Thinking Hands at THEA Groningen Explores Embodied Knowledge vs. AI
At the heart of the final chapter of Thinking Hands, a group exhibition at THEA in Groningen, stands a four-metre-tall armless robot equipped with a hyper-realistic projected face and an AI-generated voice. This exhibition, curated by Musoke Nalwoga and Roosje Klap and organized by Noorderlicht, is hosted in a former Niemeyer tobacco factory from 12th September to 1st November 2026. The title derives from Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa's idea of 'the thinking hand,' emphasizing knowledge gained through physical practice. Featured works include Paul Kooiker's Talking Hands (2025), Martina Bacigalupo's Gulu Real Art Studio, and Jane Jin Kaisen's Halmang (2023), among others. Kvam/Oldereid's Requiem for an Exit (2025) recently won the Golden Nica at Ars Electronica in Linz. The exhibition serves as a precursor to the Noorderlicht Biennale PLAY in summer 2027.
Key facts
- Thinking Hands runs 12th September–1st November 2026 at THEA Groningen, in a former Niemeyer tobacco factory.
- Curated by Musoke Nalwoga and Roosje Klap, presented by Noorderlicht.
- The exhibition takes its title from Juhani Pallasmaa's concept of 'the thinking hand'.
- Kvam/Oldereid's Requiem for an Exit (2025) recently received the Golden Nica at Ars Electronica in Linz.
- Participating artists include Andi Gáldi Vinkó, Chelsi Alise Cocking, Devlin Claro, Frida Orupabo, Jan Robert Leegte, Jane Jin Kaisen, Kévin Bray, Kiki Mager, Kvam/Oldereid, Laure Prouvost, Lisa Oppenheim, Loïe Fuller, Mandy Franca, Martha Rosler, Martina Bacigalupo, Paul Kooiker, Robin de Puy / Strijbos & van Rijswijk, Vera van der Burg and Xhanti Zwelendaba & Ben Stanwix.
- The exhibition is a prelude to Noorderlicht Biennale PLAY in summer 2027.
- Jane Jin Kaisen's Halmang (2023) features eight women in their seventies and eighties on Jeju Island who work as haenyeo free divers.
- Martina Bacigalupo's Gulu Real Art Studio presents portraits rescued from a waste container at a photographic studio in Gulu, Uganda.
Entities
Artists
- Laure Prouvost
- Juhani Pallasmaa
- Paul Kooiker
- Martina Bacigalupo
- Martha Rosler
- Jane Jin Kaisen
- Kvam/Oldereid
- Chelsi Alise Cocking
- Andi Gáldi Vinkó
- Devlin Claro
- Frida Orupabo
- Jan Robert Leegte
- Kévin Bray
- Kiki Mager
- Lisa Oppenheim
- Loïe Fuller
- Mandy Franca
- Robin de Puy
- Strijbos & van Rijswijk
- Vera van der Burg
- Xhanti Zwelendaba
- Ben Stanwix
- Musoke Nalwoga
- Roosje Klap
Institutions
- Noorderlicht
- THEA
- Ars Electronica
- Noorderlicht Biennale
Locations
- Groningen
- Netherlands
- Gulu
- Uganda
- Jeju Island
- South Korea
- Linz
- Austria