Emotion Harvest brings together a collection of artworks revolving around artificial intelligence (AI) and emotions. The show includes paintings and interactive artworks that incorporate and critique AI. This body of work extends on my ongoing investigation into the relationship between AI and art, and how art can be used to investigate the impact of AI on human output, relationships and creativity.

The exhibition includes both complex and primitive forms of AI, ranging from facial recognition, Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to Large Language Models (LLMs). The artworks illustrate how these rudimentary and advanced technologies interact with our emotional landscape. A key theme of the show is the exploration of AI’s dual nature. On one hand, AI is defined by objective calculations, while on the other, it’s capable of replicating human emotional nuances. It is based on probability and prediction, but capable of manipulating our feelings and actions to achieve goals which may be aligned with ours, but are more likely to align with the aims of the large corporations who control the most powerful AI models.

The show also makes historical connections, referencing early automaton instances such as de Vaucanson’s 18th-century duck. This perspective places the evolution of AI in an historical context, considering humanity’s ongoing and evolving relationship with technology.

Interactive sculptures are an integral part of the exhibition. They not only employ AI technology, but also question its authenticity and autonomy, thereby pushing the boundaries of our understanding of machine ‘learning’ and human ‘emotion’. Emotion Harvest intends to kindle dialogue on our relationship with technology, with a focus on the enigmatic yet evident portrayal of emotions by non-human animals.