Series Dialogues |
The Philosophical Blind Box of Technology and Art
The “Philosophy Blind Box” series is hosted by Hu Yilin, the founder of Tian and ARTECH (formerly an associate professor in the Department of History of Science at Tsinghua University, now a freelance scholar), and his student and artistic partner Shen Cong (a technology art curator and artist). With an open structure akin to a “blind box,” each issue starts from different artworks and technological phenomena, exploring the interplay between technology and art through interdisciplinary dialogue between mentor and student—tracing its historical context, revealing its philosophical implications, and making each opening a dual discovery of thought and aesthetics.
The “Philosophy Blind Box” series is hosted by Hu Yilin, the founder of Tian and ARTECH (formerly an associate professor in the Department of History of Science at Tsinghua University, now a freelance scholar), and his student and artistic partner Shen Cong (a technology art curator and artist). With an open structure akin to a “blind box,” each issue starts from different artworks and technological phenomena, exploring the interplay between technology and art through interdisciplinary dialogue between mentor and student—tracing its historical context, revealing its philosophical implications, and making each opening a dual discovery of thought and aesthetics.
Speakers | Hu Yilin Shen Cong
2025/8/14 - Continuously updated
Speakers | Hu Yilin Shen Cong
2025/8/14 - Continuously updated
Aug 14, 2025
Aug 14, 2025
Starting from "What is technology", it distinguishes the fundamental difference between tools and technology, tracing the rupture between ancient crafts and modern technology. We reflect on how technology alters the relationship between humans and nature through Heidegger's concept of "standing-reserve" (Ge-stell), and discuss how contemporary thought responds to the dominance of technology. Each new technology represents a struggle, and the actions of artists open up the possibilities of thought and creation in the gaps left by technology.
Starting from "What is technology", it distinguishes the fundamental difference between tools and technology, tracing the rupture between ancient crafts and modern technology. We reflect on how technology alters the relationship between humans and nature through Heidegger's concept of "standing-reserve" (Ge-stell), and discuss how contemporary thought responds to the dominance of technology. Each new technology represents a struggle, and the actions of artists open up the possibilities of thought and creation in the gaps left by technology.
Starting from "What is technology", it distinguishes the fundamental difference between tools and technology, tracing the rupture between ancient crafts and modern technology. We reflect on how technology alters the relationship between humans and nature through Heidegger's concept of "standing-reserve" (Ge-stell), and discuss how contemporary thought responds to the dominance of technology. Each new technology represents a struggle, and the actions of artists open up the possibilities of thought and creation in the gaps left by technology.
Sep 08, 2025
Sep 08, 2025
Starting from "Media and Perception", discussing Marshall McLuhan's "the medium is the message" to Nam June Paik's "Electronic Superhighway", exploring how technology changes culture and perception. The shifts in oral, written, and thought processes reveal the fragmentation of information and the revival of "secondary oral culture"; in the tension between capital and technology, attention becomes a fast-moving consumer good, and AI lowers the barriers to creation. We ask: in an era of cultural convergence and algorithm-driven dominance, how can art reclaim space for differentiation and thought?
Starting from "Media and Perception", discussing Marshall McLuhan's "the medium is the message" to Nam June Paik's "Electronic Superhighway", exploring how technology changes culture and perception. The shifts in oral, written, and thought processes reveal the fragmentation of information and the revival of "secondary oral culture"; in the tension between capital and technology, attention becomes a fast-moving consumer good, and AI lowers the barriers to creation. We ask: in an era of cultural convergence and algorithm-driven dominance, how can art reclaim space for differentiation and thought?
Starting from "Media and Perception", discussing Marshall McLuhan's "the medium is the message" to Nam June Paik's "Electronic Superhighway", exploring how technology changes culture and perception. The shifts in oral, written, and thought processes reveal the fragmentation of information and the revival of "secondary oral culture"; in the tension between capital and technology, attention becomes a fast-moving consumer good, and AI lowers the barriers to creation. We ask: in an era of cultural convergence and algorithm-driven dominance, how can art reclaim space for differentiation and thought?
Sep 29, 2025
Sep 29, 2025
Starting from "Technological Vision and the Essence of Humanity," we discuss how art responds to the "cyborgized human" and draw on McLuhan's thoughts on the relationship between humans and nature's "interfaces." The second part explores the crisis of death and body augmentation, cyborgs, and the sense of meaning; the third part turns to future societies and the reshaping of the spirit—how do we redefine the boundaries of "human" and "technology" in an era of dissolving technological faith and public spirit.
Starting from "Technological Vision and the Essence of Humanity," we discuss how art responds to the "cyborgized human" and draw on McLuhan's thoughts on the relationship between humans and nature's "interfaces." The second part explores the crisis of death and body augmentation, cyborgs, and the sense of meaning; the third part turns to future societies and the reshaping of the spirit—how do we redefine the boundaries of "human" and "technology" in an era of dissolving technological faith and public spirit.
Starting from "Technological Vision and the Essence of Humanity," we discuss how art responds to the "cyborgized human" and draw on McLuhan's thoughts on the relationship between humans and nature's "interfaces." The second part explores the crisis of death and body augmentation, cyborgs, and the sense of meaning; the third part turns to future societies and the reshaping of the spirit—how do we redefine the boundaries of "human" and "technology" in an era of dissolving technological faith and public spirit.