Jacques Perconte - AI Ecologies, Kunsthal Artphy, Onstwedde, NL
07/06/2025
From the 6 July to the 30 August
Nature, man and technology. How do man, nature and technology live together, now and in the future? How does the development of Artificial Intelligence change our relationship to nature? In digital ecology, including AI, the dynamic triangle between man, nature and technology takes shape, in which these elements naturally influence each other. In practice, technology often serves as a bridge, offering solutions for environmental problems, for example, but also creating new dependencies and ecological challenges. Just like in a nature reserve, data circulates in digital networks. AI plays a key role in creating 'digital ecologies' that can increase our understanding of nature, but also raise ethical questions.
From a philosophical perspective, such as that of Bruno Latour and Donna Haraway, traditional boundaries blur: humans and nature are not separate domains, and technology becomes a hybrid partner in this relationship. Latour emphasizes that humans and nature are part of one shared network, while Haraway argues that we must learn to live as 'cyborgs' in a world where artificial and natural come together.
The Westerwolde region around Artphy, with its rich biodiversity and agricultural traditions, offers a unique context to visualize these relationships between residents, animals, plants and technology, and if possible even make them tangible and audible.
All in all, many questions remain: will we soon be able to talk to birds, dance with microbes, or study the emotional life of plants? What do developments in AI, quantum technology, and robotization mean for our relationship with nature? Can we use AI not only to reduce damage to ecosystems, but also to promote regenerative, restorative relationships between humans and nature? The boundary between artificial and natural is blurring: how do we distinguish between real and fake, and what could nature-inspired AI look like?
The interplay between the three regularly invites us to collaborate to create sustainable and mutually reinforcing systems. The issue is also a challenge for many artists and we want to show that in the exhibition.
Participating artists
We sought out artists who, in various ways, show how human creativity and AI work together to create artworks that bridge the biological and technological worlds, presented in both hopeful and dystopian ways, depending on the artist’s interpretation.
The group of artists we have invited and whose existing/adapted artworks we want to exhibit are:
- Geert Mul
- Ian Ingram
- Driessens & Verstappen
- Jan Zuiderveld
- Carolien Teunisse and Sabrina Verhage
- Jeroen van der Most
-Jacques Perconte
