We find ourselves in the midst of a monumental exhibition that documents the confrontation between the body and technology, situated at the intersection of contemporary dance and digital art. “Infinite Bodies”, held in honor of Somerset House’s 25th anniversary and Sir Wayne McGregor CBE’s 30th year in the arts, redefines the body not merely as a biological structure, but as a data-generating instrument and a technological interface.
McGregor’s practice has, for decades, been built upon the effort to expand the boundaries of movement through biometrics, artificial intelligence, and robotic systems. Centering the question “What does the human body mean in the age of artificial intelligence?”, the exhibition draws the viewer into an ontological inquiry within the multi-sensory and interactive spaces of the Embankment Galleries. Here, the body is no longer merely a figure moving on stage; it becomes a hybrid entity enveloped by Industrial Light & Magic’s visual effects, Random International’s installations, and Google Arts & Culture Lab’s algorithms.
Technological Collaborations and Physical Intelligence
The academic and artistic depth of the exhibition is nourished by McGregor’s interdisciplinary collaborations. Choreographic memory, interwoven with the sonic worlds of musicians such as Max Richter and Radiohead, explores how the body’s instincts evolve when confronted with digital systems. Treating the body as a “data repository,” McGregor positions movement itself as a media form that extends beyond the stage. In this context, the rehearsals and performances by Company Wayne McGregor dancers taking place within the exhibition space eliminate the distance between audience and artwork, transforming the performance into a living laboratory.
McGregor’s relationship with technology constitutes an aesthetic analysis of human-machine interaction. While the kinetic energy of the dancers is visualized through algorithms, the viewer witnesses a process of transformation in which the biological is converted into the digital.
An Experience Beyond the Space: On the Other Earth
The extension of the “Infinite Bodies” exhibition beyond Somerset House, titled “On the Other Earth” (at Stone Nest), offers a striking vision of the future of virtual performance. A 360-degree 3D panoramic LED environment places the viewer right in the middle of hyper-realistic dancers, presenting the finest physical details—from muscle movements to breathing—in digital depth. This experience blurs the boundaries between physical reality and its digital representation, embodying McGregor’s concept of “infinite bodies.”
The exhibition is not merely a retrospective; it is also a speculative manifesto concerning the future positioning of the body, data, and movement.
Event Name: Wayne McGregor: Infinite Bodies
Dates: Continues until 22 February 2026.
Venue: Somerset House, Embankment Galleries, London.
Curators: Dr. Cliff Lauson and Philippa Dunn.
