Animating an Archive: AI and the Limits of Cultural Heritage Interpretation - Jürgen Hagler, Celine Pham

PANEL 1: GENEALOGIES OF ANIMATED FORM Utorak, 9. lipnja, 10:00-10:30

Animating an Archive: AI and the Limits of Cultural Heritage Interpretation
Jürgen Hagler (UAS Upper Austria, Ars Electronica), Celine Pham (media artist)

The paper explores the potential and limitations of artificial intelligence in animating and interpreting cultural heritage, focusing on the projects Brosch AI – Distorted Dreams (2025) and Unfinished Decay (2026), two AI-animated short films based on the works of Austrian artist Klemens Brosch. The project employs AI technologies such as diffusion models and generative adversarial networks to transform archival drawings into animated visuals, balancing authentic reinterpretation with intentional artistic distortion. Through detailed analysis and practical experimentation, the paper highlights key challenges, including the realistic animation of figures, the preservation of stylistic fidelity, and the animation of extremely high-resolution gigapixel images. By embracing animation artefacts and errors as artistic interventions, the project resonates with Brosch’s psychological themes and biographical context. The discussion critically reflects on broader implications regarding authorship, originality and the role of technology in cultural heritage preservation and creative interpretation, advocating for a nuanced understanding of AI-driven digital heritage practices. 

Jürgen Hagler is an academic researcher, educator, artist and curator specializing in animation, game studies and media art. He studied art education, experimental visual design, media culture and art theory in Linz, Austria. He is a Professor of Animation and Media Studies and the Head of the BA and MA Digital Arts programmes at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. His research focuses on expanded animation, playful interactive environments and interdisciplinary media practices. He has held key roles in international festivals and conferences, directs the Ars Electronica Animation Festival, and founded Expanded – Conference on Animation and Interactive Art.

Celine Pham is a media artist working across 3D motion graphics, film, installation and interactive systems. Her practice moves between constructed visual worlds and real-time generative environments, exploring how digital technologies shape perception, narrative, and embodiment. She combines computational processes, spatial media, and moving image to create works that operate between design and emergence. Whether through choreographed 3D animation or algorithmic systems, her projects investigate authorship, transformation, and the evolving relationship between human intention and machine agency. Her work spans experimental film, immersive environments, and performative media formats. Celine Pham lives and works between Austria and Southeast Asia.