Artist Talk: Refik Anadol

Artist talk with Refik Anadol to celebrate his large-scale public art project on the National Mall, “Smithsonian Dreams.”
About this Event

Join renowned artist Refik Anadol as we celebrate his debut large-scale public art project on the National Mall, “Smithsonian Dreams.”

In a "fireside" chat with Chase F. Robinson, director of the National Museum of Asian Art, you’ll get an inside look at how Anadol blends data and machine intelligence into his creative work. Afterward, head over to the National Mall to see his installation in action as the historic Smithsonian Castle comes alive with light, sound, and data.

About "Smithsonian Dreams"

Created by Refik Anadol Studio, the installation uses artificial intelligence to reimagine nearly two centuries of Smithsonian collections and research. Drawing from millions of digitized items, ranging from specimens and manuscripts to photographs, artworks, and scientific records, the project turns collection data into a continuously evolving visual experience projected across the Castle’s red sandstone façade and towers.

Every image in the presentation comes from Smithsonian collections, brought together through a custom visualization system. The experience unfolds in thematic chapters inspired by the Smithsonian’s founding, archival materials, and artworks, revealing unexpected connections across disciplines and time.

The installation will take place on July 17 and 18, beginning at 9 p.m. To make the most of your evening, we encourage guests to arrive early to find a comfortable viewing spot on the National Mall before the show begins.

The immersive experience will be presented twice during the evening at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., giving visitors more than one opportunity to experience the show.

Refik Anadol (b. 1985, Istanbul, Turkey) is an internationally renowned media artist, director, and pioneer in the aesthetics of data and machine intelligence. He is the Director of Refik Anadol Studio in Los Angeles and Lecturer in UCLA’s Department of Design Media Arts. Anadol’s work locates creativity at the intersection of humans and machines. Taking the data that surrounds us as primary material, and the neural network of a computerized mind as a collaborator, Anadol offers us radical visualizations of our digitized memories and expands the possibilities of interdisciplinary arts. Anadol’s site-specific data paintings and sculptures, live audio/visual performances, and immersive installations take many forms, while encouraging us to rethink our engagement with the physical world, collective experiences, public art, decentralized networks, and the creative potential of AI.