty young scientists from diverse sectors.

I have some insights to share with aspiring scientists globally: Science is fundamentally a pursuit of truth, requiring a blend of rationality, skepticism, experimental methodology, and critical thinking. Yet, our grasp of the world is inherently constrained by our perceptual and imaginative limits. History teaches us that art can dramatically expand these boundaries. Many eminent scientists throughout history were also deeply immersed in the arts. Figures from the Renaissance, like Copernicus, were not just scientists; they were mapmakers, writers, and legal scholars. Their quest was for the comprehensive development of the self, a continuous thirst for knowledge, and a conviction in the power to understand the world.

I believe this relentless pursuit of holistic growth and lifelong learning is vital for any scientist.

I believe this relentless pursuit of holistic growth and lifelong learning is vital for any scientist. It’s imperative for scientific and technological advancement as much as it is for personal satisfaction and happiness. From an artist’s perspective, the most impactful scientists treat their work as a form of creative expression, much like artists in their quest for truth. I encourage scientists to engage more with artists, fostering collaboration across disciplines to overcome barriers and tackle the ensuing challenges.