Please Forget (Everything)

Charles Lindsay

Heron Arts is pleased to announce an immersive solo exhibition by Charles Lindsay. As a speculative provocation the show asks: “Can AI become sentient? If AI can become sentient, can it become conscious? If AI can become conscious, can it become enlightened?”

The opening reception for PLEASE FORGET (EVERYTHING) is Thursday, September 26th, 2024 from 6-9pm. It is free and open to the public. The exhibition will be on view to the public until October 30th, with open gallery hours and by appointment.

PLEASE FORGET (EVERYTHING) features two strikingly bright yellow Japanese parking kiosks, each situated in its own Zen garden—one in Kyoto and the other in San Francisco. These modified devices, ubiquitous in Japan, are imagined as intelligent nodes within a vast global AI network, much like mushrooms sprouting from intricate underground mycelial webs. Each kiosk becomes a speculative symbol of sentient AI—networked, pranking and/or elevating humanity. Numerous other artworks in the exhibition expand upon these ideas.

The concept for this exhibition began with Charles Lindsay's proposal to NASA suggesting the use of retired Mars Rovers to create Zen gardens on Mars. That idea evolved further when Charles posed his question about AI and consciousness to the renowned Zen Buddhist monk, Toryo Ito, at the onset of the pandemic. Captivated by the inquiry, Toryo invited Charles to exhibit at Ryōsoku-in Zen Temple in Kyoto.

Drawing on the Zen Buddhist principle of ‘Beginner’s Mind,’ advocating for a process of forgetting (and forgiving) to facilitate rapid transformation, Lindsay presents his new installations and assemblages as koans: those infamously paradoxical Zen Buddhist riddles designed to circumvent logical reasoning—in preparation for sudden enlightenment.

Alongside his sculptural techniques, Lindsay integrates a wide range of tools and materials to produce poetic video and creative works that further explore his thematic concepts. Utilizing OpenAI tools including Sora, a text-to-video model that is currently in research, Voice Engine, and a custom GPT, he creates AI-driven works that challenge viewers' perceptions, urging them to explore the deeper mysteries presented. These works, much like the accompanying koans, are designed to inspire contemplation and open new avenues of understanding.

Following the opening we are pleased to feature a series of special events, including talks and musical performances.

PLEASE FORGET (EVERYTHING) Opening Reception
Thursday Sep 26th, 6-9pm

Hallucinating On Purpose: How AI Keeps The Human Dream Alive
Charles Lindsay in conversation with Nicholas Paul
Friday Sep 27th, Doors at 6, Talk 7-8:30pm

Emergence: Art, Love and Math in the Age of AI
Charles Lindsay in conversation with Edward Frenkel
Saturday October 5th, Doors at 6, Talk 7-8:30pm

misinterpretations
A live performance by Billy Gomberg
Thursday October 10th, Doors at 6, Show 7-10pm

Zen Machine: AI and the Flash Drive of the Spirit
Charles Lindsay in conversation with Toryo Ito, moderated by Dorka Keehn
Tuesday October 22nd, Doors at 6, Talk 7-8:30pm

Please Don’t Forget Anything
A live performance by XXU & UXX
Saturday October 26th, Doors at 6, Show 7-9pm

See the full event series at: eventbrite.com/cc/ai-please-forget-everything-programs-3636289

Artist Bio

Charles Lindsay (b. 1961, San Francisco) is an intermedia and multidisciplinary artist whose work synthesizes ideas about time, technology, ecosystems, and semiotics. His creations include immersive environments, evocative soundscapes, and dynamic visual art, often constructed from salvaged aerospace and biotech materials, resulting in thought-provoking sculptures. A Guggenheim Fellow, founder of SETI AIR—the SETI Institute’s Artists in Residence Program—and a New York Times bestselling author, Lindsay is recognized for pushing the boundaries of scientific and artistic expression. Currently residing in Kyoto, Japan, he is immersed in consciousness research, exploring the frontiers of AI, its implications for the future of humanity, and developing a new language at the intersection of art and technology.