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jul/ aug 19 now Hello! Welcome to your guide to a packed summer at the Barbican. Whether you’re familiar with the Centre or a first-time visitor, you’ll find plenty of inspiration inside to What do we look keep you busy throughout the season. Interactive exhibition AI: More than Human explores the history of artificial intelligence like to machines? and its uses today, with installations for all ages (see page 4). In the Art Gallery, Lee Krasner: As machine learning and computer vision Living Colour is the first major retrospective of the pioneering abstract expressionist become more prevalent in society, do we (see page 11) in Europe for 50 years. really understand how machines see us? Our Cinema features two seasons dedicated to the summer (see page 2), while there’s chance to get outside and see some of the world’s greatest musicians for free at Walthamstow Garden Party (page 3). Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s ever- popular rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar is in our Theatre all summer, giving you chance to see this award-winning production from Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. All summer long, Play the Mile features over 100 concerts, plus installations, performances, play sessions and more (pages 5-6). And if that’s leaving you feeling in need of a refreshing pick-me-up, our Lakeside is the perfect spot to unwind on these long nights, with a drink and a bite to eat. Whatever the weather, our programme will ensure your summer is a hot one. Discover how algorithms perceive human action in Sight Machine © Trevor Paglen Artist Trevor Paglen is fascinated by this exist – but with the advent of computer vision Contents question. Working with the Kronos Quartet and machine learning that’s no longer true. he has produced Sight Machine, a multimedia We’ve created machines that look at pictures Now performance that shows us how different and do things with those images. I’ve been Highlights algorithms and software perceive humans. He trying to think through what that means, will be investigating similar themes for a new how do computers look at images, what What’s coming up this month 1–4 installation in The Curve (26 Sep–16 Feb). kinds of things can they see, and what can Miles of fun 5–6 they not see? Sight Machine emerged out Cinema 7–8 As the musicians perform works by Terry Riley, of that basic body of creative research.’ Classical Music 9 Laurie Anderson, Steve Reich and others, they The results dramatically highlight the difference are watched by cameras which are connected Theatre & Dance 10 between how humans perceive images and to a variety of artificial intelligence algorithms. how machines do. ‘What’s interesting is the Art & Design 11–12 Mainly sourced from computer vision labs gap between them,’ says the artist. ‘And Contemporary Music 13–14 in universities, the cameras include facial that’s how Sight Machine developed.’ recognition systems, self-guided car software Soon and missile guidance programs. Screens Renowned for his work about technology Book now for these show the audience what the computers see. and surveillance, Paglen has been asking forthcoming events 15–16 questions about machines’ roles in our lives ‘The question that I’m trying to work through for years. His feelings about the creeping Always in my larger body of work is to think about growth of these tools are not optimistic. what it means that looking at images is no Enjoy the Barbican longer the sole domain of human subjects,’ ‘One of the biggest things that’s come out at any time of day 17–18 says Paglen. ‘Historically images have always of this is how narrow what computers can required humans to look at them in order do is, and how junky they are. In terms of to be interpreted – an image that’s never the technology, they don’t do what they’re seen for all intents and purposes doesn’t 1 barbican.org.uk now soon always ‘Asking a computer to analyse people’s emotions is a fundamentally and philosophically flawed position.’ Do The Right Thing is one of the films in our Heat of the Moment season A summer of cinema Get into summer with two seasons of films in our Cinema that capture the spirit of the season. Every Thursday throughout August, Heat including Monterey Pop (1968), Woodstock of the Moment: Turning Points on Film (1970) and a rare showing of Rolling features movies set in the summer that show Stones biopic Cocksucker Blues (1972). a moment of significant social, political or Our special offer means you can get a ticket personal change. Including Spike Lee’s Do to one of these films, plus a drink (beer, wine the Right Thing (1989), portraying Brooklyn or a soft drink) for just £13. Find out more at neighbourhood life; and Stonewall (1995, barbican.org.uk/cinema-summer-special dir Nigel Finch) which tells the story of a clash that sparked the mainstream LGBT Heat of the Moment: movement in New York, the season shares the Turning Points on Film meteorological and social heat of the summer. Come Together: A Music Film Series Thursdays and Fridays throughout August Come Together: A Music Film Series channels See pages 7-8 for details the festival vibe every Friday through films Are you a advertised to do. The range of things they can perceive is very narrow and yet there seems young creative? to be unquestioned faith in the use of things Whether you’re a poet, a visual artist, a like machine learning and computer vision in budding curator or film fan, the Barbican society at large. Our collective desire to want Guildhall Creative Learning’s Young Creatives to believe in these technologies and what kind schemes offer opportunities to develop your of world is embodied with these systems is very skills and network alongside professionals limited. It amazes me how unscientific it all is. working in the arts. ‘The easy availability of these tools creates a ‘People completing the programmes not desire to apply them in many domains where only gain a better understanding of their they don’t belong, either for political reasons artistic voice and practical skills, but what or simply epistemological or scientific reasons. many find really valuable is a critical support ‘Asking a computer to analyse people’s network – a trusted creative community emotions is a fundamentally and and a safe place to share work and have it philosophically flawed position.’ critiqued, which can be hard to find,’ says Creative Learning Producer Chris Webb. Kronos Quartet & Trevor Paglen: Sight Machine Anyone aged 14-25 who wants to pursue 11 Jul their interest in the arts, and has some See page 13 for details work they can show us, is welcome to apply. There are no formal training explore everything you need to know to Part of Life Rewired requirements and the courses are free. help you get into the creative industries. For a less formal approach to learning Applications are open now for programmes about working in the creative industries, including Young Poets, Young Visual Artists we run regular talks and workshops and Young Programmers. Find out more called Creative Careers. These sessions at barbican.org.uk/youngbarbican Jul/Aug 2019 2 now Walthamstow Garden Party Music highlights Walthamstow Garden Party has signed up to Keychange, an international campaign encouraging festivals, conferences and music industry events to pledge a 50:50 gender balance by 2022. Among the musicians performing on the Barbican Music Stage this year will be: Carleen Anderson © Martin Woutiss Carleen Anderson – A Change Is Gonna Come Discover music, arts, theatre and more at Walthamstow Garden Party Taking its name from the Sam Cooke classic, Carleen Anderson and an exceptional cast of musicians explore how people have used art to highlight issues of inequality. This ground- breaking project sees Anderson joined by It’s party time some of the most exciting names in cutting- edge music including contemporary pianist Free festival Walthamstow Garden Party is a du jour Nikki Yeoh, jazz virtuoso Camilla George and rising UK rapper Lady Sanity. global event made locally. Get a taste of what’s Also in the sextet is multi-instrumentalist Rennell coming up with this special guide. Shaw and expressive drummer Rod Youngs. Zara McFarlane McFarlane pushes boundaries. One of Get ready for two days of music, dance Keep it green the UK’s foremost jazz vocalists, she melds influences from jazz, reggae, folk and and culture in E17 as Walthamstow Garden Being green is important. By working with as nu-soul. But she also works across the arts Party returns to Lloyd Park for a sixth year, many local artists, producers and traders as – she’s recently been exploring Jamaican involving over 70 community groups, arts possible and encouraging our audiences to folk music and was last seen at the Barbican organisations and businesses from Waltham walk, cycle or use public transport, our impact in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Forest, the first London Borough of Culture. on the environment is kept to a minimum. production of Anthony and Cleopatra. Discover a passionate brigade of local Last year, we successfully ran a reusable artists and organisations on Fellowship cup scheme which saved 26,828 single-use Mayra Andrade Island; play in the family friendly Art for All plastic cups from going into landfill, and Inspired by a multi-cultural upbringing which area; dance to local DJs in the Glittering recycled 74.6 per cent of the waste from saw her travelling from Senegal to Germany Plains tent; be inspired by an eclectic line the site.