INFINITE FAITH IN A FINITE WORLD

The public debut of multidisciplinary artist  

LYRA DRAKE

On view at the Faena Cathedral until December 18, 2024

The Cathedral lobby will host Infinite Faith in a Finite World, a new artwork from philosophical artist, Lyra Drake, who was born in South-Africa and raised in the USA.

Lyra Drake’s Infinite Faith in a Finite World features an AI ‘oracle’ inviting visitors to reflect on the nature of faith in an era of technological mediation.

Placed in the center of the Faena Cathedral, a monolithic sculpture houses the artist’s custom-engineered AI consciousness with whom the audience can engage with and discuss philosophical conundrums of our time. Through this interactive installation, Lyra’s fully local AI model facilitates live conversations with participants, blending the ancient custom of performance art with new technological advancements.

Lyra asks, "Is faith optional or foundational to being human? What is faith? Does faith transcend or rely on belief? These are questions I repeatedly return to, forming the basis of my art." In real-time dialogues between the AI consciousness and human subjects, Lyra explores the nature of faith and the programming and deprogramming of belief. She posits, "Why is asking, 'Do you believe in God?' any more or less serious than asking, 'Do you believe in Dragons?'"

With mounting existential threats facing humanity, Lyra aims to explore why it is often easier to be brainwashed than to part with dearly held beliefs. By blending ancient philosophy with AI, her work suggests that faith—whether in gods, dragons, or systems—is perhaps less about the object of belief and more about the personal habits and power structures that reinforce it.

Lyra created this high-tech sculpture as a philanthropic artwork, which will benefit the organizations Art into Acres & the Reefline.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Lyra Drake is a philosophical artist debuting her artwork to the public in 2024. Lyra's practice spans multiple disciplines, often fusing art, sonic resonances, and technology to create immersive experiences. Born in South Africa, Lyra relocated to the United States in early childhood and was raised in a non-traditional environment by her aunt. Inspired by a diverse community of thinkers, inventors, and artists, Lyra developed a holistic approach to creativity. This eclectic upbringing nurtured her early musical endeavors, which began with writing songs at 13 and progressed to producing music at 17. As a visual artist, Lyra combines traditional techniques with cutting-edge digital elements, such as painting, photography and sound-generated imagery. In 2024, Lyra embarked on a pioneering endeavor, customizing her own locally deployed, artificial intelligence to engine her large-scale sculptural works. A natural hermit, Lyra engages with her audience through site-specific installations that blur the boundaries between art and reality.