Modern Mondays: An Evening with Ian Cheng at MoMA

This screening and discussion with Ian Cheng marks the completion of his Emissaries trilogy, recently acquired by MoMA, and on view at MoMA PS1, April 9–September 10, 2017. Emissaries comprises a trio of Cheng’s “live simulations,” animations that explore the evolution of cognition and the ecological conditions that shape it. Composed of three interconnected episodes, Cheng’s trilogy centers on the lives of emissary figures who attempt to enact narrative goals within a simulated ecology, a volcanic landscape that evolves from the ancient past to the distant future. Using video game engines, Cheng produces a non-looping, infinitely generating series of visual combinations with infinite duration and variability. Eschewing the fidelity to photorealistic imagery often prioritized in digital image production, Cheng’s simulations map behavioral movements that unfold in real time and result in an entirely new approach to image making. The screening is followed by a discussion with the artist and a range of speakers, moderated by Stuart Comer, Chief Curator, Department of Media and Performance Art.