Artist CJ Hendry Used ChatGPT to Design JuJu Character for Singapore Exhibition
Source: CNA Lifestyle
Australian artist CJ Hendry used ChatGPT and AI tools to design the JuJu character at the centre of her new immersive exhibition at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, running from June 20 to July 18 at IMBA Theatre.
Australian artist CJ Hendry has opened JuJu World at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, a large-scale immersive exhibition built around an AI-generated character she designed using ChatGPT. The exhibition, which runs from June 20 to July 18 at the IMBA Theatre, marks a notable intersection of generative AI and commercial art in Singapore's cultural scene.
Hendry turned to ChatGPT and other AI tools after being approached by Phillips Auction House to design a toy. She iterated 30 to 40 times before landing on the final JuJu design. The first output was, in her own words, horrible - but by persisting with the AI, she eventually created a friendly, toy-like character she described as cute. Hendry openly acknowledged the cultural context, saying JuJu was a commentary on the Labubu phenomenon - the popular collectible art toys by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung that have taken Singapore and Asia by storm.
JuJu World is the latest in Hendry's mission to create art experiences beyond the traditional high-end market, where some of her original works are valued at US$100,000. Her previous Flower Market installation in Singapore was a free exhibition where visitors took away complimentary flowers - and generated such crowds that scalpers began reselling them online. Hendry's response to the hype was notably laissez-faire: hype comes with the territory, she said, and she refuses to put constraints on how audiences engage with her work.
The exhibition merchandise includes blind-box plush toys at S$39, large plushies at S$99, and other lifestyle items. Hendry's embrace of AI as a creative collaborator - rather than a replacement for human artistry - reflects a broader trend in Singapore's art and design community, where generative AI tools are increasingly used for prototyping and concept development.
Why it matters for Singapore: JuJu World is a case study in how generative AI is reshaping creative production in Singapore. A globally recognised artist using ChatGPT to design a sellable character - and staging the resulting exhibition in Singapore - signals that the city-state's art and cultural sector is actively engaging with AI rather than resisting it. As Singapore positions itself as a hub for both AI innovation and cultural tourism, projects like JuJu World demonstrate that the two ambitions are increasingly intertwined.