The Radium Residency program is a response to the reactions of the artistic community both for and against AI. While some artists view AI as a revolutionary tool, others see it as a threat to human creativity. This program provides a forum for exploration that brings artists in direct contact with the technology and those driving its development and adoption. Our goal is to look beyond industry-driven goals to discover new sites of creativity and human expression, and to give artists the opportunity to help shape the future of AI.
The program originated as a series of conversations under the umbrella title “AI as Foil” in 2020 and has expanded to incorporate a Residency component. The new format puts AI technologies directly in the hands of artists who have not used AI in their work, or are in the early stages of experimenting with AI applications.
The Radium Residency program is curated by Natalie Klym and sponsored by Radium Cloud.
Manifesto
As we enter the era of AI adoption and regulation, artists must play an active part in the process, but they need to arm themselves with knowledge and experience. And likewise, as technologists rush forward into their creative AI initiatives, they must do so with an awareness of what they risk destroying or leaving behind. Read the full AI as Foil Manifesto.
Residency
2024 Laurie Anderson
Laurie Anderson is a groundbreaking American artist known for her innovative work in various mediums including music, performance art, and multimedia installations. Her distinctive style often blends spoken word, music, and electronics to explore themes of identity, communication, and the human experience. Anderson’s influential career spans several decades and has left a lasting impact on the worlds of avant-garde art and experimental music. She recently won a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award (2024). We are greatly honoured to have her join the residency. www.Laurieanderson.com
BMO Lab Director David Rokeby joins Laurie Anderson at Koerner Hall, April 5, 2024
2023 Nick Flynn
Our inaugural artist-in-resident was Nick Flynn, award-winning American poet and professor in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Houston. In collaboration with BMO Lab director, David Rokeby, and program curator Natalie Klym, Nick has engaged with Voice Scroll, an AI that translates spoken voice into panoramic images in real-time to create a unique performance of his latest book of poems, “Low.” www.nickflynn.org
Nick Flynn and BMO Lab at Rice University, Houston, April 12, 2024
Nick Flynn and BMO Lab at NeurIPs 2023
Nick Flynn in residence at BMO Lab – July 2023
AI as Foil Conversations
Hacking the Voice | Mar 18, 2022
A moderated discussion between Toronto vocalist Fides Krucker, and London beatboxer Reeps One (Harry Yeff). Fides Krucker uses the unmediated voice to unlock the power of the self. Reeps One (Harry Yeff) is using AI to unlock the power of the voice. In this session Krucker and Yeff compare and contrast their work to explore what AI brings to and takes away from the creative — and human — experience. Watch video.
A New Musical Frontier: AI Meets Music | Oct 8, 2021
A moderated discussion between music producer Annelise Noronha and AI scientist Sageev Oore. Music making has gone through several major technological revolutions since the gramophone, each one confronting philosophical issues like fidelity, authenticity, and legitimacy. The introduction of AI into musical practice has revived many of these debates while raising new questions. Watch video.
The Essence of Style: AI Meets Fashion Design | Feb 19, 2021
A moderated discussion between fashion designer Daniela Bosco and Idris Mootee, CEO of Urbancoolab. When Toronto fashion designer Daniela Bosco creates, she draws inspiration from photography, architecture, music, and cinema. So does STiCH, the fashion robot driving Urbancoolab’s streetwear design and commerce platform. Watch video.
The Automation of Beauty: AI’s Role in Architecture | Nov 27, 2020
A moderated discussion between Thom Payne, Architect, and Francesco Iorio, CEO and Chief Scientist, Augmenta. Thom and Francesco discuss how generative AI tools can augment architectural design teams, changing the nature of workflows in a way that does not replace humans but supercharges their creative capabilities. Watch video.
Moves Like Moonwatcher: A Conversation with Dan Richter | Oct 9, 2020
A discussion between CDTPS Faculty member Douglas Eacho and actor Dan Richter. Dan Richter is the man inside the ape suit in the pioneering AI movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Long before CGI was available, director Stanley Kubrick relied on the skills of professional mime, Dan Richter. In this discussion Dan talks about the technological challenges of making 2001, and explores the current and future opportunities for AI in the field of acting. Watch video.