In "Face of Modern Art," I embark on an exploratory journey that weaves together the realms of visual art and digital technology, with a specific focus on uncovering and challenging the inherent biases in AI-generated imagery. This project aims to reveal how these biases reflect and perpetuate historical disparities in artistic representation. This exploration is rooted in a deep curiosity about the nature of images and agency and is driven by a desire to expand our understanding of the ever-evolving visual landscape. My approach is to delve into digital systems, play with their boundaries, try to reveal the intricate interplay between these technologies and the subjects they represent, and to question the agency within these systems.
Central to this exploration examination of the image archives in the deep learning image generation model, Stable Diffusion, and a curated selection of images from Wikipedia's coverage of modern art. This approach of utilizing two distinct sources goes beyond mere juxtaposition; it's an examination of common narratives perpetuated by these sources. By combining these two sources, I aim to probe the historical narratives embedded within these datasets, seeking to try to challenge the marginalized visualizations that reside in our collective consciousness.
“Face of Modern Art” stands as a testament to the intertwining of modern visual art with the algorithmic processes that shape our visual culture. This confluence challenges us to critically assess how these systems mold our perception of reality, often through selective and subjective viewpoints. These systems generate a range of styles and modes, yet they also reinforce specific narratives and biases. Beneath the apparent stylistic and algorithmic choices lie deep-seated biases — biases related to age, gender, class, race, and more. In this context, the artwork confronts the reader with a pivotal question: How do these vectors of representation shape our understanding of the world, and is it possible for us to recognize, question, and ultimately transcend these ingrained biases?
By engaging with history as a living, dynamic entity, my work highlights the plight of marginalized histories. This highlights the limitations of AI models, which, while promising a rich tapestry of imagination, often fall short due to the biases inherent in their lack of detailed context. "Face of Modern Art" is an invitation to critically examine these biases and to reimagine the potential of contemporary dreaming through technology. Through this project, I hope to contribute to a wider discourse on the intersection of art, technology, and society, and to inspire a reevaluation of how we perceive and create images in the digital age.
