A new exhibition at The Lowry Theatre is inviting visitors to imagine a world transformed by collaboration between AI and Nature.
Set in 2076, when the threat of the climate crisis has eased thanks to an extraordinary collaboration between AI and mycelium – a spectacular, sprawling root-like connection of fungi – the exhibition explores how the merging of these powerful forces has given humanity a second chance at life.
It is set within the headquarters of the team of researchers behind the scientific breakthrough, The Guardians of Living Matter. The amount of attention to detail that has gone into building such a visually stunning
I felt truly amazed at the amount of attention to detail that’s gone into this exhibition.
John-Paul Brown and Sophy King have brought this concept to life in such a visually striking way. With every new room comes a different piece of art that I was just taken aback with awe, appreciating the amount of work that has gone into some of these installations.
For example, the sheer volume of work that has gone into the making of the oracle is mind-blowing, showcasing an entity where the likes of AI and mycelium have merged.
Sophy King discussed how the mycelium has grown on a hemp row over many months before interacting with AI-controlled lights, which are controlled by different data streams with each light having its own character movements and colours.
Additionally, both creators placed emphasis on how the developed AI was coded in the lowest carbon way possible, with the data being harvested from this time of last year.
What I loved most about this exhibition was the level of emphasis placed on sustainability.
It was clear that every decision made in the creative process was made with the thought of sustainability in mind and how the exhibition could be the most sustainable version of itself.
An example of this was when Brown discussed how the cladding in some of the rooms had been repurposed from an old dance floor at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. This was such a positive from the exhibition as there were no materials used that couldn’t be reused and go on to have another life.
The most impactful piece was in the room which portrayed how the Guardians and the Oracle made these portals. King described how these were to symbolise the breaking through of things from another dimension into our world in a non-threatening way.
The image created felt like something out of a Stranger Things episode, which was so mind-blowing and impressive to be in the room with.
I loved how it represented nature trying through into the man-made world and into our built environment, showcasing the artificial barriers between cities and nature.
The Guardians of Living Matter Exhibition at the Lowry is the perfect way to escape the modern-day climate crisis and imagine a time when the climate crisis has eased. Everything in this exhibition added to this spectacular sci-fi feeling.
The Guardians of Living Matter is at the Lowry until March 29 and is free to visit – find out more and book tickets here.
