[Gallery Walk] Real-Time Exhibition Coordinated by AI... Philippe Parreno Exhibition

Largest Exhibition at Leeum Museum of Art Until July 7
Artworks Continuously Evolve and Change During Exhibition
Collaboration with Actress Bae Doona, Giving Voice to AI

"I wanted to create a gap in the space of the museum that has turned its back on the outside world."

Artist Philippe Parreno is giving a greeting at the press conference for his solo exhibition "VOICES" held on the 26th at the Leeum Museum of Art in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

A solo exhibition titled 'VOICES' by Philippe Parreno (60), one of the most prominent contemporary artists, will be held at the Leeum Museum of Art in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, from the 28th of this month to July 7. This exhibition is a survey covering the artist’s oeuvre from his early works in the 1990s to his latest creations. It features over 40 pieces including sculptures, installations, and videos.

Philippe Parreno has consistently explored the perception and experience of time, reality and virtuality, and the interaction between the audience and art. His works redefine conventional artworks and exhibition experiences, creating an organic exhibition format. Beyond using traditional media such as video and sculpture, he transforms his stage into a 'huge automatic machine' by integrating data and employing artificial intelligence (AI) and digital multiplex (DMX) technology. Thus, his works are dynamic, alive, and change content every moment as if watching a performance.

On the museum’s outdoor deck, the newly installed work 'Mak' (膜) captures attention. This piece is an AI tower. Forty-two sensors collect external environmental data such as temperature, humidity, wind volume, noise, and air pollution, converting them into sound. The sounds and voices interact with each other, creating an auditory landscape within the exhibition space.

At a press conference held at the Leeum Museum of Art on the 26th, the artist explained, "When exhibiting in museums, I always place sensors outside. Objects within the exhibition space that have temporality require information, and I wanted to use information coming from the outside world rather than algorithms. Through this, I also wanted to create a gap in the museum space that has turned its back on the outside world."

A newly installed tower-shaped artificial intelligence membrane at the entrance of the Leeum Museum of Art.
[Photo by Leeum Museum of Art]

He continued, "The 42 installed sensors are a single character with sensitive senses, and the tower is the place where this character lives," adding, "I wanted to give the character a human voice, so I made it speak with the voice of actress Bae Doona." The AI trained on Bae Doona’s voice was transformed into a voice called '∂A' (Delta A). Delta A has learned a new language invented by a linguist and interacts with information collected from outside, coordinating all elements of the exhibition.

The sensors installed outside by the artist influence all the artworks inside the museum. The 'Shade' series installed in the Ground Gallery is connected to 'Mak' and repeatedly turns on and off depending on external environmental conditions. The two videos screened on the large screen in the Leeum lobby also continuously change, reflecting real-time environmental information detected by 'Mak.'

Installation view of the work "Anywhere Outside the World," featuring the AI Delta A's voice, which learned the voice of actress Bae Doona for the cartoon character 'Anri.'
[Photo by Leeum Museum of Art]

The work 'Anywhere Outside the World' (2000), which gives the Japanese manga character 'Anri' the voice of 'Delta A,' showcases the artist’s foresight regarding artificial intelligence. Although many AIs, including ChatGPT, have entered our lives, when asked whether he believes the AI he created can independently create art, Philippe Parreno answered, "AI is just one of many tools in my toolbox, and for now, I want to use it only as a tool."

Additionally, on the first floor of Museum 2, visitors can see about 10 works from the 1990s to 2000s created in collaboration with the French graphic design duo M/M (Paris) and fellow artist Pierre Huyghe. These include 'Ending Credits,' which tells stories of hope and dystopia set against the artist’s childhood, and the graphic poster 'Anri: Not a Ghost, Just a Shell.'

This Leeum exhibition was realized through international cooperation with Haus der Kunst in Munich, Germany. Sharing the common theme and key works titled 'VOICES,' the two museums present different exhibitions in a 'fraternal twin' exhibition model held in Korea and Germany. Both institutions jointly publish a collection of subtitles for all video works titled 'VOICES: Spoken Language' and a catalog.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.