exhibition

Photography Through the Lens of AI

In recent years, AI has started to make a big impact in the world of photography, changing the way we make and see images. In the multidimensional project Photography Through the Lens of AI, Foam explores the intersection between art, technology, and society, highlighting how the recent advancements in AI impact our relationship with images, ourselves and our perception of reality.

The project consists of a group exhibition Missing Mirror, accompanied by the solo exhibition AI Attacks by Paolo Cirio, a thematic issue of Foam Magazine (#66: Missing Mirror), and a digital presentation on Foam’s online platform Explore.

Missing Mirror: Photography Through the Lens of AI

Through four distinct themes, the group exhibition Missing Mirror invites the visitor to look beyond the surface of AI. In chapter one, Missing Body, artists give shape to a physical appearance of AI. The second chapter, Missing Person, reflects on AI's capacity to become a substitute for humans — not necessarily in physical form, but rather by expressing the immaterial essence, such as the existence of an AI personality or identity. In Missing Camera, chapter three, AI fills the position of the camera for events that never took place or could never have been photographed. Lastly, in chapter four, Missing Viewer, artists reflect on one of the most threatening developments, the absence of people: AI functions and perceives on its own, without the need for humans. The exhibition showcases the work of international artists who reflect on the danger and potential of AI.

Featured artists

Akosua Viktoria Adu-Sanyah, Alexey Cherkinov, Louisa Clement, Lynn Hershman, Christopher Meerdo, Maria Mavropoulou, Milo Poelman, Miti Ruangkritya, Philip Schütte, Brea Souders, Alexey Yurenev.

A self-portrait of an algorithm no.89, 2023 © Maria Mavropoulou, AI-generated image.

Next Level: Paolo Cirio AI Attacks

The solo exhibition AI Attacks by Paolo Cirio focuses on the social implications of AI systems, machine learning AI models, and the use of data. Cirio sees AI as a form of automated violence, expressed through surveillance, discrimination, and disinformation. With his work, he challenges power structures by exploring AI for his counterattacks.

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Mugshots.com, N1, from the series Obscurity, 2016 © Paolo Cirio

Foam Magazine #66: Missing Mirror

Foam Magazine #66 delves deeper into the recent advancements in AI impact our relationship with images, ourselves and our perception of reality. When authenticity and authorship are being questioned, how do we form a truthful image of the world? And what does the introduction of generated imagery mean for the medium of photography? This and more will be explored in Foam Magazine through artistic contributions and in-depth essays from thought-leaders in the field.

Portfolio artists:
Alexey Yurenev, Clément Lambelet, Akosua Viktoria Adu-Sanyah, Juan Manuel Lara, Brea Souders, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Tan Chui Mui, Vishal Kumaraswamy, Jonas Bendiksen, Gregory Eddi Jones, Leda Sadotti, Maria Mavropoulou, Joan Fontcuberta & Pilar Rosado, Igi Lola Ayedun, Morehshin Allahyari

Digital platform Explore

Foam's digital platform Explore, will feature a selection of contextualised content to get a better understanding about AI in photography. The online presentation features behind-the-scenes videos, broader explanation about what AI-generated images entails and a hybrid collaboration with creative research studio Affect lab. Visitors can also generate their own AI images in a photo booth at the museum.

For more information or press requests, please see here or contact our press office at pressoffice@foam.org.

Next Level: Paolo Cirio AI Attacks is made possible by Ammodo.


AI generated image of an eye in many different futuristic effects

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Photography Through the Lens of AI