CENTAUR, one more premiere for ADAF ONLINE

Share

The 16th international festival for digital arts of Greece, Athens Digital Arts Festival (ADAF), the pioneer longest living institution dedicated to digital culture in the country (est.2005), is launching the Online era and continues its daily activities presenting even more world premieres at ADAF ONLINE. It is the first Digital Art Online Streaming Festival held in Greece, and is announcing another premiere.

On September 4 and 10, 2020, ADAF ONLINE will present for the first time in Greece the show “Centaur” where artificial intelligence becomes part and actively participates in a kinetic show.

CENTAUR | A thought-provoking encounter between dancers and artificial intelligence.

Centaur examines the consequences of using artificial intelligence and the power of technology. The title ‘Centaur’, inspired by the half-horse half-human creature from Greek mythology, is also the name of a computer-science concept that elevates human qualities by combining artificial and human intelligence.

Great names as Pontus Lidberg (Dansk Danseteaters new artistic leader), Ryoji Ikeda (Japan’s leading electronic composer and visual artist), Cecilie Waagner-Falkenstrøm (expert artist of Artificial Intelligence), and the Royal Danish Ballet create Centaur – a visually appealing dance performance about the human tendency to project feelings onto machines. The purpose-designed artificial intelligence that can simulate a conscience, emotions and intentions, are both co-creators and the cast of the show.

  • To book your ticket for the Performance at September 4 press HERE
  • To book your ticket for the Performance at September 10 press HERE
  • The tickets are limited

Artificial Intelligence as Co-Creator and Participant

The AI called ‘David’, programmed exclusively for the performance, is both co-creator and participant in the performance. He influences choreographic composition based on different data sets such as planetary movements, swarm technology and the dancers’ movements that have been tracked and collected throughout the creative process. As a performer, he can simulate consciousness, emotion and intention and interacts with the dancers on stage. This means that each performance is a unique unpredictable event.

Man versus machine, creators versus their creation

Modern technology such as AI is everywhere in society. We are exposed to advertisements, feeds and news on social media that, through targeted algorithms, tailor content specifically for us. But how will an increasing use of AI affect our future? Will artists develop into hybrids – into centaurs?

Does artificial intelligence have feelings, consciousness and longing? Not yet. But it can already manipulate and seduce us by decoding feelings and moods. Centaur is a work full of strong imagery about the human consequences of artificial intelligence.

Could artificial intelligence abuse us in the future? And what consequences will that have for our compassion? Will we have to develop into hybrids – centaurs? 

Live use of Artificial Intelligence as a ‘partner’ of the dancers, investing with the creation of a total work of art. Its participation will influence the dramaturgical structure, the choreography and the selection of the music.

ARTISTIC TEAM

  • Choreography / Direction: Pontus Lidberg
  • Audio and visual design: Ryoji Ikeda
  • Artificial Intelligence installation: Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrøm
  • Light Design: Raphael Frisenvænge Solholm
  • Writing / Dramaturgy: Adrian Guo Silver
  • Costume design: Rachel Quarmby-Spadaccini
  • Original Music: Ryoji Ikeda
  • Music: Franz Schubert, Giacomo Puccini & music created by Articifial Intelligence
  • Development: The Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University
  • Co-Production: Danish Dance Theater co-produced with Oriente Occidente (IT), Théâtre National de Chaillot (FR), and The Royal Danish Theatre (DK).

Thank you for the generous support: Augustinusfonden, Overretssagfører L. Zeuthens Mindelegat, William Demant Fonden, Knud Højgaards Fond, Beckett-Fonden, Jyllands-Postens Fond. 

Thank you  Danish Institute at Athens

When : 4 & 10 September 2020, 21:00 pm
Length:
60’

 

Leave a Reply


Related Articles

Webinar: Dreaming of AI: Perspectives on AI Use in Cultural Heritage
BPOC - BALBOA PARK ONLINE COLLABORATIVE is facilitating another open discussion on the use of AI in cultural heritage. In this session, we have invited Kerry Kennedy, Public Art Coordinator with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and Dr. Eve Zucker, Sociocultural Anthropologist, to open up our conversation. Kerry and Eve will talk about their work, AI's role and impact, and ethical considerations in the first part of the webinar. In the second part, audience members will be invited...
EAI ArtsIT 2021 - 10th EAI International Conference: ArtsIT, Interactivity & Game Creation
ArtsIT takes place from December 2nd to 4th as a hybrid event at the UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts Karlsruhe, Germany, and in Cyberspace. The conference brings together researchers, practitioners, artists, and academia to present and discuss the symbiosis between art and information technology. Since 2009 ArtsIT has become a leading scientific forum for the dissemination of cutting-edge research results in the intersection between art, science, culture, performing arts, media, and te...
Digital age 'desperately' needs ethical and legal guidelines
This post Digital age 'desperately' needs ethical and legal guidelines was originally published on Horizon: the EU Research & Innovation magazine | European Commission. Image credit - ITU Pictures, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Jeroen van den Hoven, professor of ethics and technology at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, was speaking at a session on ethics in science and technology at the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) 2018, which is being held in Toulouse, France, f...
Towards an Automated Art? Learning Machines, Human Creativity and Uncertainty
  International Conference "Towards an Automated Art? Learning Machines, Human Creativity and Uncertainty” is announced. The conference will take place in Lisbon (Portugal) on 24 May, 2024. The event aims to provide a space for interdisciplinary discussion, bringing together different perspectives on the interaction between creative practices and digital technologies, with a particular emphasis on the still uncertain impact of AI on contemporary arts. While images a...