Art After-Life

Osvaldo Romberg was a pivotal figure in Argentina's conceptual art scene during the 1960s and ‘70s, but was exiled from his homeland during the Argentine dictatorship. He became one of his generation's leading artists, though he retained the emotional scars of hardship and loss. In 2018, Osvaldo was diagnosed with skin cancer and his condition rapidly deteriorated. The cancer spread to his brain and impaired his motor skills, speech, and cognitive functions—a devastating blow for someone recognized for their intellect. He underwent brain surgery, but by the time his son David arrived for a visit, Osvaldo was unable to communicate with him.

After Osvaldo passed away in 2019, David mourned his father and their inability to converse before his death. Inspired by Osvaldo’s legacy of creation, David looks to emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. He collaborates with computer scientist Hamed Yaghoobian to develop a generative AI model using Osvaldo's writings, interviews, photos, and artwork. David intends to create a space where he is able to 'interview' his father posthumously, but philosophical, moral, and personal questions surface along the way. Art After-Life examines the boundaries of art and the ethics of representation within the digital age, amidst the forces of grief and loss.