State of the Nation

The artistic installation “State of the Nation” at the Albertinum in Dresden sheds light on the current mood in Germany. The Dresden filmmaker and video artist will ask eligible voters across Germany about their fears and desires, demands and complaints, hopes and experiences with failure. In numerous interviews with a representative number of citizens, he will gain a snapshot of the political, social and emotional mood of the country. The videos will then be analysed with AI technology and condensed into prognostic statements about the past, present and future. The visitors will be able to listen to and watch selected video sequences of these interviews, as well as AI generated utopian, dystopian, realistic and/or unrealistic scenarios and hallucinations. Not only does the installation encourage visitors to reflect on the state and sentiment of the nation, but also on AI technologies themselves. The project is accompanied by AI experts from the TU Dresden in cooperation with the Schaufler Lab, chairs at the Institute of Artificial Intelligence at the TU Dresden and the National Centres of Excellence for AI Research. The exhibition will be presented in the open-air venue and in the admission-free area of the Albertinum in Dresden starting in spring 2027. The exhibition will be supplemented by panel discussions, e.g. on media-based transformation processes and on conflict and violence research.