Ronen Tanchum, an artist working with generative systems, immersive environments and interactive technologies, believes “art has the power to foster empathy, critical reflection and meaningful action.” His work reveals hidden interactions between human identity and artificial intelligence, inviting audiences to engage critically.
In his training as a computational designer, he immersed himself in software development and 3D simulation. He also founded Phenomena Labs, a creative studio producing large-scale installations, digital commissions and generative artworks across both physical and virtual spaces.
Tanchum uses robotics, artificial intelligence, sensors and real-time algorithms to construct evolving perceptual environments. He treats technology as material to surface behavioral patterns, environmental systems and emotional responses.
His Human Atmospheres was installed at the Davos World Economic Forum and operates as a responsive weather system. Live data from Davos drives the visual behavior of the environment, while human presence introduces momentary shifts in density, motion and light. Below he discusses the techno-human experience and its consequence for today.
How were you introduced to the immersive art experience? What were you doing prior to this that led into the generative work you are doing now?
My background is in film. I spent more than a decade working in visual effects on large blockbuster movies, contributing to iconic cinematic moments. Often you spend months working on just a few seconds of a film.
Over time I felt a growing desire to bring those kinds of visual moments into real time. I became fascinated with interaction design and the idea that an image could respond to a person instead of remaining fixed. That obsession naturally led me toward immersive environments, where the artwork becomes a living world that reacts to the viewer.
What was involved in conceiving and executing Human Atmospheres in real time?
The core idea behind Human Atmospheres was to invite viewers inside a living landscape that reflects their internal weather. I wanted people to feel as if they were stepping into a kind of moving painting or living ecosystem.
Technically the work relies on real-time AI diffusion systems combined with live computational processes. One of the main challenges is balancing resolution and speed. Real-time AI generation can easily become slow or unstable.
By working with the latest generation of high-performance GPUs I was able to push both resolution and responsiveness to a level that felt truly interactive. I also integrated real-time conversational AI systems with voice-to-speech and text-to-speech models, allowing the work to both speak and open visual windows in real time.
How does the generative process work in your installation?
In my work I design systems rather than fixed images. The artwork evolves through algorithms that continuously generate new visual states.
These systems respond to data, human presence and environmental conditions. Instead of a single outcome, the piece behaves like a living process. Each moment emerges from the interaction between code, machine learning and the viewer.
Do you place yourself in the shoes of the audience? Or is the goal complete serendipity and surprise?
Both.
I enjoy when viewers slowly discover the layers of the work. At first there is a visual and sonic encounter. Then, over time, deeper conceptual connections begin to appear.
Sometimes it takes time with the piece to peel back these different layers. That gradual unfolding is something I actively try to design into my installations.
The future is here. The possibilities are infinite. What will your role be in pushing this art forward?
Generative systems change the way we think about cause and effect. Instead of linear outcomes, they open the door to many possible states emerging from a single system.
I believe generative art will help shift how we understand complexity and how we design systems in the world. It encourages thinking in parallel rather than sequentially and forces us to consider the deeper intentions behind the technologies we build.
What is it that you want to say to or do for the viewer, whoever that may be?
I want people to feel something and to glimpse an alternative reality.
If someone leaves the work remembering a moment where they felt a meaningful connection between humans and machines, that is enough. Ideally that feeling stays with them and encourages them to explore that connection further in their everyday lives.