Hong Kong, May 11, 2009—Can an artist be replaced by a robot? Performance artist Barry Freedland's latest work begs the question. Having exhibited widely across the United States, this is the New York-based artist's first solo exhibition in Asia. In a technology-based performance, he unleashes a small army of robots—programmed to produce drawings—while he sits hidden behind a curtain in a booth. Fascinated by the myth of the artist-genius creating wonders in his studio, Freedland facetiously poses as 'the artist,' in a gallery setting. Like the wizard in the Wizard of Oz, Freedland becomes a conspicuous absence that piques the curiosity of the audience.

Resembling human hands, the small robot-workers create images of Freedland's thumbprints. They are equipped with electronic sensors that allow them to react to their surroundings. Freedland has programmed them to respond in a way that he himself might respond. For instance, if the gallery is crowded and the noise level increases, certain robots will move quickly as one might do if one's progress was being watched. Meanwhile, other robots become self-conscious and stop working altogether. Occasionally, Freedland will emerge from behind the curtain, inspect the drawings, then make adjustments.

Raised in Detroit, Freedland has been surrounded by large-scale industrial machines since a young age. Throughout his career he has created machines and programed them to produce symbols of his identity such as his thumbprint. In an earlier work, Freedland created a machine that suspended him upside down, dipped his head into paint and used his hair as a paintbrush. The audience was given control of the machine, which moved him across paper to create paintings.

Constantly pushing boundaries and evaluating his identity as an artist, Freedland grapples with man's growing reliance on technology. His latest performance piece provokes questions about human consciousness, and puts forth the idea that machines may even possess a consciousness of their own.

This exhibition is being held in conjunction with the Asia Consciousness Festival. For more information about the festival please visit: www.asiaconsciousness.org