In this special NFT Morning x Paris Photo episode, recorded ahead of the Digital Sector curated by Nina Roehrs, we explored the Artverse × Tezos exhibition “The Sensory and the Remembered in the Digital Age.” The show highlights leading Asian artists who bridge photography, AI, and cultural memory.
While the exhibition also includes Grant Yun and Reuben Wu, this conversation brought together four of the featured artists whose works are presented at the Artverse stand at Paris Photo: Shavonne Wong, Genesis Kai, Emi Kusano, and Niceaunties.
Shavonne Wong presents After Ophelia, a haunting reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s tragic heroine through 3D and AI-generated imagery. Built from online text and visual data, the series reflects on how technology reshapes storytelling and emotion.
Niceaunties unveils Mirror into Auntieverse in an exclusive world premiere at Paris Photo. This interactive installation transforms the viewer’s reflection into animated “aunties” who speak with humor and tenderness. The 13 unique Aunties, each minted as an NFT on Tezos, celebrate Southeast Asian matriarchal culture — a mix of affection, irony, and authority.
Emi Kusano showcases new pieces from her Office Ladies series, where AI self-portraits of women perform repetitive gestures inspired by 1980s Japanese office culture. Through these dreamlike scenes, she questions femininity, societal expectations, and the blurred lines between nostalgia and automation.
Genesis Kai, a non-human digital artist, draws inspiration from traditional Chinese ink painting.
Together, these artists — supported by Grida and Tezos — represent one of the most ambitious showcases of digital creation at Paris Photo 2025, illustrating how Asian contemporary art is redefining the future of photography and algorithmic storytelling.
Useful Links: Catalogue of the show
Emi Kusano - Greenhouse of Service
Shavonne Wong, Ophelia Retold, 2025
Genesis Kai, Every Shade of Crimson Tells the Stories We Once Knew Ill, still
Nice Aunties, Auntie Bin Cares About Your Love Lite
Follow the artists:
Emi Kusano
Shavonne Wong
Genesis Kai
Nice Aunties
