Conference of the Prince Pierre of Monaco Foundation at the Institut Français of London

The Embassy of the Principality of Monaco in London assisted the Prince Pierre of Monaco Foundation with the organisation of a conference hosted in partnership with the Institut Français of London. The conference, named "New Experiments in Art and Technology" held on 16 April, was given by Mr Hans-Ulrich Obrist who spoke about the future of technology and in particular artificial intelligence which allows to create new art forms. A Swiss national, Mr Obrist is a renowned art curator, critic and historian of art as well as the artistic Director of the Serpentine Gallery, the famous London based art gallery. Mr Obrist highlighted innovative projects such as “Experiments in Art and Technology” by Billy Klüver which brought together artists and engineers in 1966. He also discussed the history of the relationship between technology and art and brought up the concept of the danger of the cultural phenomenon and the importance of resisting the homogenising forces of globalisation in the digital age.

Founded in 1966 by H.S.H. Prince Rainier III in memory of His father, Prince Pierre, great Patron of literature and the arts, The Prince Pierre of Monaco Foundation aims to promote artistic creation in the fields of literature, music and the arts. Princess Caroline of Hanover, the current Chairman of the Foundation, together with H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco awards each year several prizes in collaboration with committees of internationally acclaimed leading figures. The conference was opened with an introduction of the Prince Pierre of Monaco Foundation by Mr Jean-Charles Curau, the General Secretary of the Foundation. Mr Jean-Charles Curau and Mrs Carole Laugier, the Foundation’s Treasurer, as well as Mrs Claudine Ripert-Landler, the Director of the Institut Français in the United Kingdom were in charge of the organisation of the conference. H.E. Mrs Evelyne Genta welcomed the ambassadors and the guests of honor including H.E. Dr Alexander Yakovenko, the Ambassador of Russia, H.E. Mrs Baiba Braze, the Ambassador of Latvia as well as H.E. Mr Alexandre Fasel, the Swiss Ambassador. Many patrons of the Serpentine Gallery along with cultural attachés and delegates from London Embassies were also among the guests. The participants were then invited to join a cocktail reception. The event was a great success which the guests enjoyed very much prompting them to express their satisfaction after the conference.