Set to grace the world’s largest LED screen, Refik Anadol’s AI data sculpture, “Machine Hallucinations: Sphere,” is a mesmerizing blend of art and technology. The spherical structure, known as Sphere, stands at a towering 366 feet in Las Vegas and boasts the world’s highest-resolution wraparound LED screen.
The spectacle begins on September 1 as part of a four-month AI-generated art residency, marking the first use of MSG Sphere’s “Exosphere.” This programmable digital canvas spans an astounding 580,000 square feet and features approximately 1.2 million “hockey puck-sized” LEDs.
MSG Sphere, an entertainment venue of unparalleled grandeur, officially opens on September 29 with a series of 25 powerhouse performances by U2. The Sphere was fully illuminated for the first time on the Fourth of July, and it’s already drawing astonishment from industry veterans.
Even U2’s The Edge, after touring the venue, declared, “There’s nothing like it. It’s light years ahead of everything that’s out there.” Sphere’s Chief Operation Officer, Rich Claffey, with nearly 40 years in the entertainment business, admitted he’s never seen anything like it.
Anadol’s installation is the result of a harmonious fusion of art and technology within this architectural marvel. It’s the latest addition to his acclaimed Machine Hallucinations series, offering viewers a multisensory experience rooted in local atmospheric data. These data points are transformed into abstract images, creating a meditative and intricate experience.
This installation marks the second and final chapter of Machine Hallucinations: Nature, inviting the audience to explore “alternative realities constructed by invisible data movements around them.”
Refik Anadol expressed his excitement about using this architectural and engineering marvel as his canvas, aligning with his studio’s mission to embed media arts into architecture. Guy Barnett, Senior Vice President of Sphere Entertainment, praised Anadol’s vision and the capabilities of the Exosphere, calling it “an incomparable canvas for artists to explore their artistic expression on a global stage.”
Sphere is dedicated to showcasing both art and brands on its exterior, heralding a revolution at the intersection of art and commerce. Following Anadol’s installation, filmmaker Darren Aronofsky’s immersive experience, ‘Postcard from Earth,’ opens to the public on October 9th. These events mark a new era in entertainment, where art, technology, and architecture converge to craft unforgettable experiences for audiences worldwide.
Anadol’s AI Data Sculpture at Sphere represents a leap in integrating technology and art, offering a glimpse into the future of interactive and immersive installations. Las Vegas solidifies its position as a next-gen creative and entertainment hub, with MSG Sphere leading the way in redefining the boundaries of artistic expression and cultural encounters.