The SVA Project, Viktor Koen
Graduate and undergraduate students at the School of Visual Arts in New York City conducted research, chose a quote related to the SNF Nostos theme of Humanity and Artificial Intelligence and expressed it by combining images and typography for the SVA Poster Project. 24 of these posters are selected for exhibition in Athens.
The body of work that students developed showcases the way young artists and designers-in-training perceive contemporary issues through literal, symbolic, or purely aesthetic expression. The international makeup of SVA’s student community generated a multicultural approach to the theme, evolving into a global sampling of ideas, visuals, and design of outstanding quality.
This exhibition differs greatly from a typical group show call for entries. It’s a real classroom assignment, taken from original concepts through studies, sketches, revisions, and finished posters by critiquing, analyzing every step of the process, and by making it an organic and integral part of the artist’s education. There are continuous discussions about the essence of Humanity and Artificial Intelligence itself, but the topic is also approached through visionary literature, sci-fi films, and song lyrics. The process of identifying quotes to reflect our theme as well as focusing on words with visual potential contributes deeply to expressing them visually. This environment creates a unique opportunity to educate future communicators on subjects that are often bypassed, unless explicitly addressed in tangible ways through personal experience or as part of their academic curriculum.
In order to achieve a broad treatment of the subject, the project is presented to MFA Illustration as Visual Essay students (first- and second-years), second-year Graphic Design students, and professionals participating in the SVA Summer Residency Program. Although only a small number of posters are chosen, the high volume of submissions, along with supporting materials like early sketches, research and notes, gives a unique perspective on the theme and records the project stage by stage.
As SNF Nostos has evolved, so has the SVA Poster Project. To reflect that, the exhibition gradually widens its focus from strictly philanthropic perspective to a positive, inspiring and action-thinking outlook. Naturally, this presents new visual opportunities, making the poster assignment deeper in its search for meaning and more inclusive in its attitudes. Shifting from representing to evoking is not easy, but moving from one side of the brain to the other never is. When the world is more fractured, one has to reach further, much further, for transformative messages and symbols.
From reminding humans to be humanitarians to urging the need for pragmatic new ideas and technologies, sometimes these affiches provide inspiration, while sometimes they function as warning signs. Facing harder truths, calling to action and providing guiding words becomes important as, more and more, graphics on the wall reassume their traditional and activist mission. More importantly, receiving messages in ways our digital networks and devices cannot deliver presents an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the way a new generation of artists reacts to an environment where change is the only constant.
After a full year’s worth of work, the Humanity + AI SVA Poster Project edition comes full circle to the birthplace of the first automaton, Talos, a gigantic bronze guardian robot with a single blood vein running from neck to ankle, slain when the sorceress Medea hypnotized him—or was it hacking? Obviously, artificial intelligence is not only robotics, but who can resist the temptation of crafting humanoids, as Hephaestus did not far from here, a few thousand years ago.
Details of the program are likely to change in accordance with the latest COVID-19 health measures.
Exhibition Catalogue 