SYNAPTICON (2025-26) – Creative Alignment at the Brain–AI Model Interface
SYNAPTICON is an artistic research artifact at the intersection of neuro-hacking, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), and foundation models, probing new territories of human expression, aesthetics, and AI alignment. Envisioning a cognitive “Panopticon” where biological and synthetic intelligent systems converge, it enables a pipeline that couples temporal neural dynamics with pre-trained language models and operationalizes them in a closed loop for creative performance. At its core lies a live “Brain Waves-to-Natural Language-to-Aesthetics” system that translates neural states into decoded speech, and then into immersive multimodal output, shaping altered perceptual and aesthetic experiences and inviting audiences to directly engage with the creator’s mind. SYNAPTICON contributes to discussions on post-AGI safe and meaningful trajectories: human–AI co-creation and alignment, neuroaesthetics, mental privacy, and neurorights.
Research presented at SIGGRAPH, NeurIPS, and Ars Electronica
Awarded, Presented & Exhibited:
Ars Electronica - Linz (AU)
10/09/26
Gray Area - San Francisco (USA)
26/07/26
SIGGRAPH - Los Angeles (USA)
23/07/26
SPECTRA - Los Angeles (USA)
22/07/26
Nu Festival - Tokyo (Japan)
28/06/26
Runway AIF - New York (USA)
18/06/26
Runway AIF - Los Angeles (USA)
11/06/26
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía - Madrid (ES)
14/05/26
NeurIPS - Creative Track - San Diego (USA)
04/12/25
MIRA Festival – Barcelona (CAT/ES)
07/11/25
(World Première) Sónar+D - Barcelona (CAT/ES)
14/06/25
Runway Grand Prize in 'New Media'
Credits
Directed, Produced & Developed:
Albert Barqué-Duran (Albert.DATA)
Technical Managers:
Ada Llauradó & Ton Cortiella
Audio Engineer:
Jesús Vaquerizo (I AM JAS)
Extra Performer:
Teo Rufini
Partners:
OpenBCI
Sónar+D
Interactive Arts & Science Lab (IASlab)
La Salle Barcelona (Universitat Ramon Llull)
BSC (Barcelona Supercomputing Center)
.NewArt { foundation;}
CBC (Center for Brain & Cognition)
Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Institut Ramon Llull
Departament de Cultura - Generalitat de Catalunya.