A large panoramic, artificial intelligence driven video projection will be the central element of NOWHERE, an exhibition focusing on the work of Frank van der Salm at the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam, opening in early 2021. Together with the exhibition, a 368 page book, designed by Irma Boom will be published by Paradox and Hartmann Books.

Key in the development of the exhibition is University of Amsterdam doctoral candidate Gjorgji Strezoski whose research focuses on the stylistic analysis of art collections. Strezoski is training the AI to reveal relationships between Frank van der Salm’s images from the past 25 years, interpreting his critical motives regarding the visual nature of today’s urban environment. During the last few months, the team has been investigating image and sound behaviour to express the values given to various keywords describing the works.

RNDR, design studio for interactive media based in The Hague, is currently working on the final visualisation, while composer Henry Vega is dealing with the sound design. Photography, video, graphic design, sound and science are all pieces of the puzzle coming together. A puzzle that is researching the role of artificial intelligence in an image-saturated world that human curators can no longer handle alone as well as looking at the creative potential of algorithms for the arts.

We’re pleased to confirm additional project support from Mondriaan Fonds, Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds, Stichting Zabawas, Fonds21, Jaap van Harten Fonds and others.