London – what’s it like experiencing Illusionaries: Latent Spaces

Indeed a feast for eyes and ears, this immersive and meditative exploration by the super talented AI artist Markos Kay, takes you on a journey of four different spaces! Claudia Peifer walked the show for you, and she thinks the whole thing was actually like a visual & sound healing experience! Claudia says: ’such incredible talent to create these stunningly beautiful, life-like creatures through AI art, give them some small, calming movement, add this gorgeous surround sound and you come out the other end, wondering, if this is what Atlantis was ever like! What an extraordinary experience this show is!’

With music specially created by sound composer Jesse Solomon Clark, the experience of the first two rooms, the Formation Space & Complexity Space is particularly captivating. People were sitting down to watch the show for multiple times, as every time you watched it again, new little details and features of the dazzling animation became apparent. Please note, that the music in our video is not the original soundscape.

If you’ve never had the chance to go and see this world premiere of a body of artworks, which took two years to create, here’s the perfect moment to relive the incredible beauty of Illusionaries: Latent Spaces. Hit that play button now, sit back, relax and allow yourself to be transported to a different world. Truth is, everybody who went in to see this show, came out a calmer, happier person – extraordinary! So, have fun, enjoy… and unwind 🙂

What’s it Like Experiencing Illusionaries: Latent Spaces in London

Fans of The Mighty Boosh will be all too familiar with the term “Come with us now on a journey through time and space…” You probably said it in that deep booming voice too, right?

Well, the Illusionaries: Latent Spaces AI Art Show in London’s Canary Wharf offers exactly that experience. And, if you’ve seen our coverage of the Cezanne lifetime exhibition or The Perfect Crime experience, you’ll know that we love some artistic action – especially the immersive kind.

So, you know that when Claudia Peifer was in town for TA-DAH.TV recently, she had to check it out!

Here’s more info about the show and what to expect from this calming and sometimes mind-bending exhibition. But, before all that, let’s get you and the incredible artist behind Latent Spaces more acquainted.

Who is Markos Kay?

Markos Kay is a Cyprus-born artist and creative director now based in London. His work explores the boundaries between the physical and digital realms, often incorporating themes of surrealism and science fiction.

That unique blend of contemporary vision and otherworldly creations has seen him featured in many museums, exhibitions, festivals and publications such as National Geographic, Wired and VICE.

Kay’s talents have also seen him transition into film and television, working on visual effects for blockbuster movies, popular TV shows and commercials for huge brands like Apple, Nvidia, Channel 4, Nike, Adidas and Maserati to name a few.

Renowned for his 2008 work aDiatomea, a video installation exhibited at Haeckel’s Phyletic Museum in Jena, Germany. Kay’s enviable skills and vision have now seen him touch down in Canary Wharf with this stellar new show.

What is Illusionaries: Latent Spaces?

Illusionaries: Latent Spaces is a groundbreaking immersive AI art show that showcases the very best of Markos Kay’s creative genius.

The exhibition invites you into a surreal world where AI-generated art takes centre stage. “Latent spaces” refers to the multidimensional mathematical representations that underpin AI image generation.

Sounds super interesting, right? But what’s it like getting into and feeling the show?

Experiencing the Exhibition Space of Illusionaries

Latent Spaces is housed within a sleek and modern gallery space in Crossrail Place on Canada Water in Canary Wharf.

The venue itself is already an impressive sight, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views of London’s iconic skyline. As you enter the exhibition, you’ll be greeted by a vibrant, immersive environment.

The space is transformed into a surreal world where AI-generated art comes to life. The walls are adorned with large-scale projections, showcasing a diverse range of Kay’s creations. From surreal landscapes to futuristic cityscapes and abstract compositions, the artwork is truly mesmerising and split into four core spaces:

1. Formation Space
2. Complexity Space
3. Agents Space
4. Breathing Space

Formation Space

The Formation Space delves into the genesis of forms and patterns within the digital realm. Visitors can witness the birth of complex shapes and structures as AI algorithms simulate natural processes.

Venturing to the very beginning of life itself, this space emphasizes the fluidity and unpredictability of digital creation, offering an engaging and mesmerising experience as forms continuously evolve.

Complexity Space

In the Complexity Space, the focus shifts to the intricate interplay of systems and networks. This area showcases how simple rules can lead to sophisticated and unexpected behaviours.

Interactive displays allow visitors to manipulate variables and observe the resulting complexity, providing a hands-on understanding of how AI can model and visualize complex phenomena in real-time.

Agents Space

The Agents Space explores the concept of autonomous digital entities and their behaviours. Here, you can interact with AI-driven agents that respond and adapt to their presence.

This space highlights the emergent properties of AI systems, where seemingly independent actions by digital agents result in coordinated and intelligent responses, offering a fascinating glimpse into the potential of AI in understanding collective intelligence.

Breathing Space

The final space is the “Breathing Space” where multidimensional entities grow and adapt to changing environments – a cutting-edge and space-age take on some of the environmental challenges facing us right now.

Stunning creatures react to the gorgeous sounds and almost take up a meditative state as they come to terms with the atmosphere. Seemingly encouraging us to take a minute and slow down.

Enchanting Soundtracks

We mentioned it in the Breathing Space, but underpinning the whole immersive experience is the rolling and deep soundscape that fills the vacant spaces of the exhibition.

Kay worked renowned music producer Jesse Solomon Clark to adapt a soundtrack that works in tandem with the exhibition. We have to say, the music creates a thick atmosphere that brings the whole experience to life. Bravo!

Revolutionary Art Experience

During its time in Canary Wharf, Illusionaries: Latent Spaces has become a phenomenon, attracting visitors from all walks of life.

The exhibition has garnered attention from art enthusiasts, technology buffs, and those simply seeking a unique and memorable experience.

The show has also played a pivotal role in making AI art more accessible. By showcasing the incredible potential of this emerging art form, Illusionaries has sparked conversations and inspired curiosity about the role of AI in creativity.

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