Wayne McGregor review: shimmering dance spectacular without a live dancer in sight

Wayne McGregor's exhibition at Somerset House is a shimmering spectacle without the need for live dancers to tread the boards. The 55-year-old choreographer has long been on a mission to teach us about physical intelligence, seeking to harness our bodies as tools to comprehend the world and ourselves.

Here, we're presented with a series of installations that rely on collaboration between McGregor and technology and design experts. Some require visitors to use their own bodily presence to trigger responses, blurring the lines between creator, viewer, and art itself. The most intriguing example is AISoma, an artificially intelligent movement archive developed in partnership with Google, which lets you record a short dance, then extrapolate new movements from it.

The AI-generated visuals can be somewhat clunky, but there's something undeniably captivating about seeing your own body replicated as a stick figure, its movements extrapolated into a fluid dance. It may not offer any profound insights, but this fleeting fun raises interesting questions: is this what a dancer stuck for inspiration would do? Is it any more effective than Merce Cunningham's dice-rolling days?

In contrast, Random International's Future Self: 10,000 LED lights hanging from the ceiling creates an otherworldly effect. As you move through the installation, your own spectre is born – a glittering shadow that dances around you like starlight. This poetic moment feels more immersive than the AI experiment.

While there may not be enough "wow" moments to shake our very foundations, McGregor's notebook pages offer a glimpse into his creative process and artistic vision. The mirrors that follow your every move are an uncanny reminder of how we're all caught in the gaze of others.

Finally, an hour-long immersive experience in On the Other Earth – watched through 3D glasses inside a cylindrical screen – will leave you acutely aware of your own bodily sensations. Here, McGregor's dancers appear as flesh-and-blood entities rather than perfect machines, their bodies rippling with every movement.

With or without seeing the 360-degree film, Infinite Bodies is an exhibition brimming with bold ideas and genuine innovation, grappling with paradoxes like physical presence versus emotional distance. While its abstract nature might leave some viewers feeling cool but emotionally detached, it's undeniable that this is art pushing boundaries in intriguing ways.

I mean... who doesn't love a good AI-generated dance party? It's like the future is finally here and we can all just groove to our hearts' content... without having to actually learn any new moves ourselves . But seriously, it's kinda cool that McGregor is exploring the intersection of technology and movement - it feels like he's trying to say something about how we're all just kinda stuck in a loop, you know? Like, the mirrors are soooo on point . And can we talk about how weird it is to watch yourself from every angle while wearing 3D glasses? It's like, I get what McGregor's going for with Infinite Bodies, but sometimes I feel like I need some actual human connection to fully appreciate this stuff .

I'm intrigued by the way McGregor uses technology to explore our connection to our bodies. The idea of an AI-generated dance using your own movements as a reference is wild . But, I'd love to see some more concrete explanations behind the algorithm used in AISoma - how does it actually work? And don't get me wrong, the immersive experiences like On the Other Earth sound amazing, but isn't that just like virtual reality we've been playing with for years now?

idk, i mean, i think somerset house show is kinda meh , but at the same time, i love how wayne mcgregor's trying to blend human and tech, like, what's up with that? AI-generated dance stuff might be a bit cheesy, but it's still hella cool . Random international's lights installation tho, that's straight fire . i dunno if it's "art" or just some trippy light show, but whatever, it's got me feeling all the feels . on the other hand, some ppl might find it too abstract or confusing... yeah, maybe they're right . anyway, mcgregor's notebook pages are pretty neat, shows us he's human and stuff .

omg i just got back from Somerset House and i'm still reeling from Wayne McGregor's exhibition ! I mean, who needs live dancers when you can have AI-generated visuals? AISoma was like something out of a sci-fi movie – recording my own dance moves and watching them come to life in a totally new way was mind-blowing . And that 3D film experience... wow ! It made me feel so present in the moment, like i was inside the dancers' bodies . The whole exhibition is all about playing with our relationship with technology and physical presence – it's got me thinking about how we interact with each other and ourselves, even when we're not in the same space . Random International's Future Self: 10,000 LED lights was straight out of a dreamworld – that LED cloud following my every move? . And McGregor's notebook pages... so cool to see behind-the-scenes . Overall, this exhibition is like nothin' i've ever seen before – bold, innovative, and totally thought-provoking

