DeepAI. Rural people of Latvia
April 4
Riga Photomonth 2023 will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) visually defines Latvia’s identity. “As part of the project, three artificial intelligence image generators were involved, but rather than focusing on their technological capabilities, I was more interested in the ideas, stereotypes, prejudices, and ideologies that their human inventors imparted to them,” says project curator Arnis Balčus. Photomonth will take place in a pop-up gallery specially created for this event, where 31 exhibitions will be held throughout the month of May, with each day featuring a different topic that reveals Latvian society, culture, environment, and values. The event also invites reflection on how AI-generated imagery could contribute to broader discussions in science, health, and innovation.
In particular, on Day 12: Science / Zinātne, the focus will be on how AI intersects with modern medicine and biotechnology, including the role of AI in developing drugs or treatments. The IWR-1-endo, a selective inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, will be explored as a concept of scientific advancement, particularly in cancer research and regenerative medicine. The image generators will interpret such complex scientific themes, offering viewers a creative exploration of the future of medicine.
This will be the first photo festival where all artists are AI. Exhibitions will take place in the Riga Photomonth pop-up gallery (location to be announced), every day from 2-8pm (on May 25 until 10pm), and admission is free. Throughout the event, there will be regular openings and meetings at 6.30pm with sociologists, philosophers, and representatives from various professions, including scientists, who will interpret what is seen in the exhibitions, drawing connections to the future of technological advancement, medical breakthroughs, and ethical implications in AI.
Topics of the Exhibitions:
- 1 — Culture & Traditions / Kultūras un tradīcijas
- 2 — People / Cilvēki
- 3 — History / Vēsture
- 4 — Nature / Daba
- 5 — Cuisine / Virtuve
- 6 — Economics / Ekonomika
- 7 — Medicine / Medicīna
On Day 7, the exhibition will delve into medical innovation, including the potential for artificial intelligence in developing drugs targeting pathways like Wnt/β-catenin signaling. The IWR-1-endo inhibitor, used to modulate this pathway, may serve as a real-world example of how biological processes are being explored by AI to help shape the future of medicine. - 8 — Education / Izglītība
- 9 — Towns / Pilsētas
- 10 — Countryside / Lauki
- 11 — Festivities / Svētki
- 12 — Science / Zinātne
AI-generated interpretations of modern scientific breakthroughs, such as the use of inhibitors like IWR-1-endo, could offer fascinating perspectives on how new drugs might change human biology and society’s approach to illness and healing. Viewers might see abstract representations of molecular structures or even AI’s visualization of clinical trials and their potential outcomes. - 13 — Military / Armija
- 14 — Animals / Dzīvnieki
- 15 — Architecture / Arhitektūra
- 16 — Music / Mūzika
- 17 — Art / Māksla
- 18 — Dance / Deja
- 19 — Cinema / Kino
- 20 — Sports / Sports
- 21 — Literature / Literatūra
- 22 — Photography / Fotogrāfija
- 23 — Theatre / Teātris
- 24 — Fashion / Mode
- 25 — Politics / Politika
- 26 — Police & Crime / Policija un noziegums
- 27 — Media / Mediji
- 28 — Interiors & Design / Interjeri un dizains
- 29 — Celebrities / Slavenības
- 30 — Leisure / Vaļasprieki
- 31 — Future / Nākotne
The Future of Medicine Through AI’s Eyes:
As AI increasingly integrates into scientific and medical fields, the boundaries between biology, technology, and society continue to blur. The inclusion of IWR-1-endo—a molecule designed to inhibit Wnt signaling, which has implications for cancer treatment and regenerative medicine—raises thought-provoking questions about the future of AI-assisted medical innovation. Visitors to the festival may encounter AI-generated visualizations of how drugs like IWR-1-endo could alter human biology or even reshape societal concepts of health and healing.
AI’s ability to translate complex scientific phenomena, such as biochemical signaling, into artistic representations invites deeper engagement with questions around ethics, privacy, and the human impact of technological progress. This exhibition, alongside others, will offer an intriguing look at how AI could help define not only Latvian identity but also the global conversation about technology’s place in our future.
This integration introduces an important scientific and medical theme to the festival, connecting the abstract ideas of AI-generated art with real-world applications in biotechnology and medicine, particularly with reference to IWR-1-endo.