Think about the word “robot”. What do you think of first? What is the functionality of what you’re imagining? Do you view robots as a tool to make our lives easier? Or do you see robotics as a medium of creative expression?

I doubt that many people think the latter when they hear the generic term “robot”. However, despite the stereotypes that many of us picture when we think robot, robots have always served a medium of art, and today have the potential to create their own expressions of creativity.

An interesting subject when exploring the realm of robotics is the idea of acceptance. Alex Proya’s film I, Robot explores the different attitudes towards artificial intelligence and begins the blur the line between man and machine. In the film, the apparent emotion and altruism of the robots are ultimately what win society over, however, the protagonist only begins to accept these forms of AI once one robot displays agency and the ability resist conformity. 

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Fred Abels explores similar topics through his work. His lifelike, replication of a homeless man DIRK, challenges people to question what makes us human. Most people could not tell that DIRK was a robot at all, and ironically enough, once they realized that he was a robot, paid him more attention than a human would have received.

Artificial intelligence has also paved the way for robots to create art of their own and  improvise in interesting ways. In Ken Feingold’s piece The Animal, Vegetable, and Mineralness of Everything, three robot heads engage in an unscripted philosophical debate about “the thing” that lies before them and their existence. They express their fears and unique thoughts as they interact with one another. In addition to this “philosophical” improvisation, robots are being designed to create visual art. In 2002, the first annual Artbots talent show took place, showcasing the creative abilities of many different robots.

Lastly, technology has allowed us to tether music and technology. Fred Abels, has also created a piece called Pyrobass, which shoots different colored flames in sync with music and also alters the sound of the piece.

Works Cited
Ables, Fred. "DanceMachine En Pyrobass." Fabels. Rob Verdegaal, 1 Jan. 2002. Web. 20 Apr. 2015

"DIRK." Electic Circus. Fred Abels and Mirjam Langmeijer, 7 Sept. 2008. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

Documentation Clip of "The Animal, Vegetable, Mineralness of Everything" by Ken Feingold (2004). Youtube, 2011. Film.

Feingold, Ken. ""The Animal, Vegetable, Mineralness of Everything" Ken Feingold 2004." Ken Feingold Notes on Recent Works. Ken Feingold, 1 Jan. 2011. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

I, Robot. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp, 2004. DVD.

Repetto, Douglas. ArtBots: The Robot Talent Show. 25 May 2002. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.