Artificial Individuality, Memo Akten, Mario Klingemann, Leah Schrager, Robert Seidel
On Saturday 25th of May, DAM Projects will be open only by appointment.
We cordially invite you to the opening on Saturday, April 27 from 3–6 pm.
5 pm discussion (in German) between Robert Seidel (artist and curator) and Robert Henke (musician, composer and programmer)
"Between control and autonomy - areas of tension in AI"
Thousands of images are created every day with the help of so-called AI (artificial intelligence). But who creates them, what role does the individual using the AI programme play and to what extent does the complex AI programme influence the outcome? Just as we don't have more outstanding photographers, now that it's easy to take a spectacular photo with a smartphone, we don't suddenly have more great artists thanks to AI.
Our selection introduces you to some outstanding artists who had already developed their own artistic position before using AI as another tool.
Memo Akten
"I write software - I design systems that abstract behaviour." Akten deals with the questions of our existence in many different ways and favours the use of new technologies. He dedicated his PhD to the study of deep neural networks, a form of AI. This may sound very abstract, but his works are characterised by a great sensuality. With the work on display, "Waves", he takes up an archaic theme that has always touched people. However, he extends this concept to waves in the earth's crust, slow-motion waves on geological time scales and mountains.
Mario Klingemann
Klingemann is considered one of the most important pioneers who worked with AI systems at an early stage. His work includes sculptures, interactive software and images or digital formats such as NFTs. The "Neural Decay" series was created in 2017 and was expanded as part of the "Neurones" exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in 2019. We are showing this series for the first time in Germany.
Leah Schrager
Schrager experienced her breakthrough as an artist during the COVID crisis, in which she used her Instagram account to explore the topics of self-perception as a woman, follower expectations, sexuality and ideals. Her playful approach to these topics, using only self-portraits, made her internationally recognised. At times, she reached 5 million followers. She then became a mother and uses AI to address this in a humorous and impressive way with her latest series of pictures.
Robert Seidel
We showed the early masterpiece "_grau" by Seidel as part of a special presentation of digital art at Art Cologne in 2005. Since then, his work has become increasingly important internationally and reached a new peak with the award-winning experimental film "Hysteresis", where dance, animation and AI systems combined with sound produce a dense work typical of our time. "As an artist, I want to open a discourse on these unique forms of AI creation - with implications beyond film and other media, to that singularity in which history collapses to a single point in the present." R. Seidel, 2021
Not a day goes by without the topic of AI and all its facets – economic, legal, ethical and artistic – being the subject of lively debate. In this exhibition, you have the opportunity to approach this genre in a playful way. We look forward to seeing you!
Installation view
Works
