Exhibition GOGBOT X RMT

The exhibition questions our human belief in progress through technological developments. What are the consequences of the growing influence of technology on our lives? Through various artworks, different future scenarios are presented that explore our interaction with technology.

From September 12 to February 2, 2025, Rijksmuseum Twenthe, in collaboration with the GOGBOT Festival, will host this exhibition. Over the past centuries, technological developments have profoundly changed our lives. The Atomic Age brought us unlimited energy, while robotics reduced dangerous labor and increased production. Advances in information technology, particularly the advent of the internet, have granted us access to vast amounts of knowledge and information, as well as connections with people on the other side of the world. Today, apps and algorithms are making our work and lives increasingly convenient. These changes are often seen as progress, making our lives more comfortable.

But do these technological developments solely represent progress, or do they reflect a 'naive' belief in advancement, revealing themselves as a double-edged sword? For instance, while atomic energy has brought positive changes, its long-term impact remains controversial and continues to spark societal debates. Innovations like self-learning algorithms, AI, and quantum physics also have a darker side, which we are becoming increasingly aware of.

The exhibition GOGBOT X RMT examines the impact of developments in information technology on our society. For example, while we are more connected than ever, we are simultaneously becoming increasingly alienated from one another. Is our trust in technological progress perhaps a utopian dream? What happens when interests collide and technology shifts from being a tool to creating a dystopian scenario? How should we, as a society, deal with these new developments?

Participating artists

Kate Crawford and Vladan Joler | Disnovation.org | Diana Gheorghiu | Hilda Hellstrom | Matthias Planitzer | T (N)C /Tina Kult and Agnes Varnal, in collaboration with Madeline Hall | David Scheldler | Jonas Staal | Miloš Trakilović | Suzanne Treister | Troika

The GOGBOT X RMT exhibition is part of the new concept Nomadic Offspace Museum of Art & Technology (NOMAT) by PLANETART, through which GOGBOT organizes projects in collaboration with various partners beyond its four festival days.