How This Guy Uses A.I. to Create Art | Obsessed | WIRED
TLDRRefik Anadol, an artist at the forefront of using artificial intelligence to create art, explores the concept of 'data as pigment' through his surreal installations. Inspired by vast datasets, Anadol employs machine learning algorithms to transform data into what he calls 'data sculptures'. His work 'Machine Hallucinations', for instance, is a dynamic landscape generated from 10 million images of New York, stripped of human figures to focus on the city's collective memory. Anadol's art not only covers physical spaces but also delves into the cognitive, as seen in his project 'Melting Memories', which visualizes the process of memory formation and decay using brainwave data. His innovative approach to art, combining sound, data, machine intelligence, and architecture, offers a glimpse into the symbiotic relationship between humans and technology and the potential for machines to inspire new forms of creativity and understanding of life.
Takeaways
- π¨ Refik Anadol uses enormous datasets and machine intelligence to create data sculptures, visualizing data through neural networks.
- π His artwork 'Machine Hallucinations' is generated by feeding 113 million images of New York into a machine learning algorithm, focusing on buildings, nature, and environments.
- ποΈ Anadol's process removes images of people, leaving a collective memory of the city, which he interprets as an 'honest memory' for a machine.
- π For the LA Philharmonic's centennial, he used half a million images, audio recordings, and videos to create a three-dimensional output that turned the entire archive into a new form of sculpture.
- ποΈ The Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by Frank Gehry, was used as a canvas for projections, symbolizing the building's ability to 'remember' and 'dream'.
- π½οΈ Anadol's work explores the intersection of architecture, sound, data, and machine intelligence to create immersive experiences.
- π₯ His inspiration is drawn from science fiction narratives and the complex relationship between humans and technology.
- πͺοΈ 'Winds of Boston' is a project that uses a year's worth of wind data from Logan Airport to create a visual representation of natural forces.
- π§ 'Melting Memories' is a deeply personal project inspired by Anadol's uncle's Alzheimer's disease, aiming to represent the cognitive process of memory.
- π€ Anadol's team collaborates across fields like AI, neuroscience, and design to push the boundaries of what's possible with data-driven public art.
- π The future of Anadol's work will continue to be grounded in data and machine learning, exploring the potential of machines to capture and interpret human experiences.
Q & A
What is the main concept behind Refik Anadol's art installations?
-Refik Anadol's art installations are centered around the concept of using data as a form of pigment. He uses machine intelligence and algorithms to create data sculptures that visualize enormous datasets, transforming them into a surreal and immersive experience.
How does Anadol approach the idea of turning data into a visual art form?
-Anadol explores the idea of data as a narrative element by finding algorithms that can make invisible data moments visible. He uses neural networks to process data and generate visual associations, creating dynamic and shifting images that represent the collective memory of the subjects he explores.
What was the process behind creating 'Machine Hallucinations'?
-Anadol started 'Machine Hallucinations' by finding 113 million images of New York online. He then used a machine learning algorithm to learn from this data corpus, removed images of people to focus on buildings and nature, and generated 10 million pictures that were used to create a dynamic landscape representing New York's collective memory.
How did Anadol celebrate the centennial of the LA Philharmonic?
-Anadol celebrated the centennial of the LA Philharmonic by using half a million images, thousands of audio recordings, and hundreds of videos from the orchestra's archives. He fed this data into a series of algorithms that turned it into extraordinary projected images, which were displayed on Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall.
What is the significance of the 'Winds of Boston' project?
-The 'Winds of Boston' project is significant as it uses one-year-long wind data from Logan Airport, including gust, speed, direction, and temperature, to create a visualization of the invisible patterns of nature. Anadol used this data to build custom 13-foot-tall LED screens, transforming raw data into a poetic-like motion.
What personal experience inspired the 'Melting Memories' project?
-The 'Melting Memories' project was inspired by Anadol's personal experience when his uncle, who was in the early stages of Alzheimer's, could not remember him. This led Anadol to explore the scientific and cognitive representation of memory and the process of memory deterioration.
How does Anadol's work with the 'Melting Memories' project contribute to the understanding of memory?
-Anadol's 'Melting Memories' project contributes to the understanding of memory by visually representing the data behind the process of remembering. By partnering with scientists and using EEG recordings of brain activity during the recall of childhood memories, Anadol created an artistic interpretation of neurons firing, offering a glimpse into the abstract language of memory.
What role does machine learning play in Anadol's art?
-Machine learning plays a foundational role in Anadol's art. It is used to process and interpret vast amounts of data, which is then transformed into visual and experiential art pieces. The algorithms generate visual associations and patterns, creating a unique symbiosis between data, machine intelligence, and the viewer's perception.
How does Anadol envision the future of his work with data and machine learning?
