Agnieszka Pilat is not your typical artist.
She doesn't use brushes, pencils, or even her own hands to create her artwork.
Instead, she uses robots, specifically robot dogs made by Boston Dynamics.
Robot dog that draws like a human
Pilat was born in Poland. Now living in the United States, he teaches three of his four-legged machines named Basia, Vanya, and Bunny how to put paintbrushes in their “mouths” and move them around large canvases, turning paint into abstract art. I spent months teaching it.
They use sensors, cameras, and artificial intelligence to perceive and navigate their surroundings.
Pilat said he first became fascinated with robot dogs when he saw them on YouTube. She contacted Boston Dynamics and asked if she could help. Her company agreed and taught her how to use the robot dog. After that, she painted several portraits of one of them, after which she began to actively work with them as a creative companion.
Robot dog will be given residency as a reward
The robots were given a four-month residency at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne, Australia, where they create their work in a custom-built studio.
The exhibit is called “Heterobota” and the robots are fully autonomous. Pilat says this was an important change in her practice. Previously, she was always in the studio with a robot, which felt like an extension of her arm.
How a robot dog draws pictures autonomously
To navigate space, the robot relies on small cubes of QR codes dotted around the space. When you need to take a break and recharge, return to the docking station. Pilat worked with engineers and museums to realize her vision. The result is her series of 36 paintings that resemble human works of art.
Some of these paintings have sold for up to $40,000 at auction.
The exhibition, which runs until April 7, will see robots painting, moving around, and recharging themselves. The theme of the exhibition is generative AI. Pilat said the 16 symbols that appear in the painting have language embedded in them.
give technology a voice
Pilat says she wanted to use her art skills to educate a new generation of painters and give technology a voice. She says she sees technology as a form of life and wants to explore its possibilities for creativity and expression. She also wanted to challenge her perception that technology is cold, impersonal, or threatening, she said. Instead, she says she wants to show that technology can be warm, playful and even artistic.
Cart important points
Agnieszka Pilat is an amazing artist who uses robot dogs as collaborators. She taught them how to draw and now we can see the amazing art they are making. Through her exhibition, she also shows us that technology can be creative and expressive, rather than cold and threatening. Her exhibition 'Heterobota' is a unique and exciting showcase of the fusion of art and technology.
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