Deus Ex Machina Doctrina

High Concept Labs and Hairpin Arts Center present:

Chris Knowlton's ‘Deus Ex Machina Doctrina’

Deus Ex Machina Doctrina is an interactive performance and installation that explores the deification of new technologies, the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for dance, and the extractive forces underpinning generative AI.

Referencing Latin phrases for “god from machine” (deus ex machina) and "machine learning” (machina doctrina), the work probes the history of technology worship, religion as a technology, and the roles that both technology and religion play in colonization and imperialism.

Featuring AI-generated video, text, music, choreography, and immersive projections, a seer and his devoted acolytes satirize techno-worship by exploding the empty promises of technology into a farcically sanctimonious interactive performance experience.

The performance includes mature themes.

This project is partially supported by an Individual Artists Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Learn more about High Concept Labs at https://highconceptlabs.org/ and Hairpin Arts Center at https://www.hairpinartscenter.org.

Deus Ex Machina Doctrina
Hairpin Arts Center, 2810 N Milwaukee Ave Second Floor, Chicago, IL 60618
Dec 12th & 13th, 2025

Doors open for interactive installation at 6:45 pm
Performance begins at 7:30pm

The bar will be open with drinks for sale.

Hairpin Arts Center is fully ADA accessible. The performance will include spoken English text with closed captions and live ASL interpretation.