AI Robot Girlfriend President

“AI Robot Girlfriend President” is a mixed media sculpture representing the rapidly changing state of warfare as AI is being integrated into all kinds of weapons from gun turrets to explosives and even autonomous assassination drones. Because of this, the question of death is no longer up to trained military personnel on the battlefield, but instead increasingly depends on software engineers thousands of miles away, completely oblivious to the real world effects of their code.

This sculpture juxtaposes this tempting shiny new technology with the ugly effects of its unfettered implementation and production. The pristine and sleek feeling of the mirrored acrylic, and the etched copper silhouettes hanging from the ceiling, disguise the true costs of war represented by the fragile cardboard structure on the floor. The decaying mound literally props up this intricately constructed image of warfare by a chain that ties one to the other. The copper figures are casually milling around, but still have a target on their bodies, exemplifying how much of our comfort and resources (as a western audience) rely on the unseen physical costs of production.

This sculpture was exhibited at the student-run gallery space, the Frame, as part of We Want Bread and Roses Too, an exhibition showcasing prints, paintings, and sculptures by fellow artists Kiran Kadewari and me.

This project was made possible by the Frank-Ratchye Further Fund Microgrant #2025-031.