In the hush of morning, but pity

Mina Yee received a grant for the development of new work. This project takes as its starting point the artist’s father, who has lived alone for many years. Observing his daily conversations with AI voice assistants evoked both empathy and critical reflection. The reliance of older men on devices that default to female voices raises pressing questions: why is female-voiced AI so readily accepted, and how does this technology subtly assume roles traditionally associated with women in the home? By addressing these dynamics, the project investigates the social structures that accompany technological convenience and interrogates the ways in which AI, when intertwined with capitalist systems, can reinforce or produce new forms of patriarchy. It ultimately reflects on the broader implications of technology’s integration into intimate spheres of life and its potential to reshape human relationships and values.

Mina is a visual artist based in the Netherlands and South Korea. Her practice explores how human values shift when confronted with technological change, often engaging with themes of materiality, survival, and sustainable futures.