The French Institute in Serbia is set to launch an innovative program named FRENCH PULSE, which aims to explore the intersection of technology, digital creativity, and contemporary art. This initiative will be inaugurated with a significant event titled “Creation Challenged by AI,” scheduled for September 30, 2026, at the mts Dvorana in Belgrade. The event will feature prominent figures from the art and technology sectors, including Pierre Fautrel of the Obvious collective, visual artist Justine Emard, and designer Miroslav Kostić.
FRENCH PULSE is structured into three modules: Creative Pulse, Digital Art Week, and French VR Week. The first module, Creative Pulse, will focus on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on artistic creation. The opening event will delve into the new possibilities AI brings to artistic practices, as well as the ethical, cultural, and social questions it raises.
Pierre Fautrel, a member of the Obvious collective, is known for pioneering the integration of AI in art. The collective gained international attention in 2018 when their AI-assisted artwork was sold at a Christie’s auction in New York. Obvious continues to develop projects that merge art, technology, and scientific research, such as “Molière Ex Machina,” which combines theater with generative AI in collaboration with the Sorbonne University.
Justine Emard, another speaker at the event, is a French visual artist whose work explores the relationship between humans and technology. Her art, which connects photography, video, and virtual reality with neuroscience and AI, has been exhibited in major international museums, including the Barbican Centre in London and the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo.
Miroslav Kostić, a designer and product strategist from Novi Sad, has over 15 years of experience in software and digital product design. He has been exploring the application of AI in design and film, notably through projects like “Fear in Ratzenstadt” and “The Almaška Church,” which utilize generative AI to reconstruct historical periods of Novi Sad.
The event “Creation Challenged by AI” will be conducted in English and is open to the public free of charge. It is organized in partnership with the AI Association of Serbia and supported by several other institutions, including Telekom Srbija and the European Union Delegation. The French Institute in Serbia aims to provide more information about the FRENCH PULSE program through its website and Instagram page.
This program comes amidst ongoing debates about the role of technology in art, a topic that has been significant in Serbian cultural discussions. Previous events have addressed the ethical implications of AI in creative fields, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges presented by this rapidly advancing technology. The FRENCH PULSE initiative seeks to engage with these discussions, offering a platform for artists and technologists to explore the evolving landscape of digital creativity.
