In the middle of NowHere

Oliver Chūn Xú

12.02.26 — 07.03.26

In the middle of NowHere concludes Xú’s exhibition trilogy, following My Single-Bed Room and Open home (2024). Departing from the vast, data-driven complexity of Large Language Models, Xú presents a ‘Small Language Model for States of Being’, a minimalist framework that reimplements the Traffic Light System as a regulatory interface for human feelings. Green represents grounded, declarative statements; Yellow signals hesitant, introspective questions; and Red indicates disruptive exclamations.

In NowHere Xú uses a lexicon of micro-statements formatted by a strict grammar structure— [Pronoun] + [Linking Verb] + [Complement]—to map the cycles of assertion, doubt, and reaffirmation. This constraint creates a family of ‘micro-statements' such as “I am hungry”, “I am lonely” or “We are together.”

By coding emotional movements into nine-word cycles, it translates the grounded affirmation of “I am here”, the hesitant doubt of “Am I here?”, and the reaffirmation of “Here I am”, into signals of green, yellow, and red. The work offers a ‘self-check-in tool’ to navigate the tension between systemic compliance and our inner landscapes.

At this particular moment in time, how do you feel? We invite you to write it down anywhere on the gallery wall. Be present. To be visible for other people to see. Share their status on the timeline of their social media. I am visible, am I visible, visible I am.

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Oliver Chūn Xú is an artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, whose practice spans painting, programming, moving images, photography, sculpture, and public installations. Born in China, Xú moved to New Zealand at age 20 to pursue computer science at Waikato University, later also completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) at Elam, University of Auckland.

Xú repurposes found materials, ready-made objects, and electronics to explore alternate realities, drawing inspiration from science, technology, language and culture. Previous exhibitions include Open Home (Studio One - Toi Tu, 2024), My Single-Bed Room (Window Gallery, 2024), The Gardens of Conjectures (Upstairs Gallery, 2018), and Flag It! (Depot Artspace, 2014).

Poster Design by Harris Wilson

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