NO ONE
IS AN ISLAND
“No One is an Island” presented by Random International, Superblue, Studio Wayne McGregor and BMW i. Photo: Ravi Deepres. © BMW AG (11/2020)
an INSTALLATION
by Random International
In collaboration with Studio Wayne McGregor conflating artificial intelligence with the human capacity to empathize. Presented by BMW i and Superblue.
ANZEIGE
This article is part of a paid partnership with BMW Group Culture
“No One is an Island” presented by Random International, Superblue, Studio Wayne McGregor and BMW i; dancers: Jacob O’Connell and Rebecca Bassett-Graham (Company Wayne McGregor). Photo: Ravi Deepres. © BMW AG (11/2020)
How does technology affect the human body? What connections can be made and how do we already interact with digital processes? A new perspective is presented by the artist group RANDOM INTERNATIONAL, whose latest work provokes with questions about the dynamics between technology and humanity. Its title ‘No One is an Island’ already points to a certain dependency of the human being. It is not possible to exist as a human being alone as an island. No one is only on his own. One is always part of something. One refers to something. Is it technology in our time?
A question that RANDOM INTERNATIONAL, together with STUDIO WAYNE MCGREGOR, SUPERBLUE and BMW i are pursuing. All share a passion for discovering new territories and are looking at very similar approaches to how future generations will interact with automated and digital processes and environments. At the same time, the focus is on reduction and sustainability.
“No One is an Island” presented by Random International, Superblue, Studio Wayne McGregor and BMW i.
Photo: Ravi Deepres. © BMW AG (11/2020)
“The work is part of a wider reflection on our human need to relate to our surroundings; how does such a need to connect play out in light of an increasing automation and digitisation of our environment? Will our willingness to engage with unknown systems leave us more vulnerable?”
—Hannes Koch, RANDOM INTERNATIONAL
“No One is an Island” presented by Random International, Superblue, Studio Wayne McGregor and BMW i.
Photo: Ravi Deepres. © BMW AG (11/2020)
‘No One is an Island’ includes sculptural, performative and musical elements – it is science-driven and explores electrified movements controlled by advanced algorithms. At the center of the work is a sculpture that experiments with a minimal amount of information necessary to recognize an animated form as human. It is about a future-oriented reflection on how the human mind empathizes with artificial intelligence and automated processes. In its transition from robot to human form, the sculpture will be joined by a live performance with dancers from STUDIO WAYNE MCGREGOR.
The dancers will interact with the kinetics and further explore the relationship between humans and technology and our ability to empathize with a machine. The light paintings created by the dancers through their movements are inspired by Pablo Picasso’s ‘Light Drawings’. These lines of light symbolize movement and electricity and reproduce elements from the core of BMW i.
The whole concept is intended as a Gesamtkunstwerk and is conceived as an evolving dialogue between the artists, the dancers and choreographers, SUPERBLUE and BMW i. The interventions are underscored by Chihei Hatakeyama’s compositions.
In November and December 2020 as well as January 2021, the digital channels of all participating partners will show the project. Later in 2021 there will also be a live performance.
“No One is an Island” presented by Random International, Superblue, Studio Wayne McGregor and BMW i; dancer: Rebecca Bassett-Graham (Company Wayne McGregor). Photo: Ravi Deepres. © BMW AG (11/2020)
“We believe that working together with great artists like Random International, represented by Superblue, and Studio Wayne McGregor is an inspiring and enriching experience for all parties involved. Speaking of BMW i, the constant exchange with creatives is essential. And just as BMW i embodies innovation, ‘No One is an Island’ synergises future and present, technology and humanity”
—Stefan Ponikva, Vice President BMW Brand Experience
“No One is an Island” presented by Random International, Superblue, Studio Wayne McGregor and BMW i.
Photo: Ravi Deepres. © BMW AG (11/2020)
From Los Angeles to Miami Beach, to Munich and Hong Kong – the BMW Group’s cultural engagement operates worldwide. For almost five decades now. The promotion of young up-and-coming artists, long-term partnerships with leading art and cultural institutions and the development of innovative cultural formats are the core of the initiative. The focus is on modern and contemporary art, classical music and jazz as well as architecture and design.
The year early 1970s marks the beginning. In 1972, Gerhard Richter was commissioned to create three large-format paintings for the entrance area of the BMW headquarters in Munich. He created the work group “Red, Yellow, Blue”, which was specially adapted to the room. A few years later, the first BMW Art Car (1975) was painted by Alexander Calder. Since then, acclaimed artists have redesigned several BMW models in their personal form of expression. The 19 works from the collection include works by Frank Stella, David Hockney, Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons and Olafur Eliasson.
An essential partnership connects BMW with the Independent Collectors, the world’s first network for collectors of contemporary art. The result is the BMW ART GUIDE by Independent Collectors, a guide that offers a quick and compact overview of important international private collections of contemporary art. The BMW Group also supports numerous international art fairs, including Art Basel and its two sister fairs in Miami Beach and Hong Kong, Frieze in New York, London and Los Angeles and in Asia the Bangkok International Art Biennial and the India Art Fair. In Germany, the cultural engagement of BMW cooperates with the Berlin Gallery Weekend, the Berlin Biennale and abc – art berlin contemporary. BMW Group Culture is also a partner of the New York online platform ARTSY, which serves as a database, search engine and tool for discovering, buying and selling fine art.
BMW GROUP CULTURE
“No One is an Island” presented by Random International, Superblue, Studio Wayne McGregor and BMW i.
Photo: Ravi Deepres. © BMW AG (11/2020)
“No One is an Island” presented by Random International, Superblue, Studio Wayne McGregor and BMW i; dancer: Rebecca Bassett-Graham (Company Wayne McGregor). Photo: Ravi Deepres. © BMW AG (11/2020)
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