See more objects with the tag , technology, movement, zoology, simulation, pixels.

Object Timeline

	We acquired this object.
2019	We photographed this object. We exhibited this object. Work on this object began.
2024	You found it!

The Substitute, 2019

It was designed by Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg and studio of The Mill. It is dated 2019. Its medium is installation, video. It is a part of the department.

On March 19, 2018, the last male northern white rhino, Sudan, died, bringing his subspecies to the brink of extinction. As scientists work to resurrect the rhino through experimental and controversial biotechnologies, Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg “brings back to life” a male northern white rhino using data generated by artificial intelligence to ask the question “what errors in reproduction may arise as we recreate life artificially?” Confined to a virtual room, the artificial rhino begins its life with no grid cells—specialized brain cells in mammals that help them navigate space. The rhino develops grid-cell representations as it moves around the confined space and calibrates to it, becoming increasingly intelligent. As it habituates to its environment, the rhino’s form and sound toggle from pixelated to lifelike—reminding us that this rhino, coming to life without its natural context, is entirely artificial.

It is credited Commissioned by Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and Cube design museum.

Print, The Rhinoceros
woodcut on laid paper .
Gift of Leo Wallerstein.
1950-5-24

Golden brown horn bottle with spiraling end and silver cap, chain, and ring. The bottle has the tapering shape of a horn, with the narrow end curled into a spiral. The wide end has flat silver decorations: a small shield shape below an engraved scalloped band. Capping the horn, a silver lid with a low relief wavy thistle design. An amber-colored cut gemstone in a prong setting is centered on the top. The lower edge of the lid appears to read 'STERLING'. Affixed to the lid, leading up and away from the horn, a silver chain with a ring at its end.

Vinaigrette (Scotland), mid-19th century
worked horn with applied repoussé silver, topaz.
Gift of Anonymous Donor.
1967-48-85

Longhorn Ottoman
steer horn, wood, metal, brass, glass, leatherette (not original).
Gift of Jack Lenor Larsen.
1986-39-2

Our curators have highlighted 1 object that are related to this one.

Digital rendering (screenshot) of a natural environment with vegetation that appears blurred and not clearly distinguishable. In the foreground, a small flowering plant with simple, oval-shaped, dark green leaves and purple flowers arranged in three spike-like inflorescences. Its overall appearance reminds of plants in the legume family. The small plant is surrounded by grass, and grows on a slope with rocky outcrops. In the background, a tall shrub or small tree with abundant purple flowers, a wooded shoreline or hill, and a hazy, overcast sky. Dominant colors are gray, green and purple. This palette together with the blurring of the image and a darker foreground create a crepuscular and nearly disturbing impression.

Resurrecting the Sublime, 2018-19
scent installation, video.
Courtesy of the designers.
NATURE.028

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Nature—Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/4wUs7M/
Accession Number NATURE.040
Object ID 2318798865