Unlike the great inventions of the past, which were tangible and visible, algorithms operate opaquely, hidden behind complex mathematical language. In a historical moment where these digital entities not only observe but influence our daily lives, the need to shed light on these mechanisms has become essential. Claudio Agosti (vecna) is a self-taught hacker from the past century, fascinated by the challenge of how humanity can use the internet as a tool for liberation and disintermediation. For him, cryptography, peer-to-peer networks, bypassing censorship, and critiquing digital power are daily bread. He is a member of Hermes – Hacking for Human Rights.
A robot dog performs a dance routine while a laser projects apparently incomprehensible phrases in English and Italian on a steel wall.
We are not watching a science fiction movie- we are at the MAXXI museum, and more precisely on the first floor in the Gian Ferrari room, inside a freight elevator. In reality, the performance we are watching is part of the work, ASSENZAHAH ESSENZAHAH (2024), created by Riccardo Benassi for the MAXXI BVLGARI PRIZE, the prestigious international award sponsored by the renowned Roman jewellery brand.
We live in strange times when it comes to social reactions. Once upon a time, adverse political events spurred protests and public demonstrations, but today, dissent and political disillusionment often find expression through other means.
Exiting the pandemic was like waking up in another era. Suddenly each of us had at our disposal artificial intelligences capable of solving complex problems, generating all kinds of images or even writing and interpreting songs.
