{"id":3222,"date":"2024-12-21T14:49:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-21T22:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/?post_type=pkm_artwork&#038;p=3222"},"modified":"2025-04-11T21:52:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-12T04:52:07","slug":"the-game-of-whispers","status":"publish","type":"pkm_artwork","link":"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/works\/the-game-of-whispers\/","title":{"rendered":"The Game of Whispers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Commissioned by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and premiered at the Serendipity Arts Festival in Panjim, Goa, India, The Game of Whispers is a five-channel audiovisual installation and video game that reimagines the artistry of Mughal miniature painting through the lens of artificial intelligence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Set within a reimagined version of Delhi\u2019s historic Red Fort, the piece parallels the political intrigue of Shah Jahan\u2019s court with the role of AI in shaping modern disinformation. By weaving together historical narratives and generative storytelling, the work explores how rumors, manipulation, and shifting power dynamics\u2014once wielded by emperors and courtiers\u2014now echo in increasingly digital world. The artwork highlights the ways technology distorts truth, raising urgent questions about the mechanics of influence, both past and present. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Game of Whispers trailer\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1074765827?h=8d1479ff3f&amp;dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963&amp;autoplay=0&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media\"><\/iframe><\/body><\/html>\n\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Game of Whispers Trailer <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Level Design <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The game\u2019s level design translates the architecture of Delhi\u2019s historic Red Fort into an expansive, navigable map that captures the complexity and scale of Mughal-era design. Key structures\u2014including mosques, gardens, public and private halls, and the emperor\u2019s palace\u2014have been incorporated to ground the world in historical authenticity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tgow-level-1600x1234.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1234\" src=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tgow-level-1600x1234.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3227\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tgow-level-1600x1234.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tgow-level-800x617.jpg 800w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tgow-level-768x593.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tgow-level-1536x1185.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tgow-level.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tgow_1-1600x1062.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1062\" src=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tgow_1-1600x1062.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3226\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tgow_1-1600x1062.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tgow_1-800x531.jpg 800w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tgow_1-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thousands of generative images were produced to develop a distinct visual language inspired by classic 2D games, Mughal miniature paintings (particularly those in LACMA&#8217;s collections), and the fort\u2019s intricate, colorful architecture. While the foundation is AI-generated, the final map has been carefully refined by hand, ensuring a richly detailed environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.21.17\u202fPM-1-1600x735.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"735\" src=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.21.17\u202fPM-1-1600x735.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.21.17\u202fPM-1-1600x735.png 1600w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.21.17\u202fPM-1-800x368.png 800w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.21.17\u202fPM-1-768x353.png 768w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.21.17\u202fPM-1-1536x706.png 1536w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.21.17\u202fPM-1.png 1872w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Character Design (AI NPCs) <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the initial installation of the work at Serendipity Arts Festival, audiences follow the interconnected storylines of five distinct NPCs\u2014game characters not controlled by players but powered by advanced large language models, similar to those that run chatbots like ChatGPT. As they spread rumors and react to unfolding events, viewers witness how a single falsehood can ripple through the palace, shaping relationships and influencing decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.23.55\u202fPM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1370\" height=\"424\" src=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.23.55\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.23.55\u202fPM.png 1370w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.23.55\u202fPM-800x248.png 800w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.23.55\u202fPM-768x238.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1370px) 100vw, 1370px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The characters are directly drawn from Mughal miniature paintings, with figures meticulously extracted in Photoshop, animated using AI, and seamlessly integrated into the game world. This process allows historical imagery to take on new life, transforming static figures into dynamic agents of intrigue and deception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Technology <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The technology powering <em>The Game of Whispers <\/em>is the first of its kind. Mital&#8217;s creative technical studio, The Garden in the Machine Inc., has created custom technology for crafting and bringing autonomous characters to life inside games. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The avatars are imbued with unique personalities, engage in lifelike conversations, and independently navigate their digital worlds. Each time a simulation or a game starts, an entirely unique series of events occurs. The NPCs are given the ability to &#8220;see,&#8221; &#8220;hear,&#8221; and &#8220;understand&#8221; what&#8217;s happening around them. Ultimately, this allows for misinformation to spread and for emergent, dynamic behavior to immerse viewers\/players in the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.26.14\u202fPM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"986\" height=\"972\" src=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.26.14\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.26.14\u202fPM.png 986w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.26.14\u202fPM-800x789.png 800w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.26.14\u202fPM-768x757.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 986px) 100vw, 986px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.27.09\u202fPM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"698\" height=\"716\" src=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.27.09\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3232\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gameplay <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the initial installation of the work with five audiovisual channels, each screen follows a different character.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.33.47\u202fPM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"556\" src=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.33.47\u202fPM-1600x556.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.33.47\u202fPM-1600x556.png 1600w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.33.47\u202fPM-800x278.png 800w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.33.47\u202fPM-768x267.png 768w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.33.47\u202fPM-1536x534.png 1536w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.33.47\u202fPM.png 1900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this simulation, we can see many examples of dynamic conversation, the spread of misinformation, and even dramatic events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"3840\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 2160 \/ 3840;\" width=\"2160\" controls src=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/misinformation-1.mp4\"><\/video><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dynamic conversation <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"3840\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 2160 \/ 3840;\" width=\"2160\" controls src=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/misinformation-2-1.mp4\"><\/video><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The spread of misinformation <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"3840\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 2160 \/ 3840;\" width=\"2160\" controls src=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/death.mp4\"><\/video><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Events (succession\/death) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Installation at Serendipity Arts Festival <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The installation at Serendipity Arts Festival in December 2024, where the work launched, was enjoyed by audiences of all backgrounds and ages for its immersive blend of history, AI, and interactive storytelling. Visitors engaged with the richly detailed world, witnessing how narratives unfold through the actions of AI-driven characters within the reimagined Red Fort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.47.37\u202fPM-edited.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1156\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.47.37\u202fPM-edited.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.47.37\u202fPM-edited.png 1156w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.47.37\u202fPM-edited-800x450.png 800w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.47.37\u202fPM-edited-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1156px) 100vw, 1156px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.47.26\u202fPM-edited.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1160\" height=\"653\" src=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.47.26\u202fPM-edited.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.47.26\u202fPM-edited.png 1160w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.47.26\u202fPM-edited-800x450.png 800w, https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-21-at-2.47.26\u202fPM-edited-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1160px) 100vw, 1160px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> While the current iteration offers a dynamic audiovisual experience, the project is still being developed to enhance interactivity, allowing for deeper engagement with the characters, environment, and evolving storylines, and will be exhibited further in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Collaborators <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Breanna Browning, Arturo Castro, Seth Rosetter, Jacobo Heredia Zurita, Ruipeng&nbsp;Wang, Sanaya Ardeshir, Krishna Jhaveri, Udit Duseja, Maria Kuraeva&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3225,"template":"","categories":[5,16],"work-type":[384,398],"class_list":["post-3222","pkm_artwork","type-pkm_artwork","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","category-technology","work-type-video-art","work-type-video-game"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pkm_artwork\/3222","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pkm_artwork"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/pkm_artwork"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3225"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3222"},{"taxonomy":"work-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pkmital.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/work-type?post=3222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}