In Venice's Palazzo Diedo, 'Strange Rules' invites visitors to ponder the ever-evolving definition of art. From fortune-telling plants to brain scans and AI-generated futures, this exhibition challenges traditional notions with its embrace of Protocol Art.

This new form of artistic expression engages directly with digital-age protocols – algorithms, AI models, even social conventions – as their creators argue that the rules themselves are the art. The line between science and performance blurs, making the audience a participant in the creative process.

If most people see art as a visual or auditory experience, Protocol Art shifts focus to the underlying code and processes that generate these experiences. This approach highlights the malleability of artworks, which exist beyond their final form, inviting viewers into a highly participatory artistic encounter.

Among the works on show are Ken Stanley's Picbreeder, where user choices shape evolving images over time, and Attention Guild by Dryhurst and Herndon, which promises to generate an AI future. These pieces not only reflect technological advancements but actively engage with them, pushing the boundaries of what we consider art.