VPRO Tegenlicht celebrates anniversary with interactive installation in Het Nieuwe Instituut RotterdamVPRO Tegenlicht celebrates anniversary with interactive installation in Het Nieuwe Instituut Rotterdam

20 February - 26 June 2022

Flora van Gaalen (Head of Programme at Het Nieuwe Instituut) says: /"We are proud and excited that VPRO Tegenlicht has chosen to celebrate its 20th anniversary at the institute. The TV show, which examines the pressing developments shaping our world in the 21st century, shares many similarities with our own vision and programming. This exhibition displays the archive of Tegenlicht in a playful way and at the same time introduces visitors to artificial intelligence and its influence on the design of the future./"

In Richard Vijgen's installation, a self-learning algorithm searches for patterns in 20 years of broadcasts of the TV show VPRO Tegenlicht. Visitors influence the results by using a touchscreen to play with the different themes through which the 'artificial eye' views the broadcasts. By interacting with the installation, visitors learn how an algorithm works, and discover where it places its attention. This gives them a good idea of ​​the possibilities, and also the limitations, of artificial intelligence.

In addition to Vijgen's central work, the exhibition provides background information on artificial intelligence. For example, processes and terms like 'computer vision' and 'neural networks' are explained through short texts and images. By unraveling them, part of the mystery that still often surrounds such words disappears. In this way, the exhibition shows the rich history of the VPRO show in an original way and provides immediate insight into the complex subject of artificial intelligence.

The exhibition and Richard Vijgen's installation were made possible partly by the Mondriaan Fund. They are part of a larger celebration of VPRO Tegenlicht, which also includes a book designed by Irma Boom, and the Archive of the Future online platform developed with VPRO Medialab, Sudox and the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision.

Het Nieuwe Instituut is the Dutch institute for architecture, design and digital culture. Through exhibitions, research and diverse collaborations at home and abroad, it involves a varied network in urgent (design) issues. Together with thinkers, designers, makers and the general public, the institute critically reflects on the ways in which we interpret the past and actively shape the future.

VPRO Tegenlicht is the Netherlands' leading platform for future affairs. Who and what will shape tomorrow's world? The informative programme is at the cutting edge of new ideas as they are developed, tested and critiqued within the worlds of politics, economics, society, technology and science.