Sonya Rapoport
Sonya Rapoport's pioneering work in digital art anticipated the challenges of modern AI.
Her exploration of mudras, symbolic gestures rooted in South Asian culture, revealed
the complexities of cultural interpretation and the potential for miscommunication. She
used the intricate system of ambiguous gestures from this South Indian kathakali dance
to analyze modern-day hand gestures. Digital Mudra grew from her fascination with the
way meaning can be expressed through gesture.
By juxtaposing traditional mudra meanings with modern-day interpretations, Rapoport highlighted the dangers of relying solely on algorithms for understanding context and culture. Her work, created before the widespread internet, foreshadowed the issues of bias and inaccuracy that we now face with AI-driven tools.
By juxtaposing traditional mudra meanings with modern-day interpretations, Rapoport highlighted the dangers of relying solely on algorithms for understanding context and culture. Her work, created before the widespread internet, foreshadowed the issues of bias and inaccuracy that we now face with AI-driven tools.
Sonya Rapoport, Digital Mudra Artist's Book with Diskette, 1986. Photo collage and
photocopy on paper, 5 1/4 inch floppy disk. Dimensions variable. Courtesy Estate of
Sonya Rapoport.
Reference: Bibeau Krueger, March 20, 2024. “Sonya Rapoport Digital Mudra (1986-89). https://www.sonyarapoport.org/news/bibeaukrueger
Reference: Bibeau Krueger, March 20, 2024. “Sonya Rapoport Digital Mudra (1986-89). https://www.sonyarapoport.org/news/bibeaukrueger