Artworks we are showcasing –

Cities Tango: Leicester+Dubai by Ernest Edmonds: the installation is co-located in Leicester (also at LCB Depot and De Montfort University campus, VJ Patel Building LED screen) and the Dubai Expo 2020 as part of the UK Pavilion’s permanent exhibition for the Expo – its screens display images of and from each city to the other. Images are dynamically revealed within an otherwise abstract structure. A set of local photographs are interlaced with colour stripes. Each city, and the people in them, interact with one another across time zones. The colours, stripes and timings used are driven by movements at each location. Immediate responses to rapid movement are seen by the audience in each location. In each place there is a screen which is interactive, using a computer and camera, showing an ever-changing blend of colour bands and images from the other city (connected over the Internet). The installation is an example of an interactive cybernetic system. For more information about the artist, artwork and how it uses AI, and its locations as part of the Art AI Festival, visit here.

ArchXtonic by Fabrizio Poltronieri: the installation is co-located in Leicester (also at Haymarket Shopping Centre) and the Dubai Expo 2020 as part of the UK Pavilion’s permanent exhibition for the Expo – its screens display images in real-time.  The artwork is a generative, artificial intelligence-based artwork. It is an artistic exploration of imaginary urban landscapes connected by the computer’s mind (the AI algorithm) and cross-cultural architectonic styles, reflecting the rich collection of buildings and structures of various modern architectural styles in Leicester and Dubai. Using AI, it generates a unique urban landscape, connecting both cultures to imagine a future where the boundaries are increasingly blurred in all aspects, celebrating the differences and at the same time promoting the integration of distinct histories and lifestyles. For more information about the artist, artwork and how it uses AI, and its locations as part of the Art AI Festival, visit here.

Degenerative Cultures by Cesar & Lois: The artwork is an example of a ‘biohybrid’ (digital and biological) network, comprising a live mould with an AI. The system integrates with the internet, using a Twitter bot to communicate with the audience about our degenerating relationship with nature, becoming a ‘digital fungus’. To interact with Degenerative Cultures, tweet mentioning @HelloFungus or #HelloFungus and see what it has to say to you!  For more information about the artists, artwork and how it uses AI, visit here.

PLEA by Tomislav Stipancic: The work is an affective robotic head which has been developed to analyze and employ behaviours using a form of biomimicry.  PLEA analyzing different sources of social signals from those who interact with it, including facial emotions, levels of loudness in the room, intensity of body movements of those moving around the installation and also sentiment analysis of speech that it hears. Using AI, the system interprets the signals to produce non-verbal expressions using information visualization techniques.  The robot can reason about emotional clues of the person interacting with it and respond.  PLEA currently has limited verbal capabilities but in future this type of robot will be able to speak.  The robot is a proof-of-concept, and its presence in the Art AI Festival is to illustrate latest developments of affective robots which are capable of interacting with humans. The system is recording responses of the person during interaction (no personal data that identifies individuals is being gathered).  For more information about the artist, artwork and how it uses AI, visit here.  The creator of PLEA will also be working on a LIVE research project for a part of the time it is installed, to find out more visit here.

We are thrilled to offer three workshops as part of Beta X @ Heritage Action Zone.  For details of each, including dates, sign-up information and workshop overview, please see the respective pages – here is an overview!

Performing with an AI: how do you perform with an AI as a co-performer?  This workshop will explore and present practical ways you might collaborate with AI in live performances.  It is led by Piotr Mirowski and Boyd Branch, comedy improv actors, performers and part of the Improbotics international performance troupe. More information about the workshop is here

Chatter-Bot: build a Twitter chatbot workshop led by Libby Heaney, internationally renowned artist working with AI.  Libby’s artwork Britbot, a chatbot based on the UK’s Citizenship Test, was part of the 2019 Art AI Festival. More information about the workshop is here

Build-A-Bot: a robot-making workshop, led by Sidefest (the team behind the popular Creat-A-Con family event). More information about the workshop is here

To book these workshops, use the Eventbrite link at the top of this page or click here

Art AI Playbook comprises 3 downloadable themed booklets that guide you through learning about AI – and its not all about computers!  The playbooks are targeted towards those aged 8-10 years old, but is suitable for all beginners above 8 years! It has been designed for the Art AI Festival by SideFest.  The themes covered are faces, patterns and words.  Some of the exercises do need a computer to complete but many activities do not.  For more information and instructions on downloading the Art AI Playbook sections, visit here.