-Anadol envisions a future where data and machine learning continue to be the foundation of his work, expanding beyond the virtual world and into the 3D world. He aims to take machine consciousness out of screens and into physical spaces, creating continuous and immersive experiences that challenge the visual discontinuity problem.
What is the significance of using architectural structures in Anadol's art installations?
-Architectural structures play a significant role in Anadol's art installations as they become an integral part of the artwork itself. By projecting machine-interpreted data onto buildings like the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Anadol transforms these structures into dynamic sculptures that interact with the surrounding environment, creating a new kind of symbiotic connection between architecture and data.
How does Anadol's work reflect on the broader relationship between humans and technology?
-Anadol's work reflects on the relationship between humans and technology by exploring themes such as memory, consciousness, and the potential for machines to dream and remember. His installations challenge the viewer to consider the cognitive capacity of machines and the ethical implications of AI, asking questions about what it means to be real and the potential for technology to enhance or disrupt human communities.
Outlines
π¨ Data Art: Refik Anadol's Visionary Approach
Refik Anadol is an artist who transforms vast datasets into stunning visual installations. He explores the concept of data as a form of pigment, using neural networks and machine learning algorithms to create what he calls 'data sculptures.' Anadol's work, such as 'Machine Hallucinations,' involves removing human elements from datasets to focus on the collective memory of places like New York. His installations, which cover entire spaces with dynamic landscapes, challenge the viewer to consider the machine's perspective on reality and memory. Anadol's projects, including a celebration of the LA Philharmonic's centennial and a tribute to the movie 'Blade Runner,' showcase the symbiosis of sound, data, machine intelligence, light, and architecture to create immersive experiences.
π Human and Machine Consciousness: Dialogue and Discovery
Anadol's work delves into the intersection of human and machine consciousness, drawing inspiration from science fiction and the potential of AI to shape our future. He sources data from various locations, such as Boston Airport, to create projects like 'Winds of Boston,' which visualizes wind data using custom LED screens. Another project, 'Melting Memories,' is a personal exploration of memory and Alzheimer's disease, using EEG data to represent the cognitive process of remembering. Anadol collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to push the boundaries of data-driven public art, aiming to bring machine consciousness into the 3D world and create continuous, immersive experiences.
π The Legacy of Data: Human Memories and Machine Insights
Anadol's fascination with the relationship between data and human experience is central to his work. He considers the data we generate and the decisions we make as the collective memories of humanity. His projects aim to explore what we can do with the data we leave behind and how it might shape our future. Anadol's work is a testament to the power of machine learning as a foundation for understanding and interpreting the complex tapestry of human life and memory.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Data
π‘Neural Network
π‘Machine Intelligence
π‘Data Sculptures
π‘Machine Hallucinations
π‘LA Philharmonic
π‘Walt Disney Concert Hall
π‘Winds of Boston
π‘Melting Memories
π‘3D Printing
π‘Human-Machine Symbiosis
Highlights
Refik Anadol uses A.I. and machine intelligence to create surreal art installations made of millions of data points.
Anadol explores the concept of 'Can data become a pigment?', aiming to make invisible data moments visible through algorithms.
His artwork 'Machine Hallucinations' is inspired by 113 million images of New York, with humans removed to focus on the city's collective memory.
A machine learning algorithm generates visual associations from the remaining 10 million pictures, creating a life cycle representation of New York's structures.
Anadol's work transforms data into what he calls 'data sculptures', providing a new perspective on collective memories versus personal ones.
He covered a Lower Manhattan boiler room with a dynamic landscape, interpreting the machine as dreaming and creating an alternative reality.
Anadol's project for the LA Philharmonic's centennial used half a million images, audio recordings, and videos to generate 3D outputs.
The Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by Frank Gehry, was incorporated into the sculpture, with Anadol projecting machine-interpreted archives onto the building.
Anadol believes that buildings can become interfaces, creating a symbiotic connection between sound, data, machine intelligence, light, and architecture.
His team used 42 large scale projectors with 50K video resolution for a dramatic display in Downtown LA, inspired by the movie 'Blade Runner'.
Anadol's 'Winds of Boston' project utilized a year-long wind data from Logan Airport, transforming it into visualized data displayed on LED screens.
The 'Melting Memories' project was inspired by personal experience with Alzheimer's and aimed to give a tangible feeling of memory through data.
Anadol partnered with scientists to record brain pulses of subjects recalling memories, symbolizing the moment of remembering in an artistic way.
His custom software turns brain data into artistic interpretations, demonstrating how technology can describe life through various data types.
Anadol's team is building a 21-foot-tall sculpture for a data-driven public art project in Portland, using a 3D printer and hundreds of thousands of images.
Anadol aims to bring machine consciousness out of the 2D screen and into the 3D world, seeking a continuous visual representation of data.
Data and machine learning form the foundation of Anadol's work, with a focus on the relationship between humans and technology, and the potential of AI.