CHICAGO – Hilton Contemporary (716 N. Wells) announced a specially curated exhibition of images from the archives of acclaimed Mexico-born environmental photographer, author, filmmaker and marine biologist Cristina Mittermeier. HOPE: A PRELUDE will be the inaugural exhibition for BEAUTIFUL BRILLIANCE, an ongoing series of shows exemplifying the work of women who are highly intelligent AND considered beautiful.

The inspiration for this exhibition came about when Arica Hilton, CEO and founder of Hilton Contemporary, discovered the secret life of the glamorous Hollywood legend, Hedy Lamarr. In the 1940’s and 1950’s, Lamarr was considered the most beautiful woman in the world, but very few knew of her scientific and mathematical mind and the numerous patents she held for her inventions.

During WWII, Lamarr co-invented frequency hopping technology for the United States Navy, who took her patent, hid it away in a vault and rejected her offer. It was not until her 80’s that she was finally publicly recognized for her achievements. Her groundbreaking technology became the foundation for WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth and cell phones. One of the most brilliant minds of the 20th century, she was marginalized because of her gender and physical beauty. Today, Hedy Lamarr is known as the Mother of WiFi. Her story was the impetus to find other women whose intellect was overshadowed by their physical beauty.

“We did not have to look far,” states Hilton, of artist Cristina Mittermeier. Born in Mexico City, she graduated from the ITESM University in Mexico with a degree in Biochemical Engineering in Marine Sciences. Hailed as one of the most influential conservation photographers of our time, Mittermeier has dedicated her life to protecting the world’s oceans, our largest ecosystem – inspiring millions of people to do the same.
Using the direct language of photography, Mittermeier opens a portal to help people become aware of the fragility of our ecosystem. Her photographs remind us that human beings are not isolated creatures, but members of an interconnected society. Using our planet’s limited resources wisely is imperative for our future. We need to understand that the health of the oceans has a direct impact on our climate, the air we breathe and the food we eat. Every community on Earth is part of the global ecosystem and the choices we make today can collectively shape the future of our planet.

Mittermeier’s latest book, “HOPE”, with an introduction written by Robert Redford, “is a manifesto of human interrelationship with Nature and gives a gentle and optimistic perspective on the environmental issues.” ~PhotoVogue Magazine “Just like Dr. Martin Luther King didn’t start his famous civil rights speech by saying, ‘I have a nightmare,’ states Mittermeier, “the only way to tackle the environmental crises is by painting a picture of what our dream should be. Let’s dream about a future where our planet is healthy and alive, not apocalyptic and dying. Articulating an idea through nature photography of what the future could look like if we prioritize the protection of nature is the perfect antidote to disillusionment.”

With over 1.6 million followers on Instagram, Mittermeier uses social media to not only present her stories, but to also feature works that interpret and translate images aiming to investigate contemporary life.

HOPE: A PRELUDE: at Hilton Contemporary July 12 – August 30, 2024

“Artificial Neuroorganismic AI Data Sculpture of Humanity by Ouchhh”

Can we create an artistic self-portrait of humanity with AI?

Ouchhh New Media Art Studio, in partnership with Hilton Contemporary (Chicago) at Art Dubai 2024, is proud to present “Human Cell Atlas_Artificial Neuroorganismic AI Data Sculpture of Humanity.” This ambitious project stands at the forefront of new media art, utilizing the largest dataset ever assembled related to the human body. Our installation paints a grand portrait of humanity, not with traditional art mediums but through the lens of advanced artificial intelligence and data sculpture.

This artistic endeavor is rooted in the groundbreaking Human Cell Atlas Project, an international coalition of over 2300 members from more than 1000 institutes across 83 countries. Scientists, biologists, clinicians, and mathematicians have united under this initiative, aiming to map every cell in the human body. This colossal effort serves as the foundation for our art piece, which visualizes and interprets the staggering 37.2 trillion cells that comprise the human organism.

Our process begins with the meticulous analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. This innovative technique provides a detailed look at the RNA molecules present in various cell types, such as blood, brain, liver, and skin. Through this process, we can uncover the intricate and often hidden relationships between genes, trace distinct cell lineages, and explore the complex cell populations that form the tapestry of human life.

