Refik Anadol views data as a creative medium.
At the TIME100 AI Impact Awards in Dubai on Monday, the Turkish-American artist stated, “For as long as I can remember, I have envisioned data as more than just information—I have seen it as a vibrant, dynamic substance, a pigment with limitless potential.”
Anadol was among four AI pioneers honored at TIME’s fourth annual Impact Awards. Also recognized were California Institute of Technology professor Anima Anandkumar, musician Grimes, and IBM CEO, chairman, and president Arvind Krishna. The ceremony included a performance by Emirati soul singer Arqam Al Abri.
Anadol has spent more than a decade demonstrating the artistic potential of diverse sources. As a media artist and co-founder of Refik Anadol Studio, he has leveraged AI to create novel forms of art, including data paintings and sculptures.
He explained in his speech, “Over the past decade, my work with AI has been a continuous exploration of the collaboration between humans and machines, between memory and imagination, between technology and nature,”
Anadol and his team will unveil “Dataland,” the world’s first AI art museum, in Los Angeles this year—a culmination of years spent creating numerous works exhibited globally.
This aligns with his vision to push creative boundaries. Anadol stated, “In my view, art has never been limited to a single culture, location, or audience. It belongs to everyone.”
The TIME100 AI Impact Awards Dubai was presented by the World Government Summit and the Museum of the Future.