Machine Imaginings

Full description

Background
‘Machine Imaginings’ explores generative diffusion machine learning (ML) models as creative collaborators, while speculating on shared futures with machine intelligences. The ML models have been asked to illustrate what certain neural networks look like within their ‘mind’, hinting at new modes of experience as ML capabilities increase. Drawing on Douglas Hofstadter’s idea of a ‘strange loop’ for the paradoxical emergence of experience from matter, the prompts are based on human emotions such as grief, happiness, and hope. This emotion is often what we use to separate ourselves from other creatures, yet theoretically strange loops of experience can form in non-organic systems like artificial intelligence. These machine generated images are in the style of botanical illustrations, referencing that tradition of communicating new knowledge about previously unseen critters and acknowledging the already diverse cognitions of plants.

Contribution
The work comprises 8 textile hangings 150cm X 40cm printed onto organic cotton and sewn. Each panel is composed from 5 images selected from over 8000 generations using diffusion models. I developed a process for generating and cataloguing these images, as well as for scaling and preparing for digital print, as well as assembly processes.

Significance
Australia Council Grants:
2022: (in part) $10,900
2021: (in part) $14,000
Competitive EOI:
2022: exhibition space and support through City of Melbourne at Assembly Point 1-31 August 2022.
2023: Laureate Artist for International Symposium of Electronic Art, Paris 16 -21 May 2023.
Curated:
‘Histories’ at Good Grief Gallery for Dark Mofo Festival, Hobart Tasmania 8-18 June 2023.