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We are pleased to announce the latest release from Fakewhale Studio, published by PRNTD, titled "GENERATIVE ITEMS."
This project brings together the works in
collaboration with fifteen artists, including: Camille Rouzaud, Christian Holze, Emmanuel Van Der Auwera, Erris Huigens, Huber Huber, Jorge Isla, Léo Fourdrinier, Lolo & Sosaku, Manor Grunewald, Manuel Fois, Mathias Pöschl, Mit Borrás, Oliver Hull, Patrick Bérubé, and Sasha Sime.
In "GENERATIVE ITEMS," we explore the evolving dialogue between digital photography and generative artificial intelligence, opening new aesthetic and conceptual frontiers. Each artist contributed 5-6 photographs from their personal body of work, which were then processed by an algorithm designed to generate outputs inspired by the visual styles of the original pieces. This algorithm interprets each artist's unique style in a guided manner, creating a bridge between human creativity and computational interpretation.
At the heart of our initiative lies not just AI’s capacity to generate new photographic works inspired by diverse artistic styles, but the creative dialogue that emerges between human thought and algorithmic processing. In developing GENERATIVE ITEMS, we have embraced a process of learning and transformation that does not strive to replace traditional artistry but introduces an aesthetic variation that fuses the artist’s vision with the power of computational mechanics. The resulting images embody a reciprocal exchange—a kind of “third space” that challenges conventional distinctions between the natural and the artificial, between creation and reproduction, and between original work and generated output.
We conceived this project as an experimental and interdisciplinary journey. Here, artificial intelligence serves not merely as an auxiliary tool but as a genuine co-creative partner, collaborating with each artist at every stage. Each contribution represents a unique interaction between the artist and the algorithm, reflecting the stylistic and conceptual nuances of the original work while simultaneously unlocking new visual possibilities and insights that culminate in one or more digital outputs.
Human intervention remains crucial throughout the entire creative process, particularly during both the initial and final stages of aesthetic selection, where decisions are made about which images will ultimately be included in the final publication. For us, GENERATIVE ITEMS is more than a collection of artworks; it is a manifesto of what can be achieved through collaboration between human creativity and algorithms. Each selected output not only represents the essence of the artist’s work but also embodies our active intention to stimulate critical reflection on the future of creativity and the evolving role of AI and technology in redefining the boundaries of contemporary art.
This project marks both a symbolic and operational starting point for a series of future initiatives dedicated to exploring and expanding the expressive potential of Fakewhale Studio. Our work takes place within a rapidly evolving cultural landscape, where technology is profoundly transforming both the means of expression and the very notions of creativity and authorship. The generative images that increasingly populate visual communication and art today are neither fully artificial nor fully human; rather, they represent a visual hybrid that challenges traditional concepts of creation. With this project, we aim to consciously participate in this movement, pushing forward from the forefront.
GENERATIVE ITEMS will be unveiled at an event in our space in Lugano, Switzerland, on Wednesday, October 23rd. The content of this publication will also be made available on the website dedicated to Fakewhale Studio projects. Through this work, we hope to contribute to a deeper and more integrated understanding of artificial intelligence as an integral part of contemporary visual culture. We are thrilled to share this with our community and the artists involved, as it represents a critical platform for reflecting on the future of creativity and the cultural implications of emerging technologies.
Fakewhale STUSIO, Generative Items
Printed Book, 2024
Full-color publication, 152 pages
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In collaboration with PRNTD