Students explore the humanity in a world of AI in art exhibition

Students from the University of Sunderland have curated an art installation that explores the creative process of humanity in contrast to the rise in artificial intelligence.

Steviee Brookes and Bog Balenger, third year Fine Art students at the University, have created their own exhibition called From Our Ribs that celebrates artists and the creative process.

The exhibition was created in response to a previous university art exhibition Bad AI, the fourth instalment of the Sunderland Embassy of the Wrong Biennale that looked to both question and celebrate artificial intelligence.

Steviee said: “We really want to celebrate the artists with this exhibition. So, we thought we'd create it in contrast to AI and originally the name of it was going to be based off that.

“But as we developed it, the exhibition turned more and more into just celebrating the artists and the creative process.”

The exhibition is made up of a range of work from students across the University, which showcases not only their final pieces but the process of creating as well.

Steviee said: “We've got tonnes of sketchbooks from artists who are involved for people go through and explore the process of creation.

“People really want to show their process, and that's kind of the point of art – it’s the process, which AI does not have. AI doesn't have the process.”

Bog added: “The theme is the creative process and the name From Our Ribs comes from the biblical story of Eve.

“Eve was created from Adam's rib, and we had the thought that Eve was created through a process. A lot of the art we make is the only kind of one of its kind, so we wanted to reflect that. We wanted to reflect that we are creating something from ourselves.”

From Our Ribs not only also features work from both Steevie and Bog, but was fully curated by them, putting into practice the skills they have developed over their time at the University.

Bog said: “I work with the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens as a Sunderland Creatives Youth Ambassador, so I’ve curated exhibitions and tours before. But working with Steviee and not with a larger group has been different. The less people you’re working with the more responsibility and control you have over the final outcome.

“We focussed on disability access too, making sure that the sculptural works are laid out with wheelchair widths in mind allowing easy navigation of the space and hanging work so work can be comfortably viewed from a wheelchair.”

Steviee said: “I've always wanted to be a curator, so this kind of fits perfectly into it. Throughout the process there has been a lot of communication between us to get the exhibition to a place where we were both happy with it.

“At the beginning, we both agreed that we wanted the space to overwhelm our audience, give them a sense that the space is full and has minimal empty and blank spots.”

Although the exhibition was created by themselves and the contributions of other students, Steviee and Bog have received support throughout the entire process to help them realise their vision.

Steviee said: “One of the biggest helps were the technicians and have been so helpful for not just us but for the artists involved. If we have ever need advice during this entire process we’ve been able to hear from their expertise.”

During her studies, Steviee also received the Robson Art and Design Scholarship that supports undergraduate students who show passion and potential in their artistic field. The scholarship provides students with financial support to continue to develop their creative process.

Steviee said: “The scholarship was so helpful, it helped me with a lot of the things I needed in first year including equipment and helping with travel costs. I also bought my first oil set with it which I was really excited with.”

If you are interested in studying Fine Art at the University of Sunderland, find out more here.