ICD Brookfield Place Dubai unveils architectural data sculpture
SHARJAH: ICD Brookfield Place, Dubai, has unveiled DATAMONOLITH_AI, an architectural data sculpture installation conceived by the regional award-winning, new media studio, Ouchhh. The UAE’S latest public art installation uses artificial intelligence to bring data on an ancient civilisation to life via a digital sculpture. Data from the Pre-potery Neolithic period ( 9600–7000 cal BCE; cal = calibrated or calendar years) is processed through a series of algorithms and powered by artificial intelligence.
The data is represented on four LED panels comprised of three billion pixels. Images collected from one of the world’s oldest archaeological sites, at Göbekli Tepe, south-eastern Anatolia, are translated into illuminations on a monumental obelisk, creating an ever-changing display that translates still images into a living sculpture.
The pixels project centuries-old data. As the name suggests, generative adversarial networks, machine learning and AI algorithms peruse data, ultimately creating an ever-changing display that translates still images into sculptural work.
The public art installation will be on display at ICD Brookfield Place till March 23. ICD Brookfield Place is an office and retail development located in the heart of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) district.
It is a new cultural centre and cuting-edge workplace, playing an active role in the transformation of the local arts and culture scene.
The machine and human collaboration, DATAMONOLITH_AI, is a representation of the some of the world’s oldest available data from the Middle East in Dubai — one of the world’s fastest-growing, future-forward cities.
Set against the backdrop of the Emirate’s rapid development and growth, it is a contemplative and cinematic convergence of ancient and contemporary cultures. The artwork tries to yoke one of the world’s oldest ancient origins data and AI, to create hybrid architectural public art. The project has been curated by MASSIVART and exhibited across the globe in major metropolitan cities such as New York, London, Taipei, Tokyo and Barcelona. DATAMONOLITH_AI was chosen to be the first large-scale installation at ICD Brookfield Place because of the immersive storytelling experience it offers all audiences, bringing art together at the forefront of technology.
Ferdi Alici of Ouchhh says that “Ouchhh discovers the hybrid spaces of the virtual and physical worlds as a combined environment that redefines the future of art in 21st century with DATAMONOLITH_AI.
“Ouchhh’s main goal is not just to create an iconic landmark, but also to create a data-driven public artwork, to inspire and create a sense of marvel to everyone who experiences it. Data as a paint, algorithm as a brush.”
Arthur Gaillard, Chief Curator of MASSIVART said that “Ouchhh’s DATAMONOLITH_AI, the newest public art installation realised by MASSIVART at ICD Brookfield Place, beautifully complements the building’s mission: to foster a greater sense of community and connection by sharing in creative experiences.
“For MASSIVART, it was a privilege to forge this opportunity with a client and an artist whose visions for the future align. Brookfield Properties, one of the largest real estate groups in the world, has received outstanding recognition for its arts programming, while Ouchhh has earned the art world’s enthusiastic praise, winning several awards for its innovative AI works.”
Ben Mcgregor, Investment Director at ICD Brookfield Place, says that “ICD Brookfield Place has always aspired to be a creative, forwardthinking community and cultural institution, and this striking installation is the first in a programme of world-class cultural experiences. “We hope the installation will inspire not only those in our immediate community of Dubai, but also foster further creativity and growth in the burgeoning art scene here in the UAE.” ICD Brookfield Place Arts Programme supports innovation in music, dance, theatre, film and visual art, by pushing boundaries to create unique works of art and cultural experiences presented for free. It gathers communities around creativity by animating its public spaces. ICD Brookfield Place’s 53-storey commercial office tower, elegantly positioned alongside an expansive mixed-use podium structure, is itself a work of art.
The tower takes the form of a sharp prismatic structure, orientated off-grid, to capture environmental benefits. The minimalist elegance of the glass façade and subtle faceted skin, changes appearance during the day as the sun moves across the sky. With spectacular views of the Emirates Towers and Dubai Creek to the north and Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai area to the south, the site enjoys good connectivity to the Sheikh Zayed Road, the Dubai Metro and surrounding areas. A community-driven destination, it also acts as a plaform to support emerging and established artists in the region. MASSIVART is an award-winning global art consultancy and production agency. It collaborates with emerging and established artists as well as professionals in the creative industry to foster dialogue, via art, with communities. Their approach includes placemaking strategies, public artworks and cultural programmes, working with clients to transform spaces, enhancing projects and creating art-driven experiences for both clients and communities surrounding the projects.
Ouchhh is an award winning independent creative new media studio with cross-discipline expertise in art, science and technology. A multidisciplinary creative hub focused on interactive new media plaforms, artificial intelligence, datadriven sculptures and paintings, kinetic public arts and immersive experiences, it produces A/V architectural façade performances. The studio is a pioneer of data paintings and sculptures and the team currently consists of engineers, academics, creative coders, designers, media artists and motion graphic designers, among others. Ouchhh tries to discover the boundaries of art by researching the relationship between architecture, art, science, technology, new media arts and artificial intelligence.