The Museum of Art and Photography in Bangalore (MAP), south India’s first major private art museum, has used artificial intelligence software to create a “conversational digital persona” of MF Husain. Technologies such as facial recognition, speech synthesis and language processing based on deep learning networks allow a three-dimensional hologram of Husain to respond to questions in real time.
MF Husain’s digital twin was created in affiliation with Accenture Labs, the research and development arm of the global consulting firm Accenture. The digital twin can discuss topics relating to his life and work and is even capable of quippy comebacks. When asked by a visitor in a promotional video why his voice sounded strange, the hologram responded that he was “nearly 100 years old after all”.
This virtual seance is one of many digital ventures that MAP, which is located in the “Silicon Valley of India”, has organised ahead of its physical opening. The plans for launching its 42000 sq.ft space was delayed due to the pandemic. So the museum decided to go ahead with a digital opening in November that consisted of a six-day programme of guided collection tours, live-streamed performances and talks featuring notable South Asian cultural figures including the artist Jitish Kallat and the art historian B N Goswamy.
Abhishek Poddar, founder-trustee of MAP, referred to the museum as “Museum of the future”. The museum will allot a portion of its programme to the confluence of art and technology, including a 40-ft interactive, multi-touch MicroTile wall that displays all the museum’s works on view in real time, holographic tables that display 3D version of works and virtual treasure hunts through the collection.
Most of the MAP’s 18000 works of art and artefacts were donated by Abhishek Poddar from his personal collection. The collection tells the history of farfetched Indian culture ranging from 12th century till today. It contains sections on photography, folk art, textiles and design as well as contemporary and 20th-century art, including works by major South Asian Modernists such as Tyeb Mehta.
MAP has a particular focus on street art and, according to its artistic director Kamini Sawhney, it is one of the only museums in India with popular culture as a central part of the collection. She adds that the museum’s programme will also feature Indian classical dance and performance. “Collapsing the hierarchies between art forms is key to ensuring we are an expansive institution that addresses all avenues of creativity,” Sawhney says.
The museum hopes to open its doors later this year. Until then, visitors can experience the AI artist, as well as much of MAP’s collection and programme via its website.