- Murmurations
- Simulacra
- Future : Potential
- autocomplete.us
- Circadian Echoes
- Year X (Emoji)
- One Week of Emails in July
- Mode Metonym
- In[Between]Images
- 39 Steps Until Disappearance
- Turn Around
- &otherData
About
News
©2024
P.02
Simulacra (California)
2024
Hermes copper butterfly
California Valley elderberry longhorn beetle
Tecopa pupfish
California brown pelican
Tricolored blackbird
Shasta crayfish
San Francisco gartersnake
Lange’s metalmark butterfly
Mission blue butterfly
As AI-generated content increasingly fills the internet, it contaminates 'real' content, much like how our natural environment becomes polluted with intrusive elements. In response to this, AI-generated images of endangered animals from California were systematically deconstructed and reassembled based on the hues of their component pixels. Through this process, the artificiality is stripped away, revealing a more authentic image in its place.
Each image, entirely artificial, was generated using text prompts that included the taxon, common name, and habitat of these threatened species. Significant gaps in the AI models quickly became evident, particularly in generating nuanced subspecies. For instance, every generated butterfly shared similar coloring and pattern characteristics, despite being much more distinct in reality. This raises challenging questions about what will be remembered if these species disappear entirely.
These artificial images were then deconstructed and reassembled through a bespoke generative algorithm. A 55-minute companion video was also created, documenting both the initial generated images, as well as the first phase of pixel deconstruction.
The result is an entirely unique arrangement of pixel forms—an abstract digital painting that stands as a reflection on the fragility of memory in the face of loss.
Simulacra (California) — excerpt from longer video
Images:32x18in ea.