AI and the Curatorial Process
IkonHaus uses AI selectively and intentionally — as a tool, not an author.
Our work begins with historical, public-domain source material. Any use of AI is applied in service of restoration, visualization, interpretation, or presentation, never as a substitute for curatorial judgment or cultural research.
What role does AI play in the IkonHaus process?
AI may be used in limited ways to:
assist with restoration or cleanup of historical imagery
test scale, placement, or presentation in contemporary spaces
support visual studies exploring framing, context, or display
help surface relevant historical context or interpretive connections
All outputs are reviewed, edited, or rejected through a human-led curatorial process before anything enters the collection.
What AI is not used for
IkonHaus does not use AI to:
fabricate historical provenance or authorship
generate “original” artifacts presented as historical works
automate curatorial decisions or cultural interpretation
replace research, judgment, or responsibility
Each piece is rooted in documented source material and is clearly contextualized.
Concierge: guided interpretation, not automation
IkonHaus’ Concierge experience uses AI to support visitor understanding, not to replace curatorial voice.
Concierge is designed to:
answer practical questions about works, editions, and presentation
provide historical or contextual background when requested
assist with spatial considerations, such as scale or placement
guide exploration without directing taste or interpretation
Concierge does not make aesthetic judgments, recommendations, or claims on behalf of the work. It functions as a guided reference layer, similar to a gallery attendant or wall text — available when needed, invisible when not.
How decisions are made
AI outputs are treated as draft material, not truth.
Every work and every interpretive layer is subject to:
historical review
contextual research
visual and symbolic evaluation
If a result introduces distortion, anachronism, or misrepresentation, it is rejected.
Curation — not automation — governs what is released.
Why this matters To US
Technology evolves.
Responsibility to history, context, and meaning does not.
At IkonHaus, AI is used to reduce mechanical labor and expand exploratory capacity — so more time can be devoted to research, interpretation, and care.
Taste, judgment, and accountability remain human.