Gabriele Gianni's AI-Infused Ancient Sculptures at Palazzo Altemps
The 'Variabile Altemps' exhibition at the Museo Nazionale Romano – Palazzo Altemps in Rome showcases the work of artist Gabriele Gianni (b. 1978), blending artificial intelligence with classical sculptures. Curated by Chiara Giobbe, Ludovico Pratesi, and Marco Bassan, and made possible by Fondazione Carla Fendi, the exhibition features video installations that reinterpret artifacts from the museum's collection. Gianni utilized generative models trained on numerous sculpture images, creating videos that depict statues transforming and breaking apart. Accompanied by sounds from composer Mario Salvucci and soprano Giulia Ferraldeschi, the artist highlights a conversation with AI to forge new forms of authenticity. Additionally, the exhibition presents 'Artificial Creation,' which examines the intersection of mathematics and art. The technology created will be donated to the museum.
Key facts
- Gabriele Gianni's 'Variabile Altemps' at Palazzo Altemps, Rome, uses AI to transform ancient sculptures.
- The exhibition is curated by Chiara Giobbe, Ludovico Pratesi, and Marco Bassan.
- Supported by Fondazione Carla Fendi.
- Gianni trained generative AI models on the museum's digital database of artifacts.
- One model reconstructs missing parts; another accelerates time on stone.
- Gold leaf veils in the videos coincidentally match actual gold pigments on a Dionysus sculpture.
- Soundtrack by Mario Salvucci with Delphic hymns sung by Giulia Ferraldeschi.
- The video 'Artificial Creation' was first shown at the Festival dei 2Mondi in Spoleto.
- Gianni cites influences from Sol LeWitt and Eadweard Muybridge.
- The technology used will be donated to the museum.
Entities
Artists
- Gabriele Gianni
- Robert Smithson
- Sol LeWitt
- Eadweard Muybridge
- Mario Salvucci
- Giulia Ferraldeschi
- Marcel Duchamp
- František Kupka
- Giacomo Balla
- Umberto Boccioni
- Filippo Tommaso Marinetti
- Etienne Jules Marey
- Italo Svevo
- Werner Heisenberg
Institutions
- Museo Nazionale Romano
- Palazzo Altemps
- Fondazione Carla Fendi
- Spazio Taverna
- Festival dei 2Mondi
- Carla Fendi Foundation
- Artribune
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Spoleto
- Palazzo Spada
- Bomarzo