They Live
At the heart of this artistic exploration is a recognition of the symbiotic relationship between technology and creativity, a concept that pervades the pages of this book. This project is an in-depth exploration of the artistic potential of emerging artificial intelligence technologies, interwoven with influences and aesthetics from the 1988 cult film 'They Live' by John Carpenter and the distinctly humanistic touch and image framing style of the artist's previous works, most notably Sekdek.
'They Live' is a multi-faceted and nuanced concept, referencing the sentient potential of AI technology and societal underpinnings associated with personal pronouns. Transversely, the song is a war cry for the underdog. It encompasses the innate ability of the artist to take disparate elements from various sectors, combining them in a harmonious blend of visual prowess. This approach, bolstered by a keen eye for detail and a unique combination of artistic and technological expertise, allows the project to thrive at the intersection of fantasy, abstract art, and modern technology.
At the heart of 'They Live' lies a fascinating back-story characterized by seemingly unrelated elements harmoniously merging to create a compelling narrative. The Crystal Mountains backdrop scan, an accidental discovery from a coconut jar label, sets the stage for the captivating imagery. This incidental graphic, coupled with a silly Halloween skeleton mask. During the photo shoot, Pietro Straccia from the band Elettrodomestico is behind the mask. He also performed in Sekdek.Balderdash - S2 E2 "The Conductor" as the main character in a music video of Brice Frillici music. He plays a modern Italian Conan the Barbarian that lashes out at the camera cutting at the chaos and dangerousness of originality. My direction. Strong cathartic video and angst buzz when fantasy mode is fully engaged. The music contradicts the imagery adding lightness contrasted against the more questionable moving imagery.
In every frame of 'They Live,' one can sense the convergence of art, science, and societal critique. The images depict a world that is an imaginative manifestation of AI yet under the creator's careful direction and artistic stewardship. It is an art form that underscores the dialogue between human intuition and machine precision, brought to life by a unique multimedia blend of photography, sculpture, scanned imagery, collage, style analysis, art direction, curating, AI, and carefully constructed prompts.
A novel collaborative effort that leverages AI to break new ground in Abstract Modern Art/Collage/Painting, creating a blend of shadowing surrealism, film poster art, album covers, and lo-fi-sci-fi classic skeletal psychedelia while referencing a dope cult classic film and original musical single prequel release.
'They Live' serves as a poignant reminder of society's covert harmful cultural waves and dangerous ideologies. Much like donning the glasses in the original film, this project offers viewers an abstract view of destructive forces as they spurry, resist, and transform into compelling art. Despite the potential concerns about the legitimacy and ethics of AI-generated art, 'They Live' demonstrates that when properly guided, AI can be a powerful tool in creating art that respects and values originality and creativity.
This project is also connected to a musical single by the artist Brice Frillici. The single mirrors the themes and messages of the film and the visual art project. The noisy lo-fi experimental ballad creates an auditory landscape that parallels the visual exploration of 'They Live,' drawing on the same themes of societal control and the struggle for authentic perception.
At its core, 'They Live' is a testament to the transformative power of art and technology, illuminating the artist's role as a visionary, a technologist, and a social critic. Much like the film and the musical single it draws from, this project prompts us to challenge our perception of reality, question the status quo, and continually seek the truth in the face of manipulation and control. This book serves as a reflection of this journey, drawing from the unique interplay of various elements, from Sekdek to the serendipitous discovery of the Crystal Mountains backdrop, to bring to life a visual narrative that is as powerful as it is innovative.
This exploration is not only a testament to the artistic potential of AI but also a powerful reminder of our responsibility as creators and consumers in the world of art.
