Experience with Groeispurt: Dakota Havard - feAIr

Dakota Havard and the feAIr Project: Art, AI, and the Fight Against the Elite

American artist Dakota Havard has been living and working in the Netherlands for seven years. Through his project feAIr, he explored the impact of artificial intelligence on politics, art, and everyday life. His work is steeped in social criticism and satire, using a combination of absurdity, humor, and raw imagery to shed light on the darker sides of AI. In 2023, Dakota received a grant from Groeispurt feAIr.

The message behind feAIr

In feAIr, Dakota uses AI as a means to express his aversion to the ruling elite. While AI is often seen as a playful tool for creating funny images, Dakota instead highlights its potential dangers. Consider health insurers using AI to determine who does or does not deserve care, military applications where AI is deployed to eliminate opponents, or bankers using AI to manipulate markets and disadvantage ordinary citizens.

His solo exhibition at Singular Art Gallery/Rosie’s in Nijmegen brought these themes together in a confrontational way. A striking element was the combination of Garfield—the lazy, anarchist cat who hates Mondays—with religious symbolism such as the cross and bloody, AI-generated images of “the business elite.” Havard refers here to Matthew 21:13: “It is written: ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of thieves!” This illustrates his criticism of the way powerful institutions and corporations use technology to their advantage.

The exhibition: raw and interactive

The exhibition had an intense, raw feel. Metal fences, barbed wire, and homemade weapons created an atmosphere that reinforced the project’s anarchist message. At the same time, interactive AI-driven sculptures and playful video installations added a surprising and humorous dimension. For example, visitors could use an installation to generate their own memes simply by speaking a phrase into it.

The Impact of Groeispurt

Thanks to the Groeispurt Dakota Groeispurt invest in technologies that would otherwise have been out of his reach. This not only gave him the opportunity to further develop his concept, but also the time to delve into new techniques. In addition, the fund brought fund closer to Nijmegen’s art community, which was a valuable experience for him.

Tip for Future Applicants

As part of his project, Dakota used AI to write his application. His advice for future applicants? Use AI! In doing so, he not only highlights the power of technology, but also challenges us to critically reflect on how and for what purposes we use AI.

About Groeispurt

Groeispurt is a Nijmegen grant program for young creators, artists, and performers. The program encourages new ideas and initiatives and gives young talent an extra boost, without unnecessary restrictions or obligations. It is a flexible and fast way to provide support, encouraging new developments and helping art and culture in Nijmegen continue to flourish.