Kara Walker's New Installation Explores AI and Historical Power Dynamics at SF MoMA
San Francisco, California — October 2023: Renowned artist Kara Walker continues her exploration of power dynamics through history, this time integrating the concept of artificial intelligence in her latest installation, “Fortuna and the Immortality Garden (Machine),” currently on display at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SF MoMA) until spring 2026.
The Artist and Her Themes Kara Walker, celebrated for her incisive artworks that delve into the dark facets of human history and the complexities of power, leverages her unique perspective on inequality and domination in this new exhibit. Walker's work often sheds light on the most disturbing tendencies of human behaviour, and now she juxtaposes that with the superhuman capabilities attributed to modern AI technologies.
The New Installation: "Fortuna" “Fortuna and the Immortality Garden (Machine)” features a series of mechanized figures whose movements blend advanced and traditional technologies. The kinetic sculptures send viewers "back to the future," drawing parallels between historical mechanisms of control and contemporary technological advancements. The installation questions whether innovations such as ChatGPT and the iPhone 16 genuinely advance society or if they merely perpetuate historical inequities in new forms.
A Product of Challenging Times The concept of "Fortuna" was envisioned during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when Walker was personally battling illness and mourning the passing of her father. This backdrop of personal struggle and societal upheaval feeds into the overall narrative of the installation, enriching it with layers of emotional depth and introspective reflection.
Themes of Healing and Ritual The exhibition also delves into themes of personal and collective healing. Walker's automatons perform a variety of human rituals, from baptisms to the comforting actions of a child holding a doll. The figures stand atop fragments of obsidian, a volcanic glass believed in mystical circles to possess trauma-absorbing properties. This incorporation of obsidian adds a layer of mysticism and emotional healing to the exhibit, suggesting a space where history's traumas might be acknowledged and absorbed rather than repeated.
Walker’s “Fortuna and the Immortality Garden (Machine)” stands as a compelling inquiry into the cycles of domination and control that have shaped human history, now seen through the lens of AI and modern technology. The exhibit invites viewers to reflect on these persistent themes, leaving it to the audience to draw their own conclusions about the true impact of technological advancements.
SF MoMA Engagement The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, an institution at the heart of the nation’s tech capital, provides a fitting backdrop for Walker’s latest work. The juxtaposition of cutting-edge technology with historical reflection within the city's innovative atmosphere underscores the relevance and urgency of Walker’s themes. The exhibit is set to be a major fixture in SF MoMA’s offerings, available for public viewing until spring 2026.
Source: Noah Wire Services