Exhibition Explores Artists’ Utilization of Technology as an Innovative Tool
Madeline Hollander’s “Heads/Tails: Walker & Broadway 4” (2020) presents a captivating inquiry into technology, urban existence, and artistic expression. This artwork incorporates 73 automobile headlights and taillights, modified with LEDs and linked to real-time software, resulting in a lively installation. Measuring 120 x 240 inches, the piece is included in the collection of the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation. Hollander’s creation reflects the traffic patterns of New York, transforming them into visually striking performances seen through the typical yet tumultuous experience of city driving.
The exhibition “Run the Code: Data-Driven Art Decoded by Thoma Foundation X Blanton Museum of Art,” held at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, features Hollander alongside other artists, showcasing the intersection of technology and art that unveils new viewpoints beyond corporate uses. Organized in collaboration with the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation, this exhibition displays works that utilize immersive installations, real-time data visualizations, and interactive spaces. Artists such as Refik Anadol, Daniel Canogar, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, teamLab, Siebren Versteeg, Leo Villareal, and Marina Zurkow contribute to the dialogue on the fusion of art and technology.
The exhibition is organized into thematic categories like technological archaeology, interactivity, and data-driven frameworks. Each artist offers a distinct perspective on how data and digital tools can be shaped to mirror intricate human experiences. Notable features include teamLab’s interactive digital piece “The World of Irreversible Change” and Refik Anadol’s AI-focused “Machine Hallucinations–Study 1.”
Curator Hannah Klemm highlights the poetic and analytical duality of technology represented in these pieces, indicating a nuanced conversation between digital frameworks and artistic creativity. “Run the Code” will remain on view until August 2, 2026, giving attendees a chance to engage with these groundbreaking, technology-infused artworks.