From cars to computers, machines are an integral part of our lives. But as technology rapidly advances and artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more mainstream, it raises an important question: how will our relationship with machines evolve, and what will it look like in the decades to come?

The relationship between humans and machines is something artist Agnieszka Pilat explores in her work Heterobota. The futuristic, AI-enabled installation was created in collaboration with Boston Dynamics and commissioned for the National Gallery of Victoria’s current NGV Triennial exhibition, of which Mercedes-Benz is the proud Principal Partner.

Heterobota invites visitors into the home of Bunny Spot, Basia Spot and Omuzana Spot: three dog-like robots who prowl, play and even paint on the walls of their current home. As viewers capture the robots’ unpredictable moves on their smartphones or livestream the four-legged creatures painting the studio space, they can envision a future where machines have their own identities and creative pursuits.

From classic painter to “machine chaser”

Despite her futuristic work – which seems to be worlds away from the traditional oil paintings that dominated galleries centuries ago – Agnieszka was actually trained as a classic portrait painter.

For the self-described “machine chaser”, the transition from portraits to robots was an intuitive one. “When you think about portraiture, it really reflects power in society,” she says. “So when I moved to Silicon Valley, it occurred to me that power right now is with the machine, is with technology.”

Her earlier portrayals of machines focused on vintage objects. This included an oil painting of an old-school fire alarm bell for Paul Stein – the developer behind AirBnB's head office in San Francisco.

“When I transferred to painting portraits of new machines, I changed my colour palette, I changed my approach, I thought of them as children, as young, youthful,” she says.

As Agnieszka’s projects grew more curious and whimsical, it was clear that technology was more than just her muse – it started to become an active part of her work.

The age of the machine

The Polish American artist says she feels optimistic about what technology can do for art. Although Heterobota represents “the age of the machine”, it takes a playful and curious approach, reiterating “the best features of humans”.

At first glance, Bunny Spot, Basia Spot and Omuzana Spot might seem similar, but through a mixture of machine learning, AI and the artist’s own intervention, they actually have their own unique identities and traits.

Basia, for example, has been trained to be creative and paint. The robot was originally designed for industrial purposes – to work in dangerous environments such as power stations and oil rigs – but Agnieszka saw the creative potential in her.

“[Heterobota] is a collaboration between me, a human, and a machine,” Agnieszka says.

It's also an apt work for NGV Triennial, perfectly encapsulating the theme of ‘magic’.

“Someone said that technology that we can't understand appears as magic,” Agnieszka says. “My team understands robotics quite well. But the technology is so sophisticated, that it seems like magic.”

For viewers watching the four-legged creatures move and play in unexpected and seemingly unscripted ways, the installation is truly spellbinding.

Augmenting reality

As technology sparks new forms of art, it’s also generating questions about creativity and authorship. For example, are the paintings in the installation the work of Bunny Spot, Basia Spot and Omuzana Spot, or are they purely the work of Agnieszka? Will a future race of robots look back at these paintings and see them as ancient relics of their ancestors? As humans grapple with the phenomenon of automated creativity, Heterobota inspires challenging philosophical conversations.

While some have concerns about the anti-social effects of technology and AI, Agnieszka takes a much more positive view.

“It's quite surprising to me in the context of the work, how much machines and technology brought me closer to people,” she says. It’s a contrast to her early days as a classical painter, finishing still-life portraits alone or completing commissions with just a sitter in her studio.

“Because of the complexity of technology and machines, I was forced to kind of get out of my comfort zone and really ask for help on many levels, and work with teams and people who understand things much better than I do.”

“My work for the Triennial captures the essence of innovation and technology … technology always grows,” she says. “The work is very playful and it's positive. And again, I come from a place [where] I'm very comfortable defending technology and being a champion for technology in a moment where a lot of artists are asking more critical questions.”

For Agnieszka, technology isn’t about replacing humanity, but augmenting it.

“Wheels replaced legs. Cameras replaced eyes,” she says. These developments expanded the world, instead of closing it down. “And I find great inspiration in that.”

“We want the audience to come, leave here delighted and optimistic and happy and looking forward towards the future.”

Mercedes-Benz is proud to be the Principal Partner of NGV Triennial, which is currently showing at NGV International, Melbourne until April 7, 2024. Learn more about NGV Triennial here.