Algorithmic Poems

Algorithmic Poems 2018" is a durational text piece projected on a wall. The piece consists of a stream of Google search questions that inquire, "Why do black?" with Google automatically completing the statement. This artwork explores the poetics of language and the constraints imposed by algorithms. It is widely known that technology utilizing algorithms to gather data is susceptible to algorithmic biases. These biases not only restrict the agency and freedom of non-white individuals but, more significantly, affect black people. The "Algorithmic Poems" piece deepened my fascination with technology and algorithms. There is something unsettlingly beautiful about this artwork—it showcases the emergence of organic poems while simultaneously delving into profound questions about the essence of being black in America and the authority to define such an identity. Creating this piece compelled me to critically ponder public space and how Google, through its algorithms, shapes perceptions of blackness and constructs notions of identity. It sparked contemplation on various forms of surveillance