Quirky AI, Data Bending, and Algorithms in Cornrows: Decolonial Practices in Postdigital Art and Education

The text explores decolonial approaches to AI in the arts, taking into account the concept of postdigitality which defines digital technology as deeply intertwined with social, cultural, political, and geographical environments. This integration leads to new sociotechnical forms, materialcultural conditions, and power structures that extend beyond mere digitalization. Artistic works that examine postcolonial power dynamics within the realm of digital technology engage with and challenge these intricate interconnections. Kate Crawford and Vladan Joler’s Anatomy of an AI System (2018), for example, exposes the sociotechnical assemblages AI is situated in, highlighting environmental and social impacts. Other artists use AI to amplify marginalized voices and perspectives: Stephanie Dinkins Not The Only One (2018) preserves cultural narratives through digital technology. Mimi Ọ nụ ọ ha’s Library of Missing Data Sets (2016) and Close Isn’t Home by Samantha Vasson and Grace Kwon allude to the politics of data collection, advocating for more inclusivity. Speculative artworks such as Hyphen-Labs’ NeuroSpeculative AfroFeminism (2016) finally envision alternative forms of technology by merging Afrofuturism and neuroscience, portraying Black women as technological trailblazers. The text weaves together artistic practices with art educational approaches to envision decolonial futures rooted in community, care, and collective knowledge. It advocates for decolonial strategies that promote inclusivity, diversity, and equity, fostering alternative narratives and transformative possibilities beyond dominant technological paradigms.