Our Partners
The xm:lab of HBKsaar is an institute of the University of Fine Arts Saar (HBKsaar). The institute develops and coordinates a wide spectrum of projects at the intersections of art, design and technology, combining the autonomous aesthetic practices with research in information technologies. xm:lab members recently founded the “Generative Arts & Design Lab.” This lab provides both know-how and infrastructure to experiment with generative artificial intelligence systems, prototype innovative ideas, and explore the multidimensional aspects of an emerging field that covers socio-technical systems design as well as the study of labor and work in artistic and cultural disciplines.
HBKsaar is one of the crucial partners in the HAMLET project, leading the development of two key parts of the architecture: Creative Community Hub and Virtual Living Lab. HBKsaar focuses on human-centered enabler design and AI ethics for the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs). By exploring human-machine assemblages through arts-and-technology research, HBKsaar will develop innovative policy approaches and future-facing application scenarios for socio-technical-ecological systems—always prioritizing inclusivity and diversity in AI. The HBKsaar Team also defines and manages the gender dimension of the project by taking the responsibility of quality & risk management. Through these efforts, HBKsaar promotes ethical and regenerative AI integration, and an emphasis on strong, inclusive community within the Cultural and Creative Industries.
Meet the Team
Dr. Soenke Zehle
Academic researcher and cofounder at xm:lab
Soenke Zehle, media theorist, writes, teaches, curates, with a focus on collaborative arts-and-technology research. Lecturer in Media Theory at the Academy of Fine Arts Saar (HBKsaar), he is also managing co-director of K8 Institut für strategische Ästhetik gGmbH, the academy’s non-profit institute for generative research and regenerative design, as well as an affiliate researcher at the Ubiquitous Media Technologies Lab of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). He also worked as Managing Director of the academy’s xm:lab – Experimental Media Lab (2012-2018) and as Action Program Director during the start-up phase of the European Institute of Technology – Culture and Creativity (2023-2024). Current research concerns: anticipation, collective intelligence design, documentary aesthetics. Quality, Risk & Ethics Manager (QREM) of HAMLET project.
Dr. Michael Schmitz
Co-founder and director of the xm:lab
Michael Schmitz aims to explore and test new approaches to shaping human experience in a technologized world. Building on experience in the fields of human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence methods and computer science in general, he is interested in how real and virtual spaces can be constructed and combined to enable aesthetic, inspiring and impactful interactions, especially in collaboration with design disciplines such as storytelling, game design or media art.
Mert Akbal
Diplom Fine Arts, academic researcher at xm:lab
Visual artist and academic, working at the intersection of generative art, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science. Inspired by cognitive science, particularly dreaming, and altered states of consciousness, I create animated paintings for stage productions and virtual spaces.
Funded by the European Union [GA 101178362]. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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