Humeau, Marguerite

Marguerite Humeau and Mathias Bürki, doctoral student, Autonomous Systems Lab  Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich © Manifesta 11

* 1986, France. Lives and works in London.

Host name(s): 
Mathias Bürki
Host profession(s): 
Engineer and PhD candidate, Autonomous Systems Lab, ETH Zürich
Venues & Satellites: 
LöwenbräukunstETH Zürich

Marguerite Humeau starts from the idea that love is an evolutionary function. Based on her research in zoology, biology and paleontology, Mathias Bürki and his fellow experts in autonomous systems programmed two robot-like creatures designed by the artist, which twirl around ETH Zürich. They try to get together through a fog of anti-love drugs, squirting out ersatz love hormones and emitting mating calls from their mechanical throats. This ancient dance of courtship points to the near future, where artificial intelligence calls into question attributes hitherto thought to be distinctly human. 

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