Nicolas Darrot. Fuzzy Logic at Museum Tinguely in Basel, Switzerland, converts a former telephone booth into a stage for a series of mechanical performers. This compact installation presents Darrot's "Theatre of Automatons," where visitors interact directly with five figures that bridge the gap between sculptural tradition and digital technology. By scanning a barcode on a playing card, viewers trigger movements that blend precision with calculated unpredictability.

The exhibition highlights Nicolas Darrot’s background in film special effects and his mastery of both craft and programming. Each robot puppet follows "fuzzy logic"—a form of artificial intelligence that embraces ambiguity and vagueness rather than binary clarity. The resulting choreographies are not rigid or repetitive; instead, the figures exhibit mood swings and uncertain steps, mimicking the inherent imprecision of human thought and behavior.

Working from his Paris studio, Darrot composes the soundtracks and programs the sequences to ensure each element contributes to a singular experience. By placing these complex machines in Basel’s smallest exhibition space, the show emphasizes the contrast between the cold nature of technology and the fragile, almost mythological character of the movements. It offers a focused look at how contemporary sculpture can incorporate AI to explore the nuances of the real world.

A clever and technically sophisticated stop for visitors intrigued by the intersection of robotics, puppetry and the unexpected possibilities of artificial intelligence.

Use the custom playing cards provided to activate the different figures in any order, taking time to watch how each performance changes according to its programmed logic.