The Fusion of Science and Art: Professor Oh Jun-ho Takes the Stage with a Robot

Professor Oh Jun-ho Professor Emeritus at KAIST is a pioneer in robotics who developed the humanoid robot “HuBo” and now serves as the Chief Technology Officer at Rainbow Robotics a startup founded on that technology. At the 2024 G-Artians Connecting Week he delivered a lecture and presented a humanoid robot performance unveiling new possibilities in the fusion of science and art.

During the event a humanoid robot dressed in a hanbok and holding a fan performed a traditional fan dance alongside dancer Kim Won-kyung leaving a lasting impression on the audience. In his lecture Professor Oh discussed the history and future directions of robotics as well as its integration with artificial intelligence emphasizing his philosophy: “Let robots be robots and humans be humans.”

Professor Oh explained his innovative approach on stage:

“We decided to incorporate Korean dance with the art form by integrating it with our robot RB-Y1. The dance instructor participated with great enthusiasm and even the engineers were excited by the new experience during the preparation process. It is incredibly rewarding to see such a fusion resonating strongly with the younger generation.”

Speaking of the LED screens that surrounded the venue and the open stage design he remarked “I was amazed by the grandeur that exceeded my expectations” and expressed his admiration for the meticulous stage setup and event planning. Commenting on the challenges of managing a stage that combined both a performance and a lecture he noted “At times I was unsure where to focus my gaze which was a bit disconcerting but the creation of a natural flow of attention was very positive.”

Professor Oh further emphasized the emerging role of robots and media art as new tools in performance art:

“Robots are an extremely suitable medium for expressing movement. I anticipate that if mobile robots capable of reproducing human arm movements—like ours—are introduced they will enable even richer artistic expressions.”

On the subject of what is required for successful collaboration between science and art he noted:

“While science and technology are already widely used in the arts not every artist can easily access them. Increasing accessibility to these tools is essential.”

He also offered advice on evolving G-Artians into a global event:

“If the event is imbued with more symbolism and narrative it will attract even greater attention. We need to capture global interest by combining K-Culture with our content. Moreover if iconic international figures participate—much like at the Davos Forum—G-Artians could grow into an even more influential platform.”

Emphasizing the need for a balanced approach in the emotional integration of technology Professor Oh stated:

“For robots to become true emotional companions to humans technology must fuse with a sense of feeling. Robots should be capable of providing comfort yet we must remain cautious of excessive commercialization and technological abuse. A balanced approach is necessary to ensure that both robots and humans can coexist while maintaining their distinct identities.”

He concluded by expressing his hope that robots will continue to play a pivotal role as mediators between science technology and art in the future.

G-Artians 2024: Soaring as a Global Hub for Tech-Art

The “G-Artians 2024 Connecting Week” was an international event held from December 1 to 3 2024 at the Daejeon Convention Center and WIP Square. The event offered a unique stage to showcase the fusion of science technology and cultural arts. Co-hosted by KAIST the Paik Nam June Art Center and the Daejeon Tourism Organization it was designed with the goal of evolving into a global hub for tech-art through creative innovation.

The interview was conducted on the second day of the event December 2 in the press room at the Daejeon Convention Center. It brought together various domestic and international speakers and stakeholders who engaged in in-depth discussions about the meaning and achievements of the event.

Beyond mere fusion the event demonstrated a strong commitment to exploring new possibilities at the intersection of science and art with the aim of positively impacting future industries and society.

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