WASHINGTON, DC.- The Smithsonian will debut “Smithsonian Dreams,” a large-scale, multisensory public art experience by Refik Anadol, internationally acclaimed media artist and director of Refik Anadol Studio, on the National Mall. On Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18, beginning at 9 p.m., the historic Smithsonian Castle will be transformed into a dynamic landmark, inviting visitors to experience an immersive night of light, sound and visuals.

Developed by Refik Anadol Studio, the installation uses a custom AI system to reinterpret nearly two centuries of Smithsonian collections and research. Drawing on millions of digitized items, including specimens, manuscripts, photographs, artworks, objects and scientific records, the project transforms this data into a continuously evolving visual experience projected across the Castle’s red sandstone façade and towers.

At its core is a custom visualization system using a UMAP (Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection) algorithm to map relationships within collection data.

“For me, data is a form of memory,” Anadol said. “The Smithsonian preserves one of humanity’s most extraordinary repositories of knowledge, accumulated across generations of discovery and imagination. ‘Smithsonian Dreams’ asks what might emerge if that vast memory could become dynamic, if the Castle itself could learn from its collections, reflect upon them and dream through them. Using machine intelligence as a creative collaborator, we are transforming the archive into a living experience where history, culture, science and imagination continuously unfold in new ways.”





The work reflects the Institution’s mission for “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” The Smithsonian’s museums, libraries, archives and research centers collectively hold more than 157 million objects and specimens, 2.1 million library volumes and approximately 156,000 cubic feet of archival materials, which form the foundation for the experience.

The presentation unfolds in thematic chapters inspired by the Smithsonian’s founding, beginning with the gift of British scientist James Smithson and expanding to themes of discovery, preservation, creativity and collective memory. Archival materials and artworks emerge and dissolve across the Castle’s surface, revealing connections across disciplines and time.

“Since its founding, the Smithsonian has sought new ways to share knowledge with the public and inspire future generations,” said Lisa Sasaki, the Smithsonian’s Deputy Under Secretary for Special Projects. “‘Smithsonian Dreams’ reflects that spirit of innovation, bringing together art, technology and one of the world’s greatest collections of knowledge in an experience that invites visitors to see the Smithsonian’s vast collections in a new way where history, culture, science and imagination converge.”

Free and open to the public, “Smithsonian Dreams” invites visitors to consider how knowledge is preserved, shared and continually reimagined across generations.

“Smithsonian Dreams” follows the opening of DATALAND in Los Angeles, a museum developed by Refik Anadol Studio and founded by Anadol and Efsun Erkılıç, that is dedicated to the burgeoning new medium of AI arts.

“Smithsonian Dreams” received support from the Smithsonian initiative “Our Shared Future: 250.” Major support for “Our Shared Future: 250” has been provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Additional generous contributions have been made by Target, Caterpillar Foundation and the Gates Foundation.