In a time when artificial intelligence influences everything from commerce to personal creativity, The Call emerges as an exhibition that invites audiences to consider the complex intersection of art and technology. Located within the esteemed Serpentine North Gallery in Hyde Park, this immersive show by Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst pushes boundaries by exploring how AI transforms artmaking, and it offers a pioneering look into the possibilities that digital minds and human creativity might forge together. Open until 2 February 2025, The Call is not just an exhibition; it is a thoughtful exploration that delves into the philosophical, aesthetic, and ethical questions raised by this new era in art.
A Journey Beyond Traditional Art: The Concept Behind ‘The Call’
Herndon and Dryhurst, known for their experimental approach to music and technology, have created a space where visitors engage with AI not as a passive spectator but as an active participant in the process. From the moment one steps into the gallery, it’s clear that The Call challenges traditional notions of art-making, inviting visitors to ask, “What does it mean to create art when machines can be co-creators?”
This central question echoes throughout the exhibit, as it immerses the audience in interactive installations that respond to human presence, voice, and movement. Herndon and Dryhurst’s fascination with AI is more than a technical curiosity; it stems from their belief in the profound capabilities of machines to generate new forms of artistic expression. By blurring the lines between the creator and the tool, the exhibition inspires viewers to consider whether these creations are human, machine, or something uniquely in between.
Interactivity and Immersion: A Sensory Encounter
Visitors are encouraged to engage with each installation physically and intellectually, experiencing firsthand the interplay of human creativity with machine intelligence. One of the most compelling aspects of The Call is its use of real-time interaction, where AI responds to voices, gestures, and other stimuli. In a large central installation, for example, visitors’ movements trigger cascading visual patterns across the walls, creating a dialogue between the viewer and the programmed intelligence of the artwork.
This setup places participants within a living, breathing ecosystem of digital interaction. Soundscapes and visual displays adapt in response to each person, lending a sense of unpredictability and originality to the experience. For many, this tangible interactivity breaks down the conventional boundary between art observer and artwork, fostering a dynamic relationship where one’s presence changes the art itself. This is a significant departure from the static, distant relationship one might feel in a conventional gallery setting, where art is created and displayed as a finished product.
Pushing Ethical Boundaries: AI as Creator and Collaborator
The Call does not shy away from exploring the ethical complexities AI presents in the art world. Each installation seems to grapple with pressing questions around authorship, ownership, and the ethical implications of artificial creation. When AI can generate compositions, images, and even performative pieces that rival human originality, what role does the artist play? Is the AI an extension of human intention, or does it possess a form of agency in its creations?
Herndon and Dryhurst address these questions by allowing AI to function as both a tool and an independent collaborator, reshaping the definition of what it means to be an artist. In some installations, the AI’s output remains under the control of the human operator, reinforcing the machine’s role as a responsive tool. In others, however, the AI exhibits unpredictability and a degree of autonomy, challenging the idea that art should be solely attributed to human ingenuity. This nuanced approach asks visitors to contemplate whether machines are merely mirrors reflecting human desires or genuine participants in the creative process.
Technology Meets Philosophy: The Influence of AI on Modern Artmaking
Through this blend of high technology and conceptual depth, The Call encourages audiences to reflect on the broader implications of AI in art and culture. In recent years, the art world has increasingly embraced digital tools – from 3D rendering software to virtual reality – but The Call takes a step further by considering AI as a medium of expression in its own right. This distinction elevates AI from a mere instrument to a philosophical entity, raising questions about the potential of technology to possess – or at least imitate – a creative consciousness.
Herndon and Dryhurst’s choice to create an environment that embraces AI as an artistic medium speaks to their interest in the transformative possibilities of technology. They are not content with AI merely as a support for human creativity; rather, they envision a future where AI contributes as an equal, reshaping traditional hierarchies of creation and interpretation. The Serpentine exhibition encourages viewers to step beyond the boundaries of human-centric art, offering a glimpse into how AI could influence artistic norms in the decades to come.
Sound and Vision: A Unique Sensory Landscape
Sound plays an essential role in The Call, offering a counterpart to the visual components and enhancing the sensory experience. Herndon, a classically trained musician with an experimental edge, has crafted a soundscape that responds dynamically to gallery visitors, adapting in real-time based on the noise levels, speech patterns, and movements within the space. This auditory interaction complements the visual components, creating a holistic environment where the auditory and the visual work together to produce a sense of unity within the exhibit.
For visitors, this blend of sound and vision conjures a multi-layered experience that feels intimate and alive. The music and sound effects evolve as visitors explore different installations, adding a sense of rhythm and flow to the exhibit as a whole. By doing so, The Call fosters an atmosphere of immersion that breaks away from the static silence of traditional galleries, allowing each visitor’s unique interaction to influence their individual experience.
Art for a New Era: How AI Challenges the Concept of Creation
As we enter an age where AI-generated art is becoming increasingly sophisticated, The Call resonates as a timely reflection on the very nature of creation. The exhibit positions AI not only as an enabler of artistic expression but as a potential creator in its own right, challenging long-held beliefs about the source of originality. In exploring the potential of AI to act as an artist, Herndon and Dryhurst engage with ideas that art is no longer solely the realm of human imagination but a collaborative interplay between human and artificial minds.
What makes The Call groundbreaking is its ability to present these questions without answering them definitively. Instead, the exhibit allows each viewer to interpret their relationship with AI according to their own experiences and inclinations. In doing so, it mirrors the ambiguity surrounding AI’s role in society at large, leaving visitors to ponder the limits of technology and the future of artistic creation.
An Invitation to Reflect on the Future of Art
At its core, The Call invites audiences to question what it means to create and appreciate art in a world increasingly shaped by machines. The Serpentine North Gallery has long been a place for groundbreaking artistic experimentation, and Herndon and Dryhurst’s collaboration builds on that legacy, offering a thought-provoking journey that challenges conventional ideas of authorship, agency, and creativity. For anyone interested in the future of art, The Call offers an experience that transcends traditional exhibitions, encouraging each visitor to consider the rapidly evolving relationship between technology and human expression.
As we look to the future, it is likely that the questions raised in The Call will only grow more relevant. In an era when AI is advancing at unprecedented speeds, this exhibition stands as both a celebration of human ingenuity and a tribute to the unexplored potential of artificial minds. The legacy of The Call lies not only in its technical accomplishments but in its ability to stimulate dialogue on the ever-shifting landscape of art and creativity in a digital age.
