Betty Sargeant AI Immersive Installation
PORTRAIT OF A DICTATOR
Portrait of a Dictator is a new immersive art installation that’s currently under development. It will feature mirrored sculptural forms, audio, a 3-channel video artwork, and live performance. The installation will respond to audience engagement. In between performances audiences will be able to freely explore the space. As audiences walk through the installation, they become part of the artwork seeing themselves reflected alongside the video artworks, allowing them to consider the connections between contemporary robotics and humans.
*** No AI will be used in making this installation ***
Betty Sargeant AI: Live Robot performance South Korea 2025
The installation will feature a 3-channel video artwork projected onto three walls and reflective sculptural forms hanging in the space. The sculptures will be constructed from super light-weight fluorescent pick acrylic mirrored circles that will be connected together in chains. These sculptures can be flat packed and are easy to install. The space will be an uncanny house-of-mirrors. The large reflective fluorescent discs will range in size between 0.5 to 2.5 feet in diameter, connected together in chains, creating an awe-inspiring immersive environment. Please refer to the concept image.
Betty Sargeant AI: Live Robot performance South Korea 2025
The installation will also involve 10-15 minute performances that could be presented daily or more frequently if required and feasible. The performances will feature me impersonating my robot persona Betty Sargeant AI. Please refer to the URL link provided for imagery and detail on these performances. The performances could occur on a raised platform in the installation space, or on the floor. Audiences could be seated or standing.
Accompanying the installation will be an original electronic audio track. The audio could be on speakers or audiences could access the audio via QR code, listening on their personal headphones.
I have developed and presented the 3-channel video artwork, audio and live performance in South Korea as part of the Ignite Festival, November 2025. I am now developing this show into an immersive installation, creating the mirrored sculptural forms in order to further heighten audience experiences. I look forward to working closely with your team in determining how to best deliver this installation ensuring that the design fits with your needs and available spaces, while fulfilling my creative vision.
I could also present public panels, talks and keynote presentations/lectures, embodying my robot persona or appearing as myself. This will enable audiences to more deeply consider the impact of contemporary robotics and reflect on the agency we have in shaping the implementation of these systems.
Still Image from Betty Sargeant AI video artwork
Portrait of a Dictator centres around robot impersonation. At a time when machines are impersonating people, I’m impersonating a machine. This project is situated in a post-truth reality.
Portrait of a Dictator will be advertised as being a live robot performance, with an accompanying video artwork, audio and immersive art installation that’s been created entirely by the AI-robot Betty Sargeant AI. The performance, video artwork, audio and installation will, in reality, be the work of humans, with no use of AI or robotics. This project addresses topics such as futures, post truth society, power, feminism, artificial intelligence and robotics.
Portrait of a Dictator is in essence a satirical provocation. This installation invites audiences to consider the impacts of AI-robotics, particularly its impact on female identifying people. The project highlights ideas around data feminism, ie the ways that contemporary robotics reinforces outdated notions of women being helpers and how it leans into overly sexualized concepts women. This reality within robotics feeds offline behaviours, serving to limit the agency and safety of women in society.
Betty Sargeant AI is a “robot” with overly sexualized, almost fetishized female form. Portrait of a Dictator is created and presented by a team of queer creatives. The costuming, breastplate, wig and styling is consciously leaning into queer drag culture. The aesthetic consciously taps into ideas around fetishized femininity, artificial beauty and weaponized sexuality.
Portrait of a Dictator can be seen as alluring, odd and fun, yet like all satire it is built upon a reflection of where we are heading as a culture and it questions whether this imagined future is one that we really want to race towards.
Still Image from Betty Sargeant AI video artwork
