Artificial/Life: On the Road & Electric Sheep, a pair of exhibitions born of digital art experimentation, invites viewers to explore concepts of authentic experience and what it means to be “alive” as technology becomes more deeply integrated in our daily human existence.

On the Road features three interrelated photography and video projects by Jon Horvath and Hans Gindlesberger, both artists and educators who explore questions of place, storytelling, and perceptions of “authentic” experience. The exhibition includes works created both independently and collaboratively using GPS mapping, immersive travel simulators such as Google Street View, and references to popular culture.

Electric Sheep is a form of artificial life. The purely abstract, generative, digital art work is based on the theory of natural selection. A collaborative work originally coded by software artist Scott Draves, Electric Sheep now involves more than half-a-million crowd-sourced computers and their users. It has been reproducing, evolving, and never repeating itself since 1999. Draves modeled the project on biological processes of organic life. Since the fractal imagery code never repeats itself, no visitor’s experience will be the same as another’s throughout the course of the exhibition—or even during a single visit.

The exhibition is on view February 7–March 28, with an opening reception with Hans Gindlesberger and Jon Hovarth on February 6 from 5–7 p.m. Scott Draves is expected to be in conversation at LCVA at a later date during the exhibition.

Artificial/Life: On the Road & Electric Sheep is made possible in part by Longwood University’s Department of Information Technology Services

When you visit:

Artificial/Life also includes a focus gallery curated by Emily Grabiec, LCVA’s curator of education, an area where visitors of all ages can explore the ideas that inspired the exhibition. Complementary programs are scheduled through March 28.