In the realm of contemporary art and spatial design, an increasing number of creatives are embracing cross-disciplinary techniques, yet few do so with the evocative depth and innovation of artist and spatial designer Shin-Rung Yang. By integrating traditional visual arts, architectural design, algorithmic spatial mapping, and immersive installations, Yang’s projects create an intricate dialogue between past and present, physical and digital, reality and imagination. Since 2015, they have built a body of work that transcends disciplinary boundaries, gaining international recognition and leading to numerous collaborative opportunities across art and design fields.
Yang’s work not only challenges disciplinary limits but also invites audiences to reimagine the very essence of space. Their creative process is marked by an ongoing attempt to redefine space—not only in its formal and physical dimensions but also in its psychological, theoretical, and narrative aspects. Their latest project, Palimpsest (2025–), funded by the prestigious National Culture and Arts Foundation, exemplifies this pursuit. Utilizing procedural content generation and artificial intelligence, Palimpsest delves into the fluidity and ambiguity of spatial memory. Participants are immersed in a virtual landscape that evolves in real-time, shaped by their interactions. Each movement and decision leaves ephemeral, memory-like imprints, creating a deeply personal and ever-changing experience.
Palimpsest’s innovative approach builds upon Yang’s previous grant-funded research and productions, including On Detour (2022), a study on wayfinding systems in different cities, supported by the John K. Branner Fellowship, and Detours & Deviations (2023), a procedural spatial generation model that received the Chester Miller Award. In 2023, their series Portraits of Places was shortlisted in the Professional Category at the London International Creative Competition (LICC), acknowledged for its “open-ended narratives guided by spatial representations and interpretations, rooted in the contexts of both the artist’s and the audience’s existence.” These projects laid the conceptual groundwork for Palimpsest, shaping its narrative framework and structural complexity.
Yang’s collaborative spirit has been a driving force behind their creativity. Over the past decade, they have worked with a diverse array of artists, curators, architects, and interdisciplinary teams worldwide. A notable collaboration in 2017 brought them together with the Austrian artist group Gangart (Simonetta Ferfoglia and Heinrich Pichler) and Ukrainian architect Oleksandr Burlaka on the collective initiatives Bird on a Wire and Šaloun Collectivity Problems Research Itinerant Institute. Through these projects, Yang engaged in field research and site-specific explorations alongside fellow artists and designers, developing multimedia installations and performances that explored a wide range of spatial narratives.
Other notable collaborative projects include 95-3 Geographical Park (2018), a sequential experience consisting of a series of scenes interwoven with narratives and soundscapes, guiding participants through an immersive journey. From 2022 to 2023, Yang collaborated with scenic designers and directors on multiple theater productions at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Zellerbach Playhouse. These experiences reinforced their perspective on environments as interactive, narrative-driven spaces. More recently, Yang was selected for the artist-in-residence program at Can Serrat, a renowned art institution in Barcelona that hosts international talents each year and encourages transdisciplinary collaborations. Yang’s ability to redefine spatial narratives through multimedia and interdisciplinary approaches has drawn attention from curators and institutions invested in experimental and visionary art and design practices.
Looking ahead, Shin-Rung Yang and their team are refining the AI-embedded environments of Palimpsest. Unlike conventional content-generation systems, Palimpsest fosters an intuitive, subconscious dialogue between human perception and machine intelligence—mirroring the elusive nature of memory itself. The biggest challenge—and perhaps the most intriguing aspect—of the project is developing a world that responds “psychologically” to people, a feat that requires seamless collaboration between art, technology, and psychology. As the lead in concept development and art direction, Yang collaborates closely with co-creators Paul Wang and Hanyi Zhang, drawing on their expertise in interactive techniques, parametric design, and spatial psychology to craft an experience that is both engaging for participants and valuable as research for creators and scholars.
Beyond exhibitions, Yang and their team are committed to fostering broader discourse on the role of generative AI and virtual reality in shaping human experiences. By developing open-source documentation and an online platform for Palimpsest, they aim to create a space where participants can access the project, share their experiences, and connect with the memories of others. These efforts would not only expand the project’s reach but also invite a global audience to engage in conversations about the transformative potential of AI in art, design, and human experience. Shin-Rung Yang’s work serves as a testament to the power of cross-disciplinary innovation. As their creative journey continues to unfold, new pathways for creative expression will emerge.
