MUTEK AI Ecologies Lab Exhibition

The MUTEK AI Ecologies Lab is an interdisciplinary residency dedicated to fostering innovative and sustainable approaches to artificial intelligence in the cultural sector. Launched in April 2025, MUTEK brought together a cohort of six pioneering projects that confront some of the most pressing questions of our time: How can we rethink AI in ways that are ecologically responsible, socially just, and culturally meaningful?

Hosted in collaboration with the Society for Arts and Technology [SAT], the AI Ecologies Lab at MUTEK 2025 presents the culmination of this forward-looking work.

Turning the MUTEK Playground into a technoecological jungle, the Lab centers a makers fair presenting the cutting-edge projects of the artistic cohort. Join us to explore these cutting-edge projects—from chatbot interfaces that reveal AI’s hidden energy toll to immersive lichen performances, decentralized tamagotchi ecosystems, and surreal AI-assisted animation worlds—each reimagining how artificial intelligence can be more sustainable, transparent, and ecologically entangled.

Highlights include a talk by Pauline Bourdon, Sustainability & Social Cohesion Coordinator at Team Love and Founder of Soliphilia - sustainability and green touring consultancy, on using the power of imagination as a tool for climate action; a presentation from MILA researcher and lab mentor Tegan Maharaj advancing responsible AI development for ecological challenges; a dedicated sustainability x AI roundtable and networking session hosted by the an incubator supporting innovation across the creative and cultural industries, La Piscine; and special guests!

Featuring AI Ecologies Lab Projects:

Robust AI Training and Sustainability presented by Dane Malenfant

You, Me, the Lichen & Spore presented by Kelly Andres

Wattsup presented by Lionel Ringenbach

TamagotchU presented by Eyez Li

Artist-Led AI in Animation - Environment Art in The Garden presented by David Barlow Krelina

CITYLLM + CITYchat presented by Femke Kocken, Sura Hanna and Connor Cook

Schedule of activities:

12pm-1pm: AI Ecologies Lab spaces opens

13h - 14h Culture and Ecology Hour with Pauline Bourdon (Soliphilia), project presentations from David Barlow Krelina, Eyez Li, Kelly Andres:

14h - 15h AI and Ecology Hour with Tegan Maharag (Mila), project presentations from

Femke Kocken ; Sura Hanna ; Dane Malenfant ; Lionel Ringenbach alias Ucodia

16h - 17h30 Panel and networking meetup: Digital Art as a Driver of Sustainable Change: A Dialogue on New Forms of Engagement, presented by La Piscine

MUTEK would like to thank the Canada Council for the Arts and the City of Montreal for their support. This project is funded as part of the Cultural Development Agreement of Montreal established between the City of Montreal and the Government of Quebec.

Please note: during the event, no interpreter for the Deaf will be present.