Art is the manifestation of human aesthetics, whether the medium involved is painting, sculpture, music, drama or the physical body. It is an integral part of civilization’s evolution, having served as a vehicle of religious proclamation and a voice for diverse ideologies through the ages. In art, we find the footprint of cultural development, chronicling how humankind has progressed step by step. As the pinnacle of aesthetics, art not only distills human emotions but also generates energy and excitement.

Why does NTT-TIFA tie “art” together with “technology”?

If we trace the historical relation between “technology” and “art,” we are soon reminded of the great Leonardo da Vinci. Centuries later, the Mona Lisa continues to attract countless visitors to the Louvre, each person vying to catch a glimpse of the original. Though we label da Vinci as an artist, we must also acknowledge him as a pioneer of technology: an expert in the sciences, he sketched the prototypes of parachutes and flying machines after observing how birds take flight. Thanks to his immense knowledge of anatomy and mechanics, he invented the first robot in history. Da Vinci also used mathematics to elucidate aesthetics, applying the “golden mean” in the Vitruvian Man—a drawing of a standing figure in two superimposed positions with arms and legs apart, inscribed in a circle and a square—an iconic image combining art and science that has been celebrated worldwide. All this reminds us once again that art and technology are not disparate entities but rather work in tandem, inspiring and furthering our pursuit in search of beauty and truth. Moreover, art and technology constitute two ends of the momentum inspiring and propelling us to look into the future. Thus, for NTT-TIFA to focus on technology is entirely logical: by combining aesthetics and science, we immerse ourselves in an ongoing experiment.

Looking at the new vistas that 2022 NTT-TIFA artists are preparing, we see shows integrating AR or VR that traverse real and virtual worlds: Living Room, FreeSteps AR Yours 2.0 and Acqua Alta. In Chronicle of Light Year: Taipei-Copenhagen and The Ultimate Battle (a reprise from 2020 NTT-TIFA), 4D Box mapping technology is applied to wow the audience. “Image” is the selected theme for our NTT Emerging Artists Project in 2022, and Pure White Dance Lab will present See, which explores the relationship between space and visual images. We also feature discoveries in the sonic realm: M.O.V.E. Theatre’s immersive sound lab Dear John (in a family-fun setting), NTT Artists in Residence CHENG I-lly’s Qualia (an electronica and body-movement theater performance two years in the making), and CHENG Tsung-lung’s Send in a Cloud (a new creation for Cloud Gate with four-time Grammy-winning sound designer Marcelo Anez). Finally, after a long wait, we eagerly welcome Robert Lepage, widely praised as the “da Vinci of our time,” who will bring to Taichung his newest work, Courville, in which he serves as creator and director, also appearing on the stage.

NTT-TIFA productions emanate from many perspectives. On the surface, they may appear to wear a similar technological cloak, but if you look deeper into their origins, you’ll notice they focus on aesthetic pursuits, each imbued with the fervent desire of human expression. Art and science may appear to be entirely different entities, but they complement each other. Years ago, a cellular company coined this brilliant promotional slogan, “Human technology.” From its very beginning, art is intimately tied with expressing our humanity. Though NTT-TIFA is a festival that focuses on technology, it’s also a fun-filled artistic adventure offering multiple ways to change our perspectives. In this wonderful playground, let us delight in the search of unexplored, interesting places.

——  Joyce Chiou, Gen­eral and Artis­tic Di­rec­tor