As part of Esch2022, the European capital of culture project, computer scientists at the University of Luxembourg will create the AI & ART pavilion, a multidisciplinary and interactive environment in which scientists, artists and the public can meet and interact. Located on Belval campus, the pavilion will offer its activities throughout 2022.
Artificial intelligence (AI) continuously reshapes everyday life. It touches contradictions, principles and ideals, it reformulates fundamental questions regarding the role of humanity, and raises new ones. In order to ensure that European ideals and principles are incorporated and preserved in the emerging new reality, the contribution of society in its entirety is required.
The AI & ART pavilion in Belval aims to contribute to this ambitious effort. The pavilion will build bridges between computer scientists, artists and the public and foster interactions. Heavy traffic on these bridges is necessary to create the 21st century Europe worthy of our cultural and political heritage.
“New developments in AI provide an exciting occasion to revisit our relation to art and to the world. The AI & Art pavilion will encourage interest in AI from the general public, which is one of our important responsibilities as scientists”, explains Prof. Jean-Marc Schlenker, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine.
The AI & ART pavilion will consist of three branches
- Singularity 42! will collect initiatives in which artists reflect on the interaction between our physical and digital existence. The aim is to connect scientists and artists by providing high-level technical and scientific support to implement art projects, and vice versa, to involve artists in generating designs for creative engineers whose concepts require the expertise of visual artists.
- Project Corner(stone) will offer playful and interactive initiatives ensuring that in the AI & ART pavilion, visitors can experiment, discover and rethink their own convictions. These small-scale projects will use AI techniques to create an art product.
- Project Magneto will include diverse events to educate audiences on the role of AI and involve them in discussions. The events will be organised to reach students, general or specialised audiences.
Representing Remix Culture
The AI & ART pavilion’s objectives and activities reflect Esch 2022’s aim to create synergies, guarantee sustainable development and ensure public participation. They are also closely aligned with Esch2022’s motto Remix Culture and its four sub-sections Remix Art, Remix Europe, Remix Nature and Remix Yourself.
It will connect the industrial heritage of the Belval site with the scientific nature of the University; it will invite artists and researchers to join forces; it will elevate public awareness about the ethical and societal effects of new technologies; finally, it will help the individual to find a sense of community in the face of contemporary challenges.
“The aesthetics, nature and atmosphere of the Belval campus and its industrial heritage call for reinforcing a conceptual continuation of its history. The AI &ART pavilion builds precisely on this. By anchoring the future to its own past, and by presenting the digital revolution in the physical context of its predecessor, the industrial heritage of Belval becomes more than aesthetics: it represents the continuation of history and provides the roots for the digital future”, explains Prof. Sjouke Mauw, Head of Department of computer science.
Management Team:
The AI & ART pavilion is coordinated by Leon van der Torre (Project leader), Amro Najjar (Head of AI ROBOLAB), Daniel Karpati (Project co-ordinator) from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Luxembourg.