Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg—Machine Auguries: Toledo, Toledo Museum of Art, April 29—November 26, 2023

This installation marked the artist’s first solo presentation in the United States and her largest indoor installation to date. The site-specific, immersive work simulated a natural dawn chorus, the daily call and response performed by birds in the spring and summer to defend their territory and call for mates, whose calls are generated using machine learning. Also featuring the growing light of an artificial dawn (inspired by the Toledo dawn light), Machine Auguries: Toledo reflects on the ecological implications of our 24/7 life cycles and the effects of noise and light pollution. Birds—critical to functioning ecosystems—are being forced to sing earlier, longer, louder or at higher pitches, ultimately threatening their populations as only the species that adapt can survive. Drawing on the significance of the region’s location on spring migration flyways, Ginsberg reflects on the decline of these species caused by human action.

Images: © The artist. Photos by Madhouse