The Three Sisters

Aldea presents The Three Sisters, a trilogy of immersive virtual environments (IVEs) by Tiago Bom, exploring the intersections of biology, artificial intelligence, and contemporary society. Comprised of three interlinked 360° video installations, the exhibition unfolds as Bom's first openly narrative project, staged through immersive cinematic spaces and sculptural installations. Each work is scripted, directed, and edited by the artist, and positions the viewer inside the narrative through the perspective of an AI character.

The trilogy builds on Bom's long-standing artistic investigation into the entanglement of biology and technology, an inquiry that has shaped his practice since 2018 and was notably articulated in his award winning film essay República, which premiered at Høstutstillingen in 2019. Across The Three Sisters, immersive virtual environments replace traditional screens, collapsing the boundary between physical and virtual space and placing the audience within ethically charged, speculative futures.

Some Like It CRISPR situates the viewer inside the world of a group of rogue biohackers experimenting with human gene editing. The narrative unfolds during a lunch meeting and is experienced through the eyes of an android created by the group's AI expert, James. The accompanying installation reconstructs James's office cubicle, anchoring the speculative narrative in a tactile, physical environment.

In The ECHO, the viewer encounters the inner world of a young man struggling with depression and suicidal ideation, mediated through his AI driven brain machine interface; an artificial voice that mirrors and amplifies his thoughts. The physical installation consists of a climbing boulder and soft ball pit, requiring the viewer to ascend and recline in order to watch, echoing the film's reference to the myth of Sisyphus and cycles of mental struggle.

HUE unfolds as a conversation-driven encounter between an artist and an AI assistant functioning as both life coach and studio critic. The installation mirrors key elements from the film – a canvas, a chair, and a paint trolley – extending the dialogue between data, surveillance, and artistic freedom into the gallery space. Viewed from the perspective of the AI, the work stages a philosophical confrontation about how creativity is shaped, influenced, and potentially constrained by data-driven systems.

Across the trilogy, Bom uses immersive technology not as spectacle but as a tool for embodiment, placing the viewer in the position of the "other", the machine. By integrating VR with sculptural installation, The Three Sisters creates a multi-layered environment where physical presence and virtual perspective merge, prompting reflection on authorship, ethical responsibility, and our increasing entanglement with intelligent systems.

Tiago Bom is an artist and filmmaker based in Norway, working with immersive video, installation, and speculative narrative. His practice explores the intersections of biology, artificial intelligence, and human cognition, often addressing the ethical and philosophical consequences of technological development. His film essay República received the Debutant Award at Høstutstillingen in 2019.