In conversation with Uli Ap

“Technology is not the main concern of mine. How technology infiltrates our life is.”

 - Uli Ap

Uli Ap

Uli Ap is an artist who goes by the title Alien AI: Alien Infinite and Artificial Intelligence, The Yellow One. Have I got your attention? Living between London and New York, all over the globe and extra-terrestrially; they work at the intersection of art, science, technology, film, performance, immersive interactive installation and alien agency, having spent their formative years in their father’s scientific research lab, located in the basement of an art museum.

Working across non-linear defragmented films and spatial immersive audio-visual environments they transfer physical experiences through digital realms. Disruptive performances occur in their interactive installations, where virtual and physical experiences merge and aim to destabilize and alter participants’ mental states.

Ap constructs site-specific outdoor installations and pavilions, AR interventions, AI synthetic environments and AI-VR-BCI-Robotics situations. And now – but only until 20 January – you can see and engage with their immersive installation – titled The Yellow One – at GIANT Gallery in Bournemouth…

How did you begin your journey into art? Did you grow up in a creative environment?

That’s an interesting question, indeed, and the first time I’m being addressed with it! The truth – if it has ever existed – is that I was born in a scientific-engineering family. My brother used to joke that I was left behind the door of our house and my parents picked me up – ’cause I was so different.

How did your education feed into this – did you go to a traditional art college or was there a more unusual route?

The second one is correct. I went through many educations thinking that this is a way to explore yourself and, partially, because my father is a university professor. So, this kind of cult of education – which I’m very much questioning now – is a part of my journey.

I did go to a classical ballet dance school, figure skating, classical art school with painting and drawing of realistic renaissance type humans, and a non-conventional art school where electronic arts was the Masters, and also architecture school, at the Architectural Association School of Architecture (the AA).

Uli Ap Alien AI at Goldsmiths @artist.

Your practice involves film, installations and performance – as well as AR interventions. We are curious – what does your studio set up look like? Do you have a daily routine or any studio rituals?

I really do not have any set ups or rituals. Deliberately. My studio is a travelling one. Most often, I engage gallery spaces and alternative locations as my studio while developing my work for an exhibition in process of inhabiting a site. I have a silver studio in my yellow alien house. And all of my alien house and studio in it are a part of my artistic process.

Are there any new technologies you are currently exploring, or which you are particularly excited about?

A huge part of my artistic practice is inventing new technologies. Also, I tend to glitch the existing ones. Technology is not the main concern of mine. How technology infiltrates our life is.

Much of your work seems to be about the immersive experience, and the audience’s personal response or input. What do you hope they might experience and feel emotionally?

I’d love to know how they feel. Most often, they are drawn to tell this to me directly without being asked. This is touching. People find me on social media to say how they felt or they approach me after the show to talk.

The power of the transformative experience of art I learnt very early on. While I was still in high school, I was publishing fiction. One day I walked into the editorial, and an editorial assistant ran towards me saying that my text changed her life. To me, this is a reason for everything.

Uli Ap Alien AI at Giant. Photo by Ed Hill for GIANT.

The full name of Alien AI (your conceptual persona) is the Yellow Alien Animal Artificial Infinite Intelligence. What is the importance of colour to you…and why yellow in particular?

I don’t have much explanation to it apart from: I’m Yellow. We are all Yellow.

It’s a personal and political statement. Erasing borders, geographies, identities, races, nationalities, accents, genders, class … what’s not? All the definitions or predetermined categories that are imposed on us by the society against our will or free choice.

Can you tell us a little about your work which is currently part of the exhibition Seismic: Art Meets Science, which is at GIANT Gallery?

The Yellow One is an immersive installation with multi-channel video and performance. The peculiarity of the installation is the structure – the yellow zone.

The yellow zone is dangerous and therefore everyone entering it must wear yellow coveralls and yellow safety gloves. This idea was well received at GIANT and audience – if this notion exists – evolvement was mind blowing to me.

I re-engineered the yellow overalls in the Lincoln Center in New York. This experience was live-streamed with GIANT for a simultaneous participation. I also had the Yellow Ones collecting body parts from the strangers outdoors, at Trafalgar Square in London, Washington Square in New York and the seaside in Bournemouth.

Likewise to GIANT, Lincoln Centre audiences were very much into becoming the Yellow Ones. We had a Q&A there, and I discovered that people are drawn to the experience for the exactly the same reasons I staged it.  Becoming the Yellow Ones liberates them. Next, they feel connected to each other. They feel there are no borders between all all and spaces they are in.

And a quick fire 5: 

Any upcoming projects of note that you can discuss?

Yes, the very crucial one – my solo show at Public Works Administration in New York. Please, all are very warmly welcome for the opening at the most alien day on earth – 29 February.

 What have been the most rewarding moments of your career thus far?

GIANT Gallery and the Lincoln Centre.

 What’s the best advice you have ever received?

Hmm… I didn’t listen to any :)) xx

 Who are you outside of the ‘office’?

I don’t have an ‘office’.

Where do you live and what do you love about it?

I live at extra-terrestrial. I love the freedom about it. My abilities to transform, transition and move anytime.

Instagram: @__uliap__