Keywords: prosthetics, artificial intelligence, ritual, wound, sculpture
World Premiere: 2017, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin
Amygdala MK1 is a prototype for an artificially intelligent (AI) robot in the form of an uncanny human-like limb. Disturbing and yet sensual, abject and sinuous, Amygdala MK1 uses a knife to manipulate and sculpt pieces of skin. Its labour is repetitive, careful and neverending. The robot’s only aim is, in fact, to learn a ritual of purification known as “skin-cutting”.
This is a religious ritual consisting in cutting one’s skin in specific patterns and to thus allow impure blood to leave the body. Albeit in different forms and conceptualisations, skin-cutting and blood-letting rituals are found across indigenous religions in Papua New Guinea, Africa and Eastern Asia as well as in Christian and Muslim religions worldwide. Through the experience of pain and healing of the body-altering wounds resulting from the ritual, one achieves “purification”.
This page refers to Amygdala MK1, the first iteration of the final artwork entitled Amygdala. Please visit this page to learn more about the final artwork, its concept and techniques.
Technique
Organic skin, artist’s hair, wax, FPGA computer board, custom AI software (adaptive neural networks, reinforcement learning algorithms), servo motors, aluminum chassis, re-purposed industrial-grade server cabinet.
Credits
Amygdala MK1 – installation artwork
Concept: Marco Donnarumma
Artistic direction: Marco Donnarumma
Installation design, light design: Marco Donnarumma
Installation fabrication: Marco Donnarumma
Artwork’s description texts: Marco Donnarumma
Photography: Marco Donnarumma, Margherita Pevere, Dario Lagana’ | Norte.it
Video trailer: Marco Donnarumma
The installation Amygdala MK1 is a production by Marco Donnarumma, created in collaboration with Neurorobotics Research Laboratory and Ana Rajcevic. The installation was realised during, and funded by, Donnarumma’s Fellowship at the Graduiertenschule, Berlin University of the Arts. The installation and the robot are part of the 7 Configurations cycle ideated and produced by Donnarumma. In-kind support was provided by Baltan Laboratories and Retune Festival.
Amygdala MK1 – Robot created for the eponymous installation Amygdala by Marco Donnarumma in collaboration with Neurorobotics Research Laboratory and Ana Rajcevic.
Installation concept, robotic behaviour, engineering, manufacturing, AI programming, installation: Marco Donnarumma
Design, design concept and fabrication of the robotic prosthesis: Ana Rajcevic
3D modelling, 3D printing, engineering support: Christian Schmidts
Neurorobotics scientific advice, behavioural design framework: Prof. Manfred Hild
Scientific support: Neurorobotics Research Lab, Beuth Hochschule, Berlin
Mentoring, additional AI programming: Alberto de Campo
Realised as part of Donnarumma’s Fellowship at the Graduiertenschule, Berlin University of the Arts funded by Einstein Stiftung.
Awards
2021, Magic Machine Award, RosyDX, C. Rockefeller Center, Netzwerk Medien Kunst and Technische Sammlungen Dresden (DE)
First Prize in Art Category
2018, German Federal Ministry for Education and Research and WiD (DE)
Artist of the Science Year
Exhibitions
- Enjoy Complexity, Schauspiel Dortmund
Curated by Alexander Kerlin, Dortmund, DE, 2018 - Retune Digital Arts Lab
Curated by Jasmin Grimm and Julian Adenauer, Bitkom Conference, Berlin, DE, 2017 - Close, Never Closer
Curated by Jan Verwoert, Berlin University of the Arts, Berlin, DE, 2017 - Salon fuer Aesthetische Experimente #2
Preview, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, DE, 2017