AI Transforms Smithsonian Castle Into Illuminated Art Installation

Artist Refik Anadol is using artificial intelligence to transform the Smithsonian Castle into an illuminated public art installation titled "Smithsonian Dreams." The installation projects images from the Smithsonian's vast collection, alongside AI-generated abstract graphics, onto the building's facade. This immersive experience aims to visualize what the historic Smithsonian Castle might "dream" about, drawing from its extensive archives.

The Smithsonian Institution, a massive repository of knowledge with over 2 million library volumes and 157 million objects, provided Anadol with access to digitized items spanning nearly 200 years. These include photographs, art, manuscripts, scientific records, and physical specimens. Anadol developed a custom AI system to process this data, creating a UMAP (uniform manifold approximation and projection) to map connections within the collection. Anadol described this process as treating data as a form of memory, using machine intelligence as a creative collaborator to turn the archive into a "living experience."

The "Smithsonian Dreams" installation is scheduled to illuminate the 145-foot-tall Castle building for two nights only: July 17 and July 18. The project utilizes Panasonic technology for the projection onto the Gothic Revival structure. This initiative coincides with the U.S. commemorating its 250th anniversary, a period marked by various public events and celebrations in the National Mall area.