At the 60th Venice Biennale, Maltese artist Matthew Attard explores his country’s maritime heritage, faith, and progress through the lens of AI-driven technology. His work focuses on images of ships that were graffitied by seafarers on chapel facades in Malta between the 16th and 19th centuries. Attard uses an eye-tracking device and generative algorithms to trace the lines of the ships, creating digital images that are then transformed into 3D scans and video pieces.
The maritime graffiti symbolizes the importance of the sea in cultures and the ship as a metaphor for hope and survival. Maltese chapels, seen as sanctuaries, are also a focal point of Attard’s work. He explores the parallels between the historical use of chapels and the modern-day reliance on digital technology. Attard’s reinterpretations of the etchings are ghostly and skeletal impressions, reflecting on the intersection between traditional mediums and technological advancements.
Attard’s exhibition is located at the Malta Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, commissioned by Arts Council Malta, and runs until November 24th. His work invites viewers to consider the intertwined history of maritime culture, faith, and technology, prompting reflection on the significance of these themes in contemporary society.