ROBOTa

November 2022, San Francisco, Modernism Gallery

Robota

reimagines the age-old relationship between master and apprentice, merging Renaissance traditions with the mechanized precision of artificial intelligence. In Pilat’s studio, robots such as Basia Spot do not create autonomously; instead, they labor under her guidance, much like young artists once studied under the great masters. This relationship echoes the structure of historic art guilds, where knowledge was passed down through controlled practice and imitation.

Rather than relinquishing authorship to generative algorithms, Pilat embraces a direct, hands-on approach, guiding her robotic apprentices through gestures she improvises or programs. The resulting paintings are abstract—not by artistic intent, but as an organic consequence of the robots' mechanical nature. Each mark is both an act of control and an expression of limitation, documenting a learning process where human intuition meets the rigid logic of machines.

These robotic imperfections—glitches, hesitations, and unexpected gestures—become a new form of artistic originality. Unlike conventional digital automation, which aspires toward flawlessness, Robota finds creative potential in the errors of machines, revealing a future where art is not just made by robots, but made meaningful through them.

"Currently, my focus is on some of the most advanced robots of our age. They have apprenticed under me, making paintings with my guidance. Unlike purely digital, generative AI, my machines operate in the real world, and the paintings they create are artifacts of the future. Drawing inspiration from the language of modern technology and the primal expressions found in ancient cave drawings, these artworks delve into the intricate relationship between mechanics and meaning. Deceptively abstract, the symbols in these paintings, when woven together, become endeavors at communication."