Qingyi Ren (they/them) is a non-binary digital artist and STS researcher at Critical Media Lab Basel whose work delves into the intersection of art, technology, and social justice. With a passion for unravelling the complex web of gender theory, AI ethics, and digital identity.
They Currently based in Basel and Linz, dedicate their artistic practice to unveiling the subtle biases ingrained within the realm of machine learning and its profound impact on marginalized identities. Through their thought-provoking artistry, they challenge the status quo and inspire critical conversations surrounding the ethics of artificial intelligence.
They are currently a PhD candidate in the collaborative MAKE/SENSE Program at The University of Arts Linz and The Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW.
Their PhD project is funded by The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) from 2024 to 2028.
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ABOUT ME
IN BETWEEN
2022
Through a critical examination of the narratives and language employed in face recognition technology, particularly Amazon Rekognition, I have discovered that even artificial intelligence products trained on binary gender databases struggle to define gender in a strictly binary manner. By presenting diverse photographs of individuals alongside Amazon Rekognition's gender classification results, I aim to underscore the performative nature of gender, even within the realm of cyberspace.
Consequently, I have curated a database comprising various results generated by Amazon Rekognition, spanning classifications from 50% to 99% male and female. Leveraging machine learning Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), I have crafted a novel model capable of generating randomized portraits. This endeavor serves as a digital exploration of the performative aspects of gender, echoing and challenging the limitations imposed by technology on our understanding of identity within the digital sphere
“Feeding The Queer Archive”- The Queer Archive, Athens, Greece-From May 12, 2022 to May 22, 2022.
“IN BETWEEN“- Artscloud Digital Art Fair Top 100 Artis, Seoul, Republic of Korea - January 21, 2022-May 31 2022.