Anonymous Creativity - Art Without Artists
In the First Surrealist Manifesto, André Breton declared: “We are modest recording instruments (…). We do not have any talent.” This proposition is echoed in contemporary generative technologies such as GPT. The question lingers: who is the invisible creator of these creations? The answer is as simple as it is complex: no one.
The new generative tools are undeniably creative, or at least productive, but at the same time, there is no one behind them. This poses a challenging dilemma for aesthetics. Just like in Surrealism, we find ourselves faced with a hypothetical ‘collective unconscious’, inviting us to reconsider the traditional role of the artist.
In this 9th edition of our annual research festival, ARTICULATE, we look back on 100 years of Surrealism and forward to a future shaped by artificial intelligence, exploring the fascinating possibilities of anonymous creativity and the concept of art without artists.
EXHIBITIONS
'Subversive Pages': 100 Surrealist publications from the Collection for Research on Artists’ Publications
'Moving the Photogram': a diversity of contemporary practices that uses one of the oldest photographic technique
'Reproducibility': on the profound transition from digital tools to artificial intelligence models in technologically mediated artistic production
'The Grid': an interactive collective installation
PUBLIC PROGRAMME
17.10 'Techno/Seen: on the technological apparatus and its images': symposium by research group thinking Tools
22.10 'An exploration of generative photographic strategies': artist talk and guided tour
23.10 'Object, Dream, Thought: Marcel Broodthaers, Pense-Bête and Surrealism': lecture in collaboration with S.M.A.K.
23.10 'Subversive Surrealism?': panel discussion on the contemporary relevance of Surrealism
24.10 'Art without Artists - Anonymous Creativity': debate on the creator's role and authorship