Algorithmic Bodies exhibition in Chattogram explores digital surveillance and AI impact on human life
Photo Collected
A unique digital art exhibition titled “Algorithmic Bodies” is currently underway at the Alliance Francaise de Chattogram, offering an immersive examination of how artificial intelligence, surveillance, and digital dependency reshape human existence. The exhibition, which opened this past Friday, explores the intersection of technology and personal freedom through the works of eight multidisciplinary artists.
Curated by Sharmili Rahman and co-curated by Jihan Karim, the exhibition challenges visitors to reconsider their relationship with a tech-driven future. Using a mix of digital installations, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence, the artists probe the boundaries between reality and the digital realm. The collection examines how algorithms influence individual behavior, from social media addiction to the commodification of personal data.
Upon entering the dark exhibition space, visitors are immediately confronted with CCTV monitors, a deliberate installation that forces a realization about the pervasiveness of modern surveillance. The works invoke themes reminiscent of George Orwell’s dystopian narratives, questioning how digital tools often turn users into subjects of constant observation.
The featured artists—Deepti Datta, Fahim Hasin, Jayanti Raina, Naznin Ahmed, Rajib Datta, Sadia Maryam, Soumya Saha, and Walid Saddam—tackle these issues from diverse perspectives. Walid Saddam’s installation, “You Are Like Me Too,” juxtaposes the high water consumption required by AI data centers with the water crises faced by rural communities. Naznin Ahmed’s work, “Already Agreed,” critiques the mindless acceptance of digital terms and conditions, highlighting how modern consent has shifted from a conscious decision to an automated condition of service.
Other installations provide a comparative study of digital versus physical reality. Deepti Datta’s project, based on research conducted in a village in Netrokona, contrasts the social media personas of individuals with their actual lived experiences. Meanwhile, Rajib Datta engages visitors with ChatGPT, using the platform to demonstrate how artificial intelligence adopts human-like qualities, juxtaposing these modern interfaces with traditional technology like transistor radios to offer a stinging critique of modern consumption.
This exhibition, which previously enjoyed a larger run at the Bengal Gallery in Dhaka, serves as a rare transdisciplinary platform for dialogue in Chattogram. By blending visual arts, architecture, sound design, and digital research, the artists encourage attendees to grapple with the ethical implications of a society increasingly governed by algorithms.
“Algorithmic Bodies” remains open to the public daily from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and will conclude this coming Tuesday.
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