Boundaries (2024)

Boundaries is a monumental, contemplative artwork that meditates on life, on being alive, on being aware of being alive, and being aware of being aware.

How is it that sub-atomic waves dancing in cosmic quantum fields can feel? Can think? Can be aware of itself, feeling and thinking?

The work honors the deep entanglement of all life, matter and intelligence in the cosmos—from the microbial networks within our bodies, to the atoms forged in the hearts of dying stars, the galaxies that cradle the stardust destined to coalesce into me and you, the plants that create the oxygen that we breathe, the minerals in the soil from which we are made, to the ripples in cosmic quantum fields from which we all emerge. We are not apart from the universe, we are not even in the universe. We are part of the universe. The universe is in us. Just as waves are the ocean in motion, we are the universe in motion.

Boundaries Stills from ‘Boundaries’ by Memo Akten and Katie Hofstadter, 2024

Created using custom code, artificial intelligence, computer vision, digital painting, and dance, the work blends computational media with embodied expression, aiming to induce a contemplative, intimate experience, encouraging us to reflect on these themes.

The piece was commissioned by the Vanhaerents Art Collection for the Venice Art Biennale 2024. It was exhibited as a 30 ft tall, 13 ft wide LED screen installation, exhibited throughout the biennale from April to November 2024, and visited by over 90,000 visitors. It was highlighted as amongst the ‘best of the Biennale’ by publications Sphere Life and WhiteWall.

The work was also exhibited at the historic old train station in Seoul, South Korea in November 2024, as the showpiece for the Unfold X New Media Art festival, and File Festival in Sao Paulo and Rio, Brazil 2025.

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Rendered installation view at Chiesa di Santa Maria della Visitazione, Venice Biennale 2024

Exhibitions, Performances and Other Showings

This is a partial list — only events with dedicated project pages are shown. For a complete list, please see about#shows.

Credits & Acknowledgements

Artists: Memo Akten and Katie Hofstadter

Details

Medium
Video and sound installation
Duration
8:15
Dimensions
Option 1: 4x9m LED Panels, as presented at the Venice Biennale in 2024. Option 2: 1:2 aspect ratio LED panels, variable dimensions: 1x2m, 1.5x3m, 2x4m, 2.5x5m, 3x6m Option 3: 9:16 Screen, variable dimensions: 75″-100″ Screen in portrait"
Technique
Choreography and dance, custom software, computer vision and motion tracking, fluid simulation, digital painting, artificial intelligence, machine learning, latent diffusion models