Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst, known for their work in digital art and experimental music, have curated a group exhibition titled "Strange Rules" at Palazzo Diedo in Venice alongside Hans-Ulrich Obrist. Their contribution includes a collaboration with Tufts University biologist Michael Levin, featuring live planarian worms modified to grow two heads through bioelectric manipulation. The interview discusses their concept of "protocol art," which seeks to expose and reclaim the underlying systems—from algorithms to biological protocols—that shape artistic production.
This matters because Herndon and Dryhurst represent a growing movement of artists who blur the boundaries between art, science, and technology, challenging traditional definitions of the art world. By including a biologist as an artist and incorporating live, non-digital organisms into a tech-focused exhibition, they expand the conversation around AI and creativity to include biological systems and ethical considerations. Their work raises questions about the persuadability of life, the duty of care toward non-human collaborators, and how artists can intervene in the protocols that govern both digital and physical realms.