Shift

What is AI? For many people, artificial intelligence (AI) is a notion which is both abstract as it is emotionally charged. Despite its enormous potential for technology, medicine and science, the current possibilities of technology are all too often overblown, trivialised or even mystified. But one thing is certain: the lightning speed of progress in the field of AI, or machine-learning, is changing the nature of our social existence and creating new questions which cross over between ethics, responsibility and freedom.

Against this backdrop, the project “Shift”, jointly organised by the Marta Herford Museum and the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, addresses the vision of a future society of organic and mechanical forms of being. It refers to the dialogue between art and science, for along with researchers and philosophers, now many artists are endeavouring to sensually explore abstract scientific and social relationships and sharpen our perception of them through their artworks. Using specific AI software, they are tapping the visual and visionary impact of art to present AI themes to the general public at the subjective, emotional and philosophical levels. The featured works by such international artists as Heather Dewey-Hagborg, Louisa Clement, Hito Steyerl and knowbotiq reflect on a possible cyborgisation of society and the influence of AI on society.
 

The project has initiated the establishment of a close-knit network of regional partners involved in AI research and applications, including Cyber Valley Tübingen, the High Performance Computing Centre (HLRS) at the University of Stuttgart-Vaihingen, the Cluster of Excellence Center for Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) and the Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum. The participating partners are planning and implementing the centrally integrated education and exploration space in the exhibition, along with an accompanying programme of events, dialogical tours, workshops and a symposium. The exhibition will be supplemented by an extensive publication on the subject of AI and society.

Artistic director: Kathleen Rahn
Curators: Friederike Fast, Eva-Marina Froitzheim, Ann Kristin Kreisel, Alina Grehl
Artists: Louisa Clement, Heather Dewey-Hagborg, Christoph Faulhaber, kennedy+swan, knowbotiq, Christian Kosmas Mayer, Philippe Parreno, Hito Steyerl, Jenna Sutela

Exhibition: Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, Stuttgart: 4 Feb. – 21 May 2023 (opens 3 Feb. 2023); Marta Herford, Herford: 17 Jun. – 15 Oct. 2023 (opens 16 Jun. 2023)