How Refik Anadol created giant LED screen artwork Quantum Memories for NGV Triennial

Quantum computing, nature and art have collided to create a colossal entry to the NGV Triennial. Find out how the artist created this mesmerising masterpiece.

Art has come to life at the NGV International again.

And, as if to make the point, visitors to the gallery’s new exhibition NGV Triennial, will be greeted by a 100sq m digital LED canvas of abstract images that seemingly emerge and then spill from the screen in a 3D style.

Artist Refik Anadol created the mesmerising “data sculpture” Quantum Memories using artificial intelligence algorithms.

Anadol used more than 200 million photographs of nature from the internet, including images of clouds, water, the Australian landscape and even views of earth taken from the International Space Station.

Anadol says this raw material presents a snapshot of humanity’s collective memory of

nature.

The Turkish artist then uses data from a prototype quantum computer developed by Google to guide the imagery produced by his artificial intelligence algorithms, creating the striking experience.

NGV director Tony Ellwood in front of Quantum Memories. Picture: Alex Coppel.

NGV director Tony Ellwood said: “No year was more challenging than this one, but we still managed to deliver all the scope we’d set out to do (with Triennial).”

NGV Triennial, which opens on Saturday, is a free exhibition of 86 projects by more than 100 artists, designers and collectives from more than 30 countries.

The works study themes such as isolation, representation, and speculation about the future.

Highlights include South African designer Porky Hefer’s mutant sea creatures and US artist Jeff Koons’ larger-than-life mirror-finished sculpture of Venus.

Sculpture of Venus by US artist Jeff Koons at the NGV as a part of the Triennial exhibition. Picture: Aaron Francis.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said NGV Triennial would be part of “a summer of hope, a summer of absolute celebration.”

Mr Andrews added: “At the centre of that celebration is the beating heart of our cultural life; the people’s gallery, the NGV. This is going to be a blockbuster show.”

It is the second instalment of the NGV Triennial, which is held every three years.

There was more good news for art buffs.

The Ian Potter Foundation announced a $20 million grant towards the build of Australia’s largest contemporary art gallery, NGV Contemporary.

It be a landmark, purpose-built gallery dedicated to displaying significant local, national and international contemporary art.