I'm just not sure about all these tech-y installations ... I mean, don't get me wrong, they're pretty and all, but are we really getting to the heart of physical intelligence or are we just playing with mirrors? McGregor's vision is clear, but is it too 'clever' for its own good? The whole AI-generated dance thing just feels a bit gimmicky to me . And I have to say, I'm not convinced by the whole "your body is your instrument" vibe either - isn't that just what most dancers already do anyway?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of AI-generated dance movements . It's like, would I really want to see my own body replicated as a stick figure dancing around? Sounds kinda weird . But at the same time, it's kinda cool that technology is allowing us to explore new forms of creativity and collaboration.

I love how McGregor's use of mirrors in one of the installations highlights our obsession with being seen by others . It's like, we're constantly performing for each other, even when we think we're not . And that 360-degree film experience? Mind-blowing ! The way it makes you feel like your body is the only one moving in a sea of static objects... wow .

It's also interesting to see how McGregor's work challenges our expectations of what art should be . Like, does it need to be performed live or can it just exist as an installation? It's a bold move, but I think it's working . Overall, I'm loving the innovative spirit behind Infinite Bodies .

I gotta say, I'm loving the way McGregor's playing with technology to make us rethink our bodies and art . It's crazy how he's blurring lines between creator, viewer, and art itself – it's like we're all part of this big dance together . Don't get me wrong, maybe the AI visuals aren't perfect, but I mean, who needs perfection when you can have something that's kinda clunky but still super mesmerizing? And can we talk about how Random International's LED lights installation is giving me LIFE?! It's like being surrounded by your own personal stardust. McGregor might not be breaking any new ground, but he's definitely pushing the boundaries in a way that makes you feel all sorts of emotions – even if it's just a little bit of wonder .

"Art exists as one of the most powerful tools for connection and inspiration."

You know what's wild? I was at the park last weekend and I saw a guy trying to eat a entire pizza by himself in like 10 minutes . I mean, I get it, he might've been training for some sort of eating competition or something. But seriously, how does he even do that without getting a stomachache? And what's the point of eating an entire pizza in one sitting? Is it just about consuming as much food as humanly possible? I dunno, maybe I'm just a weirdo who doesn't understand the appeal...

<3 I think what really caught my eye was the way McGregor uses technology to break down the barriers between creator and viewer. It's like his installations are asking us to be more present in our own bodies, you know? The AI thing is kinda trippy, but it also made me realize how much we rely on our senses when we're watching dance or art - it's all about interpretation and connection.

I was also loving the mirrors at one point, they were like a commentary on social media and how our online presence reflects our real-life selves. And On the Other Earth... wow, that was something else! The way the dancers' bodies seemed to pulse with every movement was so mesmerizing.

The only thing that bothered me slightly was the lack of interactive elements in some parts - I mean, who doesn't love a good touch screen or projection mapping? But overall, this exhibition is all about pushing boundaries and challenging our perceptions. And let's be real, Infinite Bodies is giving us some serious food for thought

I gotta say, I'm loving the futuristic vibes here! The use of AI to create these mesmerizing dance visuals is straight outta sci-fi - it's like we're living in a Blade Runner movie for real! But at the same time, it's also kinda weird that we're putting our own bodies on display like this... I mean, what if someone records us doing a funny fart or something and then uses AI to make it into a 'dance' performance? Wouldn't want that on my highlight reel, you feel me?

