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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

Bennett Miller

Bennett Miller, Lucy, 2022–23.

Mar 21 – Apr 22, 2023
980 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10075

At first glance, Bennett Miller’s new works at Gagosian appear to be historical photographs of rural landscapes and children. Yet not quite. That’s because these are not photographs from the past, but A.I.-generated images. For the last five years, Miller has been researching and shooting a new documentary about our current moment of immense technological change. As part of this endeavor, he worked with the software DALL•E (think Salvador Dalí mixed with Pixar’s WALL-E) to create art. Miller wanted to stretch the concept of historical photography, and DALL•E was able to turn Miller’s written prompts into the images you see here. The results are eerie, beautiful, and understandably uncomfortable. They should be. Miller has proved that we can construct new histories out of thin air, for better and for worse. —Clara Molot

Photo courtesy of Bennett Miller