As digital and AI-generated representations become almost limitless, physical objects may acquire new meaning. Through the work of Denise Buisman Pilger, The Return of Material Culture explores materiality, provenance and the growing value of things that actually exist.
Society & Humanity
People, values, ethics and social structures shaped by technological and economic change.
Artificial intelligence can reproduce appearances with extraordinary precision. But can it reproduce the history of making? Through the work of Denise Buisman Pilger, The Human Hand explores why material, uncertainty and physical process may become increasingly important to the value of art.
From the bark of the paper mulberry tree to contemporary abstract art, Kozo tells a story of patience, transformation and material intelligence. Through the work of Denise Buisman Pilger, this centuries-old Japanese fibre reveals a different philosophy of creativity in the age of artificial intelligence.
For more than thirteen centuries, Washi has embodied patience, craftsmanship and material intelligence. Through the work of Denise Buisman Pilger, this remarkable Japanese paper reveals why creativity begins not with a blank surface, but with a material that already carries its own story.
Private foundations have shaped American society for more than a century. This series explores how philanthropy evolved from individual generosity into an enduring institutional force influencing education, science, healthcare, culture and democratic life across the United States.
Algorithms are no longer tools — they are becoming the invisible layer shaping decisions, markets and behavior. From personalized feeds to predictive systems, a new infrastructure is emerging that quietly defines what people see, choose and ultimately value.
