I learn and create the laws of the universe and primordial soup from everyday life.

Late one night, I had an idea while cooking a pot of noodles: Could the process of heating and evaporating water simulate the birth and death of stars? Galaxies are mainly composed of hydrogen and oxygen, and stars form after the collapse of a molecular cloud, converting their potential energy into thermal energy. The phase change of water molecules can thus be linked to the imagination of stellar- scale energy conversion and morphological changes. From molecular change to planet generation, from
an individual pixel to an overall image, there may be a similar set of laws.

AI image processing has recently attracted much public attention. However, what puzzles me most is theneural network algorithm’s thinking process, research goal and sources of image data. Inspired by cell communication, researchers have recently developed neural cellular automata on the foundation of classical cellular automata, expanding from a zero-and-one pixel generation to a zero-to-one floating point number generation. The program can be trained to regenerate an image after its destruction. Neural cellular automata takes image processing as its starting point; this technology looks towards applications in synthetic biology.

“Stochastic Camera (version 0.3) – the boiling terra “intends to apply these computer science studies on tissue texture to produce landscape images where a planet appears capable of self-growth and self-repair. Recording the process of boiling water with an infrared thermal imager and running neural cellular automata on flat images, the work generates hypsometric maps and stellar spectra to explore immortal stars from everyday details.

Chan Long Fung, Lazarus, is a new media artist who explores the intersections of science, technology, humanities, and art. Born in Hong Kong in 1996, he currently resides there. His works often blend various elements, including soundscapes, electronic devices, algorithmic art, data visualization, and generative art. Chan excels in transcending disciplinary limitations and engaging in interdisciplinary creation to integrate knowledge and ideas from diverse fields. Chan’s works delve deeply into observing and contemplating natural phenomena in life. His creative inspirations are rooted in a profound understanding of technology, sensitivity to nature, and passion for science. Chan creates art to pose questions and represent these themes.

Chan believes that, as an artist, he can maintain a perspective and approach to the long-term observation of the intricate details of scientific and technological developments, continually raising questions from a humanistic and philosophical standpoint and then transforming these questions into visual art experiences. He holds the belief that art can help people gain a deeper understanding and exploration of issues through simulation, representation, and experience. Although works of art do not necessarily need to explain problems, artists can pose questions that stimulate the audience’s conscious engagement, thereby clarifying the direction of the issues at hand.