By employing advanced algorithms like Auto Encoders, PCA analysis, and the tSNE algorithm, we have transformed this immense dataset into a multidimensional, artistic representation. Our piece transcends the boundaries of traditional art and science, offering a unique perspective on the human condition. It is a poetic tale of our shared humanity, sketched with lines of code and torrents of data.

Our sculpture is not just an artistic expression but a confluence of science and art, telling a story of human potential and resilience. As we chart the cell types in the human body across various life stages, we aim to offer a new understanding of health and disease. This project symbolizes a journey through the very essence of what it means to be human, encapsulating the complexity and beauty of our biological makeup.

At Art Dubai 2024, visitors will witness a fusion of art, technology, and biology like never before. The “Human Cell Atlas_Artificial Neuroorganismic AI Data Sculpture of Humanity” is not just an art piece; it is a testament to human innovation and our endless quest to understand ourselves better. Join us at Hilton Contemporary to experience this unparalleled journey through the microscopic universe within us all.

Absolutely, here’s an additional paragraph that seamlessly integrates the impressive accomplishments of Ouchhh studio:

Over the last 14 years, Ouchhh studio has solidified its reputation as a pioneer in the realm of new media art, captivating over 15 million viewers worldwide with its groundbreaking works. Our studio has forged notable collaborations with esteemed institutions such as the Singapore ArtScience Museum, NASA, CERN, and the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo etc… These partnerships reflect our commitment to merging art with science, creating immersive experiences that challenge and inspire. Our creations have been showcased in over 75 countries and cities, earning numerous accolades for their innovation and artistic excellence. This illustrious history of achievement and global engagement sets the stage for our latest masterpiece at Art Dubai 2024, where we continue to push the boundaries of art and technology.

Adonis is internationally renowned as a poet, essayist, philosopher and theoretician of Arab poetics. Referred to as “the greatest living poet of the Arab world” and “the grand old man of poetry, secularism and free speech in the Arab world”, or as « The man who remade Arabic poetry » (Robyn Creswell in The New Yorker, December 2017) he is one of the most influential figures in poetry. He has been writing for more than 75 years and has more than fifty published works in Arabic of poetry, criticism, essays, and translations. Rebelling against the tropes of traditional Arabic poetry to experiment with free verse, variable meter and prose poetry (drawing on Sufism and mysticism), he is responsible for a poetic revolution in the Arab world the scale of which has been compared to that of what T.S. Eliot did for the English poetic canon.

David Yarrow was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1966. He took up photography at an early age and as a 20-year-old found himself working as a photographer for The London Times on the pitch at the World Cup Final in Mexico City. On that day, David took the famous picture of Diego Maradona holding the World Cup and, as a result, was subsequently asked to cover the Olympics and numerous other sporting events. Many years later David established himself as a fine art photographer by documenting the natural world from new perspectives and the last nine years have been career defining.

David’s evocative and immersive photography of life on earth is most distinctive and has earned him an ever growing following amongst art collectors. His large monochrome images made in Los Angeles are on display in leading galleries and museums across Europe and North America. He is now recognized as one of the best selling fine art photographers in the world and his limited edition works regularly sell at high prices at Sotheby’s and other auction houses.

Since 2019 David’s work raised $10m for philanthropic and conservation organizations. At Art Miami in December 2019, David’s photograph “The Wolves of Wall Street” broke new records. One print, signed by Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese, featuring the real Wolf of Wall Street – Jordan Belfort – sold for $200,000. The proceeds went to conservation NGOs supported by DiCaprio.

In September 2019, Rizzoli published their second book by David Yarrow. It was Rizzoli’s flagship book and their Autumn catalogue featured David’s image on the cover. The books foreword was written by global NFL star Tom Brady and an afterword written by American cultural icon Cindy Crawford. All royalties from this book will be donated to conservation charities Tusk, in the UK and WildAid, in the US.

Exactly three years after the publication of David’s last book, Rizzoli published Storytelling in 2022. Storytelling features over 130 of David’s images taken since 2019. The book’s foreword was written by Cindy Crawford. All the profits from the copies purchased through David Yarrow Photography Ltd will be donated to the UW Health Kids Cancer Care Charity. David and Cindy’s on-going collaboration since 2019 has raised over $3m for the UW Health Kids Cancer Care Charity.

