Ai-Da the robot artist wins her freedom after spy allegations
Ai-Da, the robot artist, was freed yesterday after being held in Egypt over fears that she was a security risk.
Aidan Meller, her creator, said Ai-da was in good condition after 10 days without electricity. ‘‘We are very, very relieved.’’
A sculpture created by Ai-da, based on her interpretation of the riddle of the Sphinx, was also released.
Meller, an Oxford-based art dealer who unveiled his creation two years ago, was preparing Aida and her sculpture to appear at the Forever is Now art exhibition at the pyramids in Giza. He paid tribute to the exhibition organisers, Art D’Egypt, for their role in securing Ai-da’s release. The robot artist, which has been exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum and Design Museum and given a TED talk, is one of 10 artists taking part in the first art exhibition at the 4500-year-old pyramid complex. She was held by the Egyptian authorities on arrival in the country.
Meller said he was told that the robot was thought to be a ‘‘security risk’’ because of the cameras in her eyes. He said yesterday: ‘‘As the artworks are questioning technology, I’m pleased the Egyptian authorities are fearful. We all need to be wary of the speed of technological developments.’’ Ai-da’s 2.5m wide, 2m-high clay sculpture of ‘‘herself with three legs’’ was to be unveiled at the Forever is Now exhibition.
It resulted from her interpretation of the riddle – what goes on four feet in the morning, two feet at noon, and three feet in the evening – with the answer being a human going through the stages of baby, adult and elderly person with walking stick.
Meller said the Egyptians ‘‘were obsessed with mummification and the afterlife. Today we are obsessed in an equal way with developments in biotech and with gene-editing it looks like we are going to be able to do life extension.
‘‘This project is to question whether this is a good idea. The sculpture is saying we are no different to the ancient Egyptians.
‘‘They wanted to live for ever.’’
‘As the artworks are questioning technology, I’m pleased the Egyptian authorities are fearful. We all need to be wary of the speed of technological developments.’’ Aidan Meller