A beam of light moves through a darkened room, methodically exploring its surfaces and corners. The projected images are 3D scans of this very space, captured at different moments in time. As the light traces its path, these multiple temporal states overlap with the physical architecture, creating a disorienting convergence where past recordings meet present reality.
This installation emerged from AATB's 2022–23 residency at CERN, where the artists encountered the fundamental gap between measurement and reality that defines both particle physics and robotic perception. They explored the uncertain frontier where the map and territory diverge—the interface of measurement error and perceptual limitation. Function Collapse examines how machines build their understanding of space through accumulated observations. The superposition of scan states references the quantum wave function collapse, but applied to spatial cognition: when abstract data crystallizes into a singular interpretation of the world.
The work reveals the fragility inherent in machine vision. Each scan is imperfect, shaped by sensor limitations and the mechanical constraints AATB has long investigated—the flexure, play, and drift that prevent robots from achieving the mathematical perfection they're programmed to follow. As these possible realities flicker across the actual space, Function Collapse shows perception not as objective truth but as an accumulation of uncertain measurements struggling to cohere.
Andrea Anner and Thibault Brevet – founders of AATB – are artists and designers, both graduates from ECAL. Their ongoing research around human/machine interactions led them to investigate the potential of robotics and industrial automation to exist outside the realm of factory floors. Their artistic practice involves a tight connection and understanding of manufacturing processes, ranging from software programming, electronics to mechanical engineering and precision machining. Reflecting on the dissemination and assimilation of robotics into mundane activities, their work critically explores novel situations arising from these shifts. The studio is based in both Zurich and Marseille.
Their work has been exhibited in institutions such as ZKM (Karlsruhe), V&A (Dundee), Ars Electronica (Linz), Chengdu Biennale (Chengdu), New Museum (New York), Venice Biennale of Architecture, Zollverein (Essen), Unfold X (Seoul), APS Museum (Shanghai), HEK (Basel), Istanbul Design Biennial, Milan Design Week, Museum für Gestaltung (Zürich). AATB have been artists in residence at CERN and at Atelier Luma in Arles. They have been awarded the Swiss Design Award in 2021.
AATB have been teaching in most Swiss Art and Design universities (ZHDK, ECAL, HEAD, FHNW, HKB, SUPSI), as well as internationally: Seoul University of the Arts, Design Academy Eindhoven, HFG Karlsruhe, Iceland University of the Arts, amongst others. They have been lecturing and speaking at conferences internationally: Tokyo, Prague, The Hague, Seoul, Madrid, Berlin, Cannes, Torino.
Artists:
AATB
Andrea Anner & Thibault Brevet
Year:
2023
Type:
Installation
Website:
aatb.ch