David’s position in the industry has been rewarded with a wide range of advisory and ambassadorial roles. He is an ambassador for WildArk and The Kevin Richardson Foundation. As the European ambassador for Nikon, he has recently been integral to the company’s most anticipated camera release of the last decade. In December 2017 he shot LVMH’s latest “Don’t Crack Under Pressure” campaign with Cara Delevingne, which can be seen in airports around the world. In January 2019 David was appointed as a global ambassador for UBS. Most recently, in the spring of 2020, David was appointed a Global Ambassador for Best Buddies – one of America’s most established children’s charities.

At the start of 2020, David was in Australia documenting the devastating bush fires that have destroyed communities, wildlife and wildlands. Using the striking and poignant images that he captured of the effects of the fire, Yarrow launched the #KoalaComeback Campaign to support the recovery efforts in Australia. As of early June, the campaign has raised $1.4m.

In April 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, David joined the Art For Heroes campaign, to raise money for the NHS. He released a print – Our Pride – with all proceeds going to HEROES. For every print purchased, David donated an Our Pride print to an NHS worker. The campaign has surpassed its original target of £1m.

David goes to extraordinary lengths to capture his subjects in their most raw, authentic forms, often conducting extensive research and completely immersing himself in his subject’s habitat. His dedication to portraying nature’s most precious and dangerous wildlife is truly astonishing. Yarrow is not only devoted to depicting wildlife in its most genuine state, but is also committed to protecting it through his work as the affiliated photographer of Tusk Trust, a leading African conservation charity for which HRH Prince William is the Royal Patron.

“We live in an era of content overload, and for images to engage, there needs to be not just strength and powerful documentation, but perhaps also a degree of unfamiliarity.” David lists the great war photographer, Robert Capa, as one of his major influences.

His approach to photographing wildlife is guided by Capa’s famous assertion that “if your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough”. When possible, Yarrow takes his photographs of dangerous wildlife using a well-positioned remote-controlled camera, acknowledging that a photographer can achieve perspective by capturing shots that look up at the animal from the ground.

Rizzoli publishing house in New York, has produced a flagship book named ‘Wild Encounters’ featuring work from seven continents, capturing some of the earth’s most endangered species. HRH the Duke of Cambridge wrote the foreword to the book, which was released in October 2016. All author royalties from the book will go to Tusk Trust. Amazon awarded it “The Best Art and Photography book of 2016”.

Yarrow states, ‘When conceptualizing animal shots, think laterally and strive for an image that sits outside normal boundaries. This may be to achieve perspective by capturing shots that look up at the animal from the ground, but often to get the animal at eye level and pin sharp. This can prove problematic when photographing dangerous animals but a solution is offered in the form of well-positioned remote controls.’One of David’s more unusual pieces of equipment is a custom-made 14-pound steel box. This object is used to house his camera body and then placed near the subject matter of his assignment. He then triggers the protected camera from a short distance by pressing a hand-held switch at the right moment… his timing has to be perfect. All of David’s photographs tell a story; his durable camera casing has several tales of its own, ranging from being buried in a swamp in the Camargue, doused in Old Spice aftershave in Amboseli and smothered in rhino excrement in Lewa. These ‘treatments’ have been used after extensive research into identifying the most attractive and enticing smell for the animal in question.

David used a scented remote to capture “THE PRIZE,” his iconic, pin-sharp shot of a lioness walking across the dusty plains of Lake Amboseli (Kenya) at sunrise. Shortly after taking the shot, the lioness took the camera casing in her mouth and walked 700 yards into the bush. Fortunately the stoical camera casing and enclosed camera body were retrieved.

The equipment that David takes with him on location will naturally vary according to the subject matter of the assignment and the lighting conditions/climate of the environment in which he is photographing.

David has been using Nikon camera bodies and lenses for almost 30 years, which testifies to the high regard that he has for the quality of the brand’s products. He is the brand ambassador for NIKON cameras. He is also the creative partner and brand ambassador for LAND ROVER.