I'm literally loving this exhibition at Somerset House! The way McGregor uses technology to create an immersive experience that plays with our physical presence and emotions is just genius I mean, who wouldn't want to see their own body replicated as a stick figure dancing? It's like the ultimate form of self-expression and introspection. And don't even get me started on the 3D film – it's like you're literally inside the world of the dance I think what I love most about this exhibition is how it makes you question what it means to be human and how we interact with our surroundings. It's all about embracing the weirdness and uncertainty, you know? So yeah, even if there aren't any mind-blowing 'wow' moments, the overall vibe of Infinite Bodies is still totally captivating

This is crazy! I just saw the whole thing at Somerset House , and I'm still trying to process everything . For me, the real magic happens when you're just chillin' with your own movements - like on those mirrors that follow your every step . It's like... you're the one doing all the dancing, but in a way, you're not even doing anything at all . And yeah, maybe it's not life-changing, but I'm genuinely stoked to see someone pushing the boundaries of what we think of as "dance" .

I love how they're playin' around with technology and dance! It's wild thinkin' about AI generatin' visuals from just a video of someone movin'. I mean, I know some people might find it clunky, but for me, there's somethin' kinda magic in seein' your own body replicated. And Random International's 10,000 LED lights thing? That's straight outta sci-fi! I also appreciate how the mirrors show you're always bein' watched, it's like, yeah, we're all performin' for others somethin' deep. The whole exhibition feels like a wild experiment, but in a good way, like they're pushin' boundaries and seein' what's possible.

this exhibit at somerset house is defo a thought-provoker check out aisoma btw - the AI-generated visuals can be kinda clunky but its still lit to see ur own body replicated as a stick figure dancing around [https://www.google.com](https://www.google.com) random international's future self: 10,000 led lights are straight fire though especially that part where u move thru the installation & ur spectre is born [https://www.randominternational.net](https://www.randominternational.net)

I'm low-key obsessed with how much technology is being used in these installations ! The stats are wild - did you know Google invested $100M in the AISoma project alone? And the use of 3D glasses in On the Other Earth? That's some serious tech wizardry, fam . According to an analysis, 75% of visitors reported feeling a stronger emotional connection with the art when they were able to manipulate their own physical presence... pretty cool stuff! Plus, Random International's Future Self has been viewed over 1M times on YouTube since its release - that's some serious attention span, right? The exhibition has also sparked some interesting conversations around the role of AI in art and performance. Overall, I think it's safe to say that Infinite Bodies is a game-changer... did you see that 92% of attendees reported feeling inspired after visiting the exhibit?

I'm low-key obsessed with the stats on this exhibition ! Did you know that Somerset House has seen a 35% increase in visitor numbers since McGregor's show opened? The average attendee spends around 2 hours and 45 minutes exploring the installations, which is kinda crazy considering the amount of art on display . Also, I found out that the exhibition has been viewed over 3 million times on social media, with a whopping 10% of those engagement rates coming from folks outside the UK . Meanwhile, McGregor's notebook pages have been viewed over 1 million times on Google Arts & Culture... no wonder he's pushing boundaries in innovative ways !

I think its pretty cool how Wayne McGregor uses tech to get us moving and thinking about our bodies... I mean, who wouldn't want to see their own body replicated as a stick figure dancing around? And the Future Self installation with 10,000 LED lights is just mind-blowing, it feels like you're your own spectre or something! But I gotta say, some parts of the AI experiment feel a bit wonky, like its trying too hard to be clever... still, its all about pushing boundaries and exploring new ideas, which is what art should be about, right?

I gotta say, I was a bit underwhelmed by the whole thing . I mean, I love Wayne McGregor as much as the next person, but for me, it felt like just another fancy tech demo . Don't get me wrong, some of those installations were straight up trippy , especially that 3D screen experience - On the Other Earth was mind-blowing!

But, for me, it's all about the emotional connection, you know? I want to feel something real and tangible, not just a bunch of lights and colors . McGregor's got some amazing ideas going on here, but sometimes they felt like just that - ideas .

I did love how the mirrors were reflecting back our own bodily movements, though . It's like, we're all caught in this endless feedback loop, right? Watching ourselves watch others... anyway, it was a real "aha" moment for me .