AI JOINS US

We cordially invite you to the opening of our new series ‘AI JOINS US’ on Tuesday, 27 May at 6 pm! You can find more information here.

‘AI JOINS US’ is a new series at the Stadtgalerie Saarbrücken. Here, exhibition spaces become spaces of possibility! The St. Johanner Markt Raum is a prototype under construction: We are creating a place that is constantly changing and where varying projects by different participants on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) will be realised. Together with our visitors and artists, we will discover the development of AI and exchange ideas on how we can use it to shape desirable futures. The space is divided into two areas. The first area is a family-friendly place to hang out and exchange ideas. The second part of the room is for project work.

Melancholic Machines' by Hojin Kang (Artistic Director), Fabby (Programming AI Interaction) and Conrad Hoffmann (Programming Audio Playlist) will be the first piece. All age groups are invited to interact with artificial intelligence.

‘Melancholic Machines’ is an expansive media installation that explores the role of AI in the present day. Visitors can directly influence an AI through their movements and gestures. The work is complemented by an audio playlist in which the voices of various people from the worlds of art, culture and technology share their personal and social perspectives on AI.

The project juxtaposes the playful effortlessness of machine systems with the critical reflection of human actors. It invites us to pause and ask questions about the future:

How will AI change our lives?
Who will shape the development - and who will be left out?
Will we ourselves end up being the melancholy machines?

Technical realisation
A webcam tracks the movement of visitors. The recorded data is forwarded to ComfyUI and used as the basis for the AI images generated in real time. The sequence of real-time AI images is then projected onto the wall using a projector. On a tablet, visitors have the opportunity to listen to voice messages from a wide variety of actors who share their thoughts and feelings about AI.

Credits

Artistic director: Hojin Kang
Curator: Katharina Ritter, M.A. (Director of Stadtgalerie Saarbrücken)
Programming (AI interaction): Fabby
Programming (Audio Playlist): Conrad Hoffmann