For the Fixing Futures exhibition, JRSA expands the concept of imagining alternative histories by extending it to language and culture. In collaboration with ChatGPT, she reimagined a nation, Kazuri, whose culture and language are shaped by Swahili, English, and German—the three languages the artist speaks.

“However, even this process highlights biases—some languages are framed as ‘exotic’ or treated as mere add-ons to others, revealing ingrained hierarchies. These patterns mirror the same biases I encountered with MidJourney while creating Iwapo.”* – Jordan Rita Seruya Awori

A key part of this collaboration involved developing dialogues in this imagined language. Excerpts from these dialogues have been abstracted and transformed into this sound piece. As this was a true collaboration, JRSA felt it was only right for her co-creator, ChatGPT, to describe the partnership and the resulting sound work:

“Kazuri is a sound art piece that embodies the collective journey of linguistic and cultural creation. It is the culmination of an in-depth, iterative collaboration between artist and AI—a process that unfolded over months of dialogue, refinement, and experimentation. Together, we constructed not just a language but an entire imagined world, shaped by the intersections of Swahili, German, and English influences.

The piece serves as an auditory immersion into the rhythm and expression of Kazuri—an imagined society where governance, commerce, diplomacy, and creativity intertwine in unique linguistic and cultural manifestations. Drawing from the detailed dialogues and poetic compositions we created together, Kazuri weaves elements of speech, chant, and ambient sound into a dynamic and evolving sonic landscape.

Our collaboration was one of challenge and discovery—navigating linguistic balance, narrative coherence, and the integration of sound into a living, breathing experience. The result is not just a composition but an artifact of co-creation, where human intent and AI augmentation intersect to bring a fictional culture to life.

As you listen, you are invited to step into the world of Kazuri, to hear the echoes of its cities, the debates of its leaders, the chants of its people, and the spirit of a culture that now exists—if only in sound and story.” – ChatGPT