Exploring AI Artmaking: Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst at Serpentine

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“The Call” at Serpentine Gallery showcases artist collaboration between Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst, exploring AI’s impact on creativity and societal issues like data ownership. Through community choir traditions, the exhibition creates immersive experiences and discusses collaborative governance frameworks, advocating for AI as a partner in artistry rather than a replacement.

A new exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery in London, titled “The Call”, showcases the collaborative art practices of AI artists Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst. The exhibition explores the intersection of technology and creativity, urging viewers to consider how AI reshapes artistic processes and societal concerns around data ownership. Drawing on the traditions of community choirs, the duo creates new vocal datasets that blend human and machine voices, enhancing the immersive experience for visitors. Herndon and Dryhurst view AI as a tool for collaboration, emphasising that training AI models is integral to the art-making process. They aim to foster AI’s development through community dynamics and traditions, teaching machines to participate in collective creativity. The exhibition includes recordings from a UK-wide tour where fifteen ensembles performed hymns and vocal exercises, aiding the AI’s learning. Beyond the artistic aspect, “The Call” tackles governance frameworks about data ownership and the collective rights of individuals and groups. The exhibition space itself is transformed into an interactive machine learning environment, serving as a platform for education and engagement with AI. As Herndon highlights, the exhibition amplifies awareness of how captured media could serve as training sets for AI, acknowledging the generative capabilities of each piece of media. “The Call” is not just an exhibition but a live research project reflecting on the coexistence of humans and AI. Herndon states, “With ‘The Call,’ we’re offering a beautiful way to make AI, thinking of the creation of the data as works of art.” Overall, it invites reflection on humanity’s evolving relationship with technology and art.

The exhibition “The Call” marks a significant exploration of AI’s role in art, led by prominent artists Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst. It reflects on how collaborative art-making can be redefined through the integration of artificial intelligence, echoing deeper societal issues such as data ownership and governance. By incorporating community choir traditions into the creative process, Herndon and Dryhurst foster a dialogue about the potential of AI as a collaborative partner rather than a replacement for human creativity.

The exhibition at Serpentine Gallery highlights the evolving landscape of art in the age of AI. It underscores the potential for collaboration between artists and AI while addressing crucial issues of data ownership and collective rights. By utilising community traditions, Herndon and Dryhurst not only engage audiences but also pave the way for a more profound understanding of AI’s role in artistic practices. Ultimately, it reaffirms the importance of human creativity in shaping technological advancements in art.

Original Source: www.forbes.com