Project Interview Q&A
Q1: What inspired the creation of the Nvshu Manifesto Generator?
A: The project was born from a desire to reclaim and reinterpret endangered cultural artifacts through modern technology. Nvshu, as a secret script historically used by women to share their lives and emotions, felt like the perfect vessel to explore themes of identity, resilience, and collective memory. By combining AI with this ancient language, we’re creating a bridge between past and present.
Q2: How does the generator work?
A: The Manifesto Generator uses AI algorithms that incorporate linguistic patterns and randomized structures. This randomness isn’t just technical; it carries symbolic meaning, reflecting how women’s lives have often been shaped by unpredictable circumstances. Each poem is an algorithmic composition that challenges traditional notions of authorship, inviting users to co-create within a living archive.
Q3: Why focus on randomness in the creative process?
A: Randomness mirrors the chaos and beauty of real life, especially in the context of women’s history. Women throughout history have been thrown into situations beyond their control, yet they’ve continually found ways to reclaim agency and create meaning. The AI’s random combinations often result in unexpectedly powerful narratives, echoing the resilience inherent in women’s experiences.
Q4: What role does Nvshu play in the digital era?
A: Nvshu’s resurgence in the digital era is both a form of preservation and transformation. It’s no longer confined to secrecy but shared openly, amplified through technology. This project reframes Nvshu not just as a relic of the past but as a dynamic, evolving language that continues to carry the voices of women globally.
Q5: How do you envision audiences interacting with this project?
A: We want users to engage both emotionally and intellectually. They can generate their own manifesto poems, resonate with others’ creations, and even "light up" poems that speak to them, contributing to a digital constellation called NvVerse. It’s about creating a participatory space where personal reflections become part of a larger, collective narrative.
Q6: What is the significance of the name "NvVerse"?
A: "NvVerse" is a play on words combining "Nv" (from Nvshu) and "Verse" (poetry, universe). It represents both a universe of women’s voices and the poetic verses that make up this expansive archive. It’s a symbolic space where each poem contributes to a growing constellation—a testament to shared experiences across time and space.
Q7: What’s next for the project?
A: Our next step is to launch open calls inviting contemporary poets and artists to collaborate with us, contributing new feminist poems and manifestos. For each piece expressed through Nvshu symbols, we will identify the contributing poet’s phrases, lines, or entire works, creating dedicated online profiles for every collaborator. This will allow audiences to trace specific expressions or declarations in Nvshu back to the contemporary poets behind them. Additionally, we plan to compile these works into journals and annual anthologies, published in North America and the UK, making them accessible for request at bookstores like Barnes & Noble worldwide. Simultaneously, we are exploring collaborations with diverse cultural institutions, art galleries, and digital platforms to expand NvVerse. By integrating NvVerse into interactive exhibitions and workshops, we aim to establish a vibrant, enduring archive of women's manifestos written in Nvshu—embedded within contemporary culture, design, and social discourse—ultimately fostering a global dialogue about language, identity, and the enduring power of women's narratives.