Pattern Recognition (2016)

“I see the awakening of consciousness as a series of spaced flashes, with the intervals between them gradually diminishing until bright blocks of perception are formed, affording memory a slippery hold.” Vladimir Nabokov

A collaboration between choreographer Alexander Whitley and visual artist Memo Akten. Pattern Recognition is a performance for two dancers and light, exploring themes of learning, memory, representation and (rcognition. The piece explores these themes not only artistically and choreographically, but also in the underlying technology driving it, based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Explored in both a human context, and a machine context, each approach informing the other.

Choreography: Alexander Whitley
Digital Design and Concept: Memo Akten
Music: Scanner & Oliver Coates
Costume Design: Jean-Marc Puissant

Performance excerpts / Teaser (1 minute)

Performance excerpts (5 minutes)

R&D Excerpts

Machine Learning R&D

Photos

Acknowledgements

Pattern Recognition is a Sadler’s Wells commission and DanceEast co-commission. We are very grateful to our co-producers, Hessisches Staatsballett / Staatstheater Darmstadt & Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, and MA Scène Nationale – Pays de Montbéliard and the generous support from Arts Council England, Panalux, PRS for Music Foundation, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, South East Dance, Goldsmiths University of London, Jerwood Space, Middlesex University, Greenwich Dance Agency, Prettybird UK and Charles Glanville Dixon. Special thanks to Juliette Larthe.

Photos by Christopher Corless