Holly Herndon and Peter Bauman Discuss Participatory AI Art Project 'Starmirror'

Artist and AI pioneer Holly Herndon recently engaged in a discussion with prominent arts writer Peter Bauman, known online as @monkantony_tez, regarding her groundbreaking collaborative art installation, "Starmirror." The project, co-created with Mat Dryhurst, delves into the intricate intersection of music, artificial intelligence, and collective human participation, offering a unique exploration of AI's evolving role in artistic creation. Herndon publicly expressed her enjoyment of the conversation, stating, > "Such a treat to speak with @monkantony_tez about Starmirror 🌠" on social media.

"Starmirror" is conceived as an immersive sound installation that transforms exhibition spaces into dynamic training grounds for collaborative production between humans and AI. Developed by Herndon and Mat Dryhurst in partnership with the architectural firm Sub, the project posits a future where AI models actively coordinate human input to generate collective intelligence and artistic output. This ambitious work extends the artists' long-standing practice at the forefront of integrating voices and machines in their creative endeavors.

A core component of "Starmirror" involves inviting diverse audiences, including singers and amateur choirs, to participate directly in weekly vocal recording sessions. These contributions form a crucial public choral dataset, which is then utilized to train an AI choir, drawing profound inspiration from Hildegard von Bingen's 12th-century morality play, "Ordo Virtutum." Through this interactive process, the installation provides visitors with a tangible experience of how AI is developed and shaped by human activity and data.

Herndon and Dryhurst are widely recognized for their pioneering contributions to music, machine learning, and "protocol development," often conceptualizing digital infrastructures as integral artworks themselves. They articulate a vision of AI not as a substitute for human ingenuity but as a sophisticated coordination technology capable of identifying patterns within collective human activity. Their projects consistently challenge prevailing perceptions of AI as a purely autonomous entity, underscoring the indispensable human element at its operational core.

Peter Bauman, identified by his online handle @monkantony_tez, is a respected arts writer and the editor-in-chief of Le Random, with a particular focus on generative art and the broader implications of AI. His insightful discussion with Herndon underscores the escalating importance of dialogue surrounding AI's transformative impact on contemporary art and cultural practices. The "Starmirror" installation is currently slated for two major exhibitions: at the KW Institute for Contemporary Art in Berlin from October 31, 2025, to January 18, 2026, and subsequently at the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen in Düsseldorf from June 27 to October 11, 2026.