I attended on Dec. 19 the opening of the art exhibition “Utopia for All” co-hosted by the National Asian Culture Center and the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in Shanghai, China, on the latter’s third floor.

Under the theme “Nature in Korea,” the exhibition highlights how modern Korean paintings reflect on nature, transitioning from vivid depictions to the interconnected and cyclical elements of the universe as seen in East Asian philosophy. To mark the opening, the KCC also invited Korean jazz artists to perform at a year-end concert.

Read more: https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/HonoraryReporters/view?articleId=263894

Led by Artistic Directors Julian Raby, Amin Jaffer in his ongoing role as Director of The Al Thani Collection, and Abdul Rahman Azzam alongside Saudi artist Muhannad Shono as Curator of Contemporary Art, the Biennale will offer unique insights into the ways cultures endure in the context of the transformations taking place today in Saudi Arabia with a global frame of reference; the exhibition presents a dialogue between historic and contemporary works within the galleries and in outdoor spaces, while the Biennale’s location at the Western Hajj Terminal strengthens its connection to Islamic heritage and faith.

And all that is in between is part of a verse that appears several times in the Noble Quran: “And God created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is in between,” describing the absolute and all-encompassing majesty of God’s creation as perceived and experienced by humankind; across five exhibition halls and outdoor spaces, with more than 500 objects and contemporary artworks on view, the 2025 Islamic Arts Biennale will explore how we endeavor to comprehend the wonder of what the divine has brought into being.

H. H. Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, highlighted the transformative power of the arts in building a vibrant, thriving society, adding that through its impactful initiatives, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation remains dedicated to nurturing creative expression, arts and culture, and enriching the global artistic landscape.

Prince Badr added: “Building on the remarkable success of the inaugural edition, the second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale comes with greater ambition, expanded partnerships, and a diverse selection of artistic and cultural institutions, patrons, as well as artists from Saudi Arabia and countries that have rich Islamic culture and traditions.”

Prince Badr expressed his hopes that the Islamic Arts Biennale will lead to a deeper understanding of the significant influence that the Islamic arts have had globally since the rise of Islam until the present day, adding that it will continue to be a trusted platform for the arts of Islamic civilization, both past and present, paving the way for future practices and fresh discourse for generations to come.

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For the first time in history, Sotheby’s hosted a special “art and technology” online auction from October 31 to November 7, 2024, featuring a painting created by a humanoid artist robot equipped with artificial intelligence – a piece signed by the robot named Ai-Da.

Ai-Da is not your typical robot. Far from resembling a character like Optimus, Ai-Da has an ultra-realistic feminine appearance and can move and speak autonomously. This technological marvel is equipped with mechanical arms, a high-definition scanner, and software, as well as cameras in place of eyes. Her name, Ai-Da, pays tribute to the pioneering coder Ada Lovelace.

The artwork auctioned is titled AI God (The God of AI), as it presents a portrait of Alan Turing, the mathematician and AI pioneer who invented a love letter machine in the 1940s. The painting—striking and enigmatic—depicts the scientist’s face split in two and made up of dark, blotchy patches, reminiscent of a Rorschach test.

Read more: https://jasondeegan.com/unbelievable-price-for-artwork-created-by-humanoid-robot/