An exhibition titled 'Against the Machine: art in the age of A.I., fascism, and climate disaster' is on view at the People's Solidarity Hub campus in Durham, North Carolina, curated by local artists Cassandra Rowe and charla rios. The show features works by ten multi-disciplinary artists, including Hiva Kadivar's piece incorporating ink and natural fibers, Derrick Beasley's sculpture 'Conduit,' and Rowe's painting 'the wayback machine / you can't take my memories.' The exhibition opened in May and runs through August 22, with an artist talk scheduled for July 16. The curators were inspired by connections between A.I., fascism, and climate disaster, particularly after Hurricane Helene and the Los Angeles wildfires.
The exhibition matters because it offers a critical, locally grounded artistic response to the rapid expansion of generative A.I. infrastructure, exemplified by Amazon's $10 million investment in a nearby data center. By questioning what A.I. cannot replicate—such as the nuance of human memory, friendship, and indigenous weaving traditions—the show engages with urgent issues of censorship, environmental impact, and artistic labor in the age of automation. It provides a space for reflection on technology's societal and ecological costs, positioning art as a vital counterpoint to corporate narratives about innovation.