ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

New Technological Art Award in Ghent Bridges Surrealism and AI

exhibition · 2026-04-19

The exhibition for the New Technological Art Award (NTAa), overseen by curator Thierry Dufrêne, is taking place at Zebrastraat in Ghent until June 8, 2025. This biennial showcase, titled 'Intelligence, it's automatic!', merges the concepts of surrealist automatism with modern AI. Featured works include 'The Anger Falls Silent' (2024) by Obvious, developed through a 'Mind-to-Image' technique in collaboration with the Brain and Spinal Cord Institute. Pol Bury's sculptures (1922-2005) echo André Masson's (1896-1987) illustrations, while Thomas Marcusson presents 'Al Ball' (2024). SLIDERS_Lab has reinterpreted Piotr Kowalski's 'Flèche du temps' (1990-2024). Engaging pieces like 'What Is for Sure' (2024) by Verena Bachl & Karsten Schuhl and 'Missing People' (2024) by Stéphanie Roland are also on display. The Liedts-Meessen Foundation organizes the event.

Key facts

  • The New Technological Art Award (NTAa) exhibition is on view until June 8, 2025.
  • Curator Thierry Dufrêne oversees the biennial event at Zebrastraat in Ghent.
  • The theme 'Intelligence, it's automatic!' links surrealist automatism and AI.
  • Obvious's 'The Anger Falls Silent' uses a 'Mind-to-Image' process with the Brain and Spinal Cord Institute.
  • Pol Bury's kinetic sculptures and André Masson's drawings are referenced alongside Thomas Marcusson's 'Al Ball'.
  • SLIDERS_Lab reactivates Piotr Kowalski's 'Flèche du temps' from 1990-2024.
  • Verena Bachl & Karsten Schuhl's 'What Is for Sure' fuses AI-processed skies in a neon-like installation.
  • Stéphanie Roland's 'Missing People' is a participatory work activated by audience lamps.

Entities

Artists

  • Thierry Dufrêne
  • Obvious
  • André Masson
  • Pol Bury
  • Thomas Marcusson
  • Frédéric Curien
  • Jean-Marie Dallet
  • Piotr Kowalski
  • Verena Bachl
  • Karsten Schuhl
  • Stéphanie Roland
  • Dan Flavin

Institutions

  • New Technological Art Award (NTAa)
  • Zebrastraat
  • Liedts-Meessen Foundation
  • Brain and Spinal Cord Institute
  • SLIDERS_Lab

Locations

  • Ghent
  • Belgium

Sources