A new public art installation at ICD Brookfield Place in Dubai uses artificial intelligence to bring data on an ancient civilisation to life.
The architectural data sculpture, entitled Datamonolith_AI, was conceived by regional new media studio Ouchhh. It was created using data from the pre-Pottery Neolithic period that has been processed through a series of algorithms.
Digital information is represented on four LED panels comprised of three billion pixels and images collected from Turkey's Gobekli Tepe archaeological site in south-eastern Anatolia have been translated into illuminations on the obelisk.
The result transforms static images and information into an ever-changing display.
The piece, which has already been exhibited in other major global cities such as New York, London, Taipei, Tokyo and Barcelona, will be showcased at the DIFC destination until Tuesday, March 23.
"We are incredibly proud to launch our public art programme with Datamonolith_AI," ICD Brookfield Place's investment director Ben McGregor said. "This striking installation is the first in a programme of world-class cultural experiences."
This particular piece was chosen to be the hub’s first large-scale installation because of the “immersive storytelling experience” it offers viewers.
Arthur Gaillard, chief curator of global art consultancy and production agency MASSIVart, which curated the artwork, said it "beautifully complements the building's mission: to foster a greater sense of community and connection by sharing in creative experiences".
The 53-storey ICD Brookfield Place, a lifestyle and business destination, opened to its first tenants in late 2020, offering four acres of dining, retail and community space.
It is also home to the first international outpost of London's private members' club, The Arts Club.
The arts programme, which is being kicked off with the reveal of this new installation, aims to support innovation in music, dance, theatre, film and visual art, notes a statement, “by pushing boundaries to create unique works of art and cultural experiences presented for free”.
