The Mori Art Museum in Tokyo is set to host an exciting new exhibition titled “Machine Love: Video Games, AI and Contemporary Art,” running from February 13th to June 8th, 2025. This thought-provoking exhibition will explore the intersection of technology and creativity, showcasing how artificial intelligence (AI), video games, and contemporary art converge in innovative and unexpected ways.

The Evolution of Art and Technology

As AI technology continues to advance and virtual and real worlds become increasingly intertwined, our daily lives are being reshaped at an unprecedented pace. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated this shift, making virtual spaces more integral to human interaction and creativity. Historically, technology and art have always evolved together, from the early days of computer-generated art to the rise of video and digital media.

Today, cutting-edge technologies like game engines, virtual reality (VR), and generative AI offer new artistic possibilities while also posing profound questions about human creativity. The rise of AI-generated art challenges traditional notions of authorship, sparking debate about the role of technology in artistic expression and whether AI can surpass human imagination.

The Concept Behind Machine Love

Unlike the traditional concept of machines tied to the Industrial Revolution, this exhibition redefines “machine” as a representation of modern computing and hardware technology. In the early 20th century, the Machine Age was celebrated for its speed and dynamism across various artistic disciplines. However, Machine Love shifts the focus to the present era, where AI, robotics, and digital landscapes shape the artistic experience. The term “Love” reflects the emotional complexity associated with machines—from admiration and affection to fear and exhilaration—while also posing philosophical questions about AI’s potential to develop consciousness and emotions in the future.

A Showcase of Innovation

“Machine Love” will feature approximately 50 contemporary artworks that incorporate advanced digital technologies. These pieces will highlight groundbreaking aesthetics, image-making techniques, and new forms of storytelling. The exhibition will delve into several key themes:

• New Aesthetics in the Digital Age – Artists use digital data to create visually striking works that push the boundaries of artistic style and composition.
• Avatars and Identity Liberation – The exhibition will explore how digital avatars challenge traditional identity constructs, including gender and race.
• Surreal Digital Landscapes – The fusion of AI and art enables the creation of dreamlike, immersive environments that defy physical reality.
• Human vs. Machine Collaboration – AI-assisted art questions the relationship between human intuition and machine intelligence.

Engaging with Universal Themes

Beyond technological innovation, the exhibition will also engage with deep, existential themes such as life and death, ethics, environmental concerns, historical narratives, and cultural diversity. These subjects will be explored through immersive artworks that evoke a range of emotions, from love and empathy to fear and uncertainty.

A Journey into the Future

By merging virtual and physical experiences, “Machine Love” will serve as a thought-provoking platform for contemplating the evolving relationship between humanity and technology. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on how we can coexist with AI and digital advancements in an era of rapid transformation.

As we navigate an uncertain future, “Machine Love” offers a glimpse into the artistic and cultural possibilities that lie ahead—encouraging us to imagine new ways of living, creating, and understanding the world around us.

Featured Artists and Their Works

The exhibition will present approximately 50 contemporary works incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as AI, virtual reality (VR), generative AI, and game engines. Among the internationally acclaimed artists featured are:

• Beeple
• Kate Crawford & Vladan Joler
• Diemut
• Fujikura Asako
• Hsu Chia-Wei
• Kim Ayoung
• Lu Yang
• Sato Ryotaro
• Jacolby Satterwhite
• Jakob Kudsk Steensen
• Adrián Villar Rojas
• Anicka Yi

These artists explore themes such as identity, environmental issues, life and death, ethics, and historical interpretation through innovative digital techniques. Their works will challenge conventional notions of aesthetics, redefining how technology interacts with human creativity.

Exhibition Features and Highlights

1. A Convergence of Art, Science, and Technology

Eleven individual artists and one collaborative group will showcase works that integrate expertise from various fields, including biology, geology, philosophy, music, dance, and programming. This interdisciplinary approach highlights the limitless potential of digital technology in contemporary artistic practice.

2. Blending Digital and Physical Realms

Though some works may appear non-digital, technologies are often embedded within their creation. For instance, the paintings of Anicka Yi and sculptures of Adrián Villar Rojas employ sophisticated technological processes, while artists like Lu Yang and Jakob Kudsk Steensen merge digital video works with physical installations, blurring the boundaries between virtual and real spaces.

3. Award-Winning Artists in Media Art

Several featured artists have received prestigious international accolades:

• Kim Ayoung won the Golden Nica (Grand Prize) at Prix Ars Electronica 2023 for Delivery Dancer’s Sphere (2022) and the ACC Future Prize (2024) by the National Asian Cultural Center in South Korea.
• Lu Yang was named Deutsche Bank Artist of the Year in 2022.
• Hsu Chia-Wei received the Eye Art & Film Prize (2024) from Eye Filmmuseum, Amsterdam.
• Kate Crawford & Vladan Joler won the S+T+ARTS Grand Prize at Prix Ars Electronica for their work Calculating Empires: A Genealogy of Technology and Power Since 1500 (2023).

4. Interactive Installations and Indie Game Arcade

Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with interactive works, including the game adaptation of Kim Ayoung’s Delivery Dancer’s Sphere and Diemut’s El Turco / Living Theater (2024), which invites participation in an AI-driven debate. Additionally, a curated Indie Game Arcade, overseen by media artist and exhibition advisor Taniguchi Akihiko, will allow visitors to experience selected games that explore themes of identity and self-perception.

A Vision for the Future

At its core, Machine Love seeks to spark critical conversations about the future relationship between humanity and technology. By blending the tangible and virtual, the human and the artificial, this exhibition offers a glimpse into an evolving digital landscape—one where AI and machine intelligence may redefine creativity itself.

Visitors to Mori Art Museum will not only witness the transformative power of digital art but also experience firsthand the profound emotions evoked by collaborations between artists and machines. As we step into an uncertain yet exciting technological future, Machine Love serves as both a reflection and a visionary outlook on what lies ahead.

Don’t miss this unique exhibition—where art, technology, and emotion collide in an unprecedented fusion of human and machine creativity.

Exhibition Details:

• Title: Machine Love: Video Games, AI and Contemporary Art
• Venue: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
• Access: Details on Mori website
• Dates: February 13th – June 8th, 2025
• Themes: AI, video games, digital art, virtual reality, generative AI
• Number of Works: Approximately 50 pieces
• Tickets: here