Crazy March 2025 in Life of Merzmensch
What a month! How about you? How was your March 2025? In my case, it was intense. And that’s why…
On the way of imparting digital competence and actively discussing about AI art, my only constraint is TIME.
Somebody, clone me!*
___
* It’s probably appropriate, since it’s my birthday today, on 1st of April (no kidding).
OK, let’s go.
1st of March
Berlin. Exhibition RIVALS: Photography versus Promptography.
Already, the vernissage was a great conversation about Visual Art in the context of New Technologies. During discussions with photographers (Miles Astray, Claus Stolz, Klaus Elle), writers (Vladimir Sorokin), and visual artists (Boris Eldagsen, Rosemberg, Sabine von Bassewitz) [just to mention some] have shown:
there is no rivalry between photography and promptography, between traditional and modern art, and between old and new techniques. It’s an inspiring and ongoing dialogue. We are building a new cultural epoch.
At the exhibition was presented my work from series “MERZmory: Faces”:
Read my ongoing review series here: https://medium.com/merzazine/rivals-photography-vs-promptography-57ef1de51860
7th March: Interview for German Radio BR
The German radio broadcast “Bayern 2” is well-known for its daily program “Tagesgespräch,” which involves discussions between experts and listeners. This time, they invited me to participate in a debate titled “Sind Sie offen für KI Kunst” (“Are you ready for AI art?”). It was a delight to speak with listeners from all over Germany; some were quite anti-AI, some were enthusiastic AI users, and others were curious about new possibilities.
I recognize the importance of such open dialogue, especially now, when technologies are emerging, and ethical, aesthetic, and political questions have arisen.
Listen to the recording here: https://www.br.de/radio/bayern2/programmkalender/ausstrahlung-3737168.html
11th March: Exhibition in Frankfurt City Library
Frankfurt City Library organized last Autumn and this Spring series of Workshops with me about AI and creativity. We invited broad audience (last year) and selected schools (this spring) — and worked together with them using AI approaches to unleash new creative works. Some of the participants were already artists, some of them interested in this topic.
At the end of the sessions, their works were exhibited in the Hall of Frankfurt City Library. I’ll write more on that experience soon, since it was really an eye-opening for all participants (including me).
19th March: Europa Direct Discussion
Europe Direct is a European information network established by the EU to connect all European countries and facilitate the exchange of needs, ideas, and approaches.
Europe Direct Rhein-Main invited me to take part in a podium discussion about AI, art, creativity, and its significance for democracy and European developments. We had a very vivid and inspiring discussion, with dissensions and consensus — and once again, the outcome was the realization that we must continue to build AI in ethical ways. We can achieve this in Europe; we just need to impart more competence to the European.
20th March: Exhibition in Museum for Communication in Frankfurt
Most events at the Frankfurt Museum for Communication this year are centered around one topic: Artificial Intelligence.
In March, an AI-art exhibition titled “New Realities: Fashion Fakes” opened, offering deep dives and a meta perspective on the significance of AI in fashion, art, and culture.
I was presented with an interactive wall along with a mystery story, which was told in different segments of the exhibition and in the exhibition's magazine.
I’ll write an essay about it. Stay tuned!
22nd March: Exhibition in Wolkersdorf
Austrian artist group “alien productions” has been working with a digital multimedia approach since 1990 and with AI since its inception in the 2010s. For example, they created an AI-driven opera titled “Performing Utopia” (read my essay on it in EIKON).
This time, they created an exhibition in Austrian castle Wolkersdorf, featuring several digital artists, inspired by Cyberpunk, titled “WINTERMUTE & NEUROMANCER” (a tribute to the masterpiece by William Gibson).
During this event, I gave a lecture on the history of AI in the context of art (with reference to the pre-AI generative art of 1960ies).
A series of my works were also shown there.
28th of March: Gross-Gerau: “Als wir fremd-gingen”
Initiative GG has been a crucial part of my life in art. We are an artist group (though we don’t identify as artists); we travel around the world with performances, playfully questioning art and culture in non-nihilist ways. The group has existed since 1973, and even though we have reached a significant conclusion to our historical activities, no one can stop us from continuing. We currently have 64 exhibitions and 40 performances.
On March 28th at the Gross-Gerau City Museum (the town where IGG was founded), a historical presentation showcasing all our activities took place. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there in person (I suppose the entire month was kind of too much [but I don’t regret]), but my tetrahedron poem was read there.
One day I will write more about this fascinating journey with IGG.
That’s it for March, and I hope you were fine as well.
Read you soon!
