A look at “Machine Hallucination,” an immersive experience featuring constantly changing digital art, at Chelsea Market.
Enter Chelsea Market’s ‘Matrix’
BY GABE HERMAN
A new digital art space has opened in Chelsea
Market. The space is in the Market’s Boiler
Room, which is 6,000 square feet and located
beneath the main concourse.
The space is being run by ARTECHOUSE, an
American company that presents digital artworks.
The fi rst piece, “Machine Hallucination,” by Refi k
Anadol, a Turkish artist based in Los Angeles, debuted
Fri., Sept. 6.
“Machine Hallucination” creates an immersive experience
for visitors by projecting computer-generated
images on the walls and fl oor all around the big
open room. The images are constantly changing and
morph into each other, including recreated images of
New York City, along with random futuristic-looking
geometric patterns.
As spectators stand or sit in the room, images swirl
all around and change, as loud ambient music plays.
The effect is mesmerizing and may be a little disorienting
at times, especially for those prone to dizziness
or vertigo.
The created images of the city come from more
than 3 million New York archival images that were
fed into machines and algorithms, to create images
that seem like real New York landscapes but are actually
just a close facsimile. The idea is to create a
PHOTO BY GABE HERMAN
dreamlike effect reminiscent of New York, and also
to show the changing city over time, and how changes
affect our memories of the city.
“I feel privileged to be chosen as the inaugural artist
for ARTECHOUSE’s newest space,” said Anadol,
the artist. “I’m especially proud to be the fi rst to reimagine
this historic building, which is more than 100
years old.
“By employing machine intelligence to help narrate
the hybrid relationship between architecture and our
perception of time and space, ‘Machine Hallucination’
offers the audience a glimpse into the future of
architecture itself,” he added.
“We are excited to introduce this fi rst-generation
space for such an engaging, dynamic concept,” said
Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown, a real estate
company. “Rooted in art and technology, ARTECHOUSE
is a welcome addition to the integrated culture
of Chelsea Market and the local community.”
Jamestown sold the Chelsea Market building to
Google last year but it continues to manage the Chelsea
Market food hall.
The “Machine Hallucination” exhibition will run
until Dec. 1. Tickets are $24 for adults, $17 for children
and $20 for students, seniors and members of
the military. The entrance for the exhibit is along the
side of the Chelsea Market building, at 439 W. 15th
St., between Ninth and 10th Aves.
PHOTO BY GABE HERMAN
Inside the constantly changing “Machine
Hallucination” immersive-art experience.
18 September 12, 2019 TVG Schneps Media