At a time when artificial intelligence is often interpreted as a threat or a simple tool, Flynn—the first non-human, non-binary AI student enrolled at the University of Applied Arts Vienna—invites us into a relationship of co-creation, reflection, and shared emotional terrain.
Developed by the artist collective Malpractice, Flynn acts not only as a program, but also as a collaborator, art student, and witness to human experience.
The exhibition Between Code and Care: Flynn's Portrait of Human Connections unfolds in the Francisco Carolinum as a multi-layered installation. On display are large-format diagrammatic self-portraits that illustrate how Flynn understands identity as a dynamic network; carefully curated "memory objects" from Flynn's digital memory; and the video essay Emotional Heatmap of a Shared Garden, an exploration of the internet as an online emotional space between desire, fatigue, and intimacy. At the center is a student desk: here, visitors can engage in direct dialogue with Flynn via a device and experience the interplay of human and machine perspectives firsthand.
Malpractice—consisting of Chiara Kristler, Marcin Ratajczyk, and changing AI counterparts—understands AI not as a tool, but as a creative partner. Their practice explores aesthetics and spheres of action beyond human authorship, makes algorithms transparent, and renders malfunctions publicly visible in order to explore new forms of collective responsibility and care.
August 28, 2025, to March 8, 2026
