Marco Brambilla's AI-powered Elvis tribute for U2's Las Vegas residency
Italian-Canadian filmmaker Marco Brambilla created 'King Size', an AI-generated video collage tribute to Elvis Presley, for U2's 25-concert residency 'U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere' at The Sphere in Las Vegas. The residency runs from September 29 to December 16, 2023, and celebrates the band's 1991 album 'Achtung Baby' while launching their new single 'Atomic City'. Brambilla's 16x16K video piece accompanies the song 'Even Better Than the Real Thing', depicting Las Vegas emerging from the Nevada desert and Elvis's career arc as a symbol of the American dream. The work combines film samples and AI-generated imagery. Brambilla was recruited after U2 saw his installation 'Heaven's Gate' at Outernet Arts in London. The stage, designed as a turntable, references Brian Eno's artwork 'Turntable'. Other visual artists contributing to the Sphere's screens include John Gerrard and Es Devlin.
Key facts
- Marco Brambilla created 'King Size' for U2's residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas
- The residency 'U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere' runs from September 29 to December 16, 2023
- The work is a 16x16K video collage combining film samples and AI-generated imagery
- It accompanies the song 'Even Better Than the Real Thing'
- The piece depicts Las Vegas emerging from the desert and Elvis Presley's career
- Brambilla was recruited after U2 saw his installation 'Heaven's Gate' at Outernet Arts in London
- The stage design references Brian Eno's 'Turntable' artwork
- Other visual artists include John Gerrard and Es Devlin
Entities
Artists
- Marco Brambilla
- Elvis Presley
- U2
- Bono Vox
- Brian Eno
- John Gerrard
- Es Devlin
Institutions
- The Sphere
- Outernet Arts
- Artribune
Locations
- Las Vegas
- Nevada
- London