Art Meets Technology: Volkswagen Group Elevates Dialogue on Digitalization and AI in Art with Two-Year Partnership

Exhibition view of Poetics of Encryption at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2024; Photo: David von Becker. Copyright: Volkswagen AG

(IN BRIEF) The Volkswagen Group has partnered with the KW Institute for Contemporary Art in Berlin for a two-year project called “KW Digital: Poetics of Encryption.” This initiative explores the impact of digitalization and artificial intelligence on art and society. The exhibition features works by over 40 international artists and invites the public to engage with the complexities of our digital world. Through this partnership, Volkswagen Group aims to support creative dialogue and foster understanding of the intersection between art and technology.

(PRESS RELEASE) BERLIN, 20-Feb-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — As a committed patron of creative discourse, Volkswagen Group (ETR: VOW3), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of automobiles and commercial vehicles, proudly announces its partnership with the KW Institute for Contemporary Art for a groundbreaking two-year project centered on the intersection of digitalization, artificial intelligence, and contemporary art.

Titled “KW Digital: Poetics of Encryption,” this ambitious initiative seeks to unravel the complexities of our increasingly digitized world through the lens of artistic expression. Curated by the esteemed Nadim Samman, the project delves into the pervasive influence of digital technologies on culture and society, inviting visitors to engage with over 40 thought-provoking works by international artists.

From now until May 26, 2024, the public is invited to explore this immersive exhibition at the KW Institute for Contemporary Art in Berlin, where analog and digital creations converge to create encrypted worlds ripe for exploration.

At the heart of this partnership is Volkswagen Group’s commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue around the transformative power of digitalization and AI. Benita von Maltzahn, Head of Volkswagen Group Cultural Engagement, reflects on the significance of this collaboration: “We are proud to support the Digital Program of KW and the exhibition Poetics of Encryption, as we want to give people the opportunity to experience the extensive possibilities of digitalization. How do artists use new technologies, and can we learn from them? Digitalization and AI do not only transform us at Volkswagen, but shape everybody’s lives. We are excited to share this journey and exchange with KW and all artists participating in the exhibition.”

Krist Gruijthuijsen, Director of KW, echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the institution’s role in shaping the dialogue surrounding art and technology: “KW sits at the intersection of virtual and material domains, and the creative use of emerging technologies. Exploring, criticizing, or reinventing this space through art is a key issue for the KW Digital Program. With Poetics of Encryption KW aims to introduce new perspectives on this digital landscape. Showcasing over 40 artists we seek to further stimulate conversations and reflections and to continue shaping our digitized future together:”

This collaboration marks the culmination of Volkswagen Group’s multifaceted support for the KW Digital Program, which includes the development of the book “Poetics of Encryption. Art and the Technoscene” and the “Poetics of Encryption” conference held in October 2023. By championing initiatives that bridge the gap between art, technology, and society, Volkswagen Group reaffirms its dedication to empowering cultural institutions and fostering inclusive, thought-provoking encounters that resonate with audiences worldwide.

Exhibition: „Poetics of Encryption“
Location: KW Institute for Contemporary Art,
Auguststraße 69, 10117 Berlin
Opening hours: 17/02 – 26/05/2024, We–Mo 11 am – 7 pm, Thu 11 am – 9 pm, Tue closed
Opening of the exhibition: 16/02/2024, 7 – 10 pm
Further details: https://poeticsofencryption.kw-berlin.de

Media contact:

Anja Kreß
Live Communications ٭ Spokesperson Cultural Engagement
+49 (0) 1511 226 8660
anja.kress@volkswagen.de

SOURCE: Volkswagen Group