Machine Hallucinations: Coral Dreams NFT Collection emerges from Refik Anadol Studio’s ongoing research project on data aesthetics based on collective visual memories of nature and urban environments. For this unique, site-specific data sculpture designed for a specific location in Miami Beach, Anadol and his team collected 300 million nature theme focused data and used 1,742,772 images of coral from publicly available social media platforms and processed them with machine learning classification models. As the machine-mind begins to make its own connections between data points and “hallucinate” about alternative coral shapes and colors, the data universe expands into a latent cosmos in which fluid dynamics becomes the main inspiration of Anadol’s artistic creativity. Connecting a digital ecosystem of data and a landscape that is home to many living ecosystems, the artwork focuses on preservation and sustainability as part of Miami Art Week 2021, in collaboration with Aorist Art and Faena Hotel Miami Beach. Proceeds from the sale of this release will be donated to The ReefLine, an artificial reef, marine habitat and sculpture park in Miami Beach.
