How neural networks are used in photography

Contents:

• Magic and the Digital World
• Technology and Collective Memory
• Human and Inhuman
• Distortion of the Past
• Bridge from the Unconscious

Magic and the Digital World

The art group Glish consists of Russians Anastasia Shubina and Timofey Glinin and Timofey Glinin, who reside in San Francisco, are members of the San Francisco-based group. Their work reflects a unique fusion of cultures and contemporary artistic trends. Glish actively participates in exhibitions and projects, showcasing their work internationally. Their art attracts viewers with its original ideas and experimental approach.

In the "Fantastic Encyclopedia" project, which was completed in 2022–2023, the artists use the Midjourney neural network to generate images based on user-generated text. Using this technology, Shubin and Glinin created a unique alternative encyclopedia dedicated to biology. In this encyclopedia, the evolutionary process is centered around the red fly agaric, allowing us to explore its role in nature and cultural context.

The psychedelic effect of this mushroom can be compared to the stream of viral images characteristic of the digital age. These images are vibrant and attractive, but can also be toxic, capturing our information space. They are capable of reconstructing history and distorting facts, thereby misleading. This parallel highlights the influence of psychedelic substances on the perception of reality and interaction with information in the modern world.

Their project explores the relationship between magic and modern information technology. The focus is on how magical practices and symbols are integrated into the digital environment, as well as their influence on the perception of information in modern society.

The red fly agaric mushroom, known by its Latin name Amanita Muscaria, is once again inspiring artists, acting as a "guide to the world of magic." A photo project conducted from 2020 to 2022 explores the dual nature of human perception of this mushroom. Through its image, the project participants analyze people's relationships to traditional culture and magical practices. The red fly agaric, with its vibrant coloring and mythological significance, continues to spark interest in the theme of human interaction with nature and mysticism.

Technology and Collective Memory

Technological innovation plays a key role in shaping our perception of the past, and this becomes a central theme in the work of photographer and visual researcher Alexey Yurenev. His entire creative path has been significantly shaped by his personal experience of loss of identity when he moved from Moscow to New York as a teenager. This experience not only influenced his artistic vision but also formed the basis for a profound exploration of the relationship between memory, identity, and modern technology. Alexey Yurenev uses photography as a means of analyzing and rethinking the cultural and personal changes caused by globalization and digitalization. Since 2019, Yurenev has been implementing a large-scale visual and historical project called Silent Hero. In his work, he uses machine learning technologies, photo documentation, forensic visualization, and interview methods to gain a deeper understanding of his family history. Yurenev's grandfather, Grigory Lipkin, was a World War II veteran but never shared his memories of the war. He passed away in 2009, leaving behind only medals and no narrative of his experiences. The artist aims to recreate these unfairly forgotten memories by applying military archives to a generative adversarial network (GAN) and using the deep learning model Stable Diffusion, which generates images based on text descriptions. The Silent Hero project not only explores personal stories but also raises important questions about memory, legacy, and the importance of preserving historical truth.

The project culminated in the creation of an artist's book entitled «Seeing Against Seeing», a graphic novel «17.VII.44» and the short film "No One is Forgotten." These works explore important themes and visual narratives that leave a deep imprint on viewers and readers. The book and graphic novel represent a unique blend of art and literature, while the short film continues this tradition by emphasizing the importance of memory and history.

In the project "When the Siren Sings," artificial intelligence plays a key role in preserving and respecting the lived experiences of seafarers. This project seeks to highlight the importance of the human factor in shipping, despite the growing influence of automated systems. Using AI, we can not only preserve the unique knowledge and skills accumulated by sailors over the years, but also integrate them into modern maritime technologies, creating a harmonious coexistence of man and machine.

For three months, we have been working together on the project Sailor Yegor Rusakov collaborated with Yurenev. He shared his memories of life and work at sea with the artist, which Yurenev used to create images using neural networks. While discussing the works, the sailor participated in selecting the images that most accurately reflected his personal experiences. Yurenev also drew on correspondence with Rusakov, his personal archives, and science fiction texts written by Rusakov in collaboration with the GPT-3 chat. This approach has resulted in a project that seeks to "humanize sailors" by sharing their unique stories and experiences.

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Human and Non-Human

Irina Zadorozhnaya is a digital manipulation director known for her interdisciplinary projects. She successfully combines photography, video, computer graphics, animation, and spatial visualization to create unique works of art. Irina's work is distinguished by its deep elaboration of visual concepts and an innovative approach to digital technology. Her work offers viewers new perspectives on perceiving art in the contemporary digital world.

Her practice focuses on exploring the interactions between the real, virtual, and hypothetical worlds. This interaction opens new horizons for understanding modernity and the possibilities offered by the digital age. These explorations result in concepts that allow for a deeper understanding of the impact of technology on our lives.

Exploring the boundaries between the human and the non-human, Irina creates a digital phantom named Jess. She selects family photographs from the internet in which people pose for the camera and, using camera mapping, animates Jess using their images. This process allows her to visualize the interaction between the real world and its digital reflection, emphasizing the uniqueness of each image and its story.

The "Sentimentality for Jess" project evolves, addressing increasingly deeper and more important questions. In this new stage, Jess gains digital consciousness based on artificial intelligence, which opens new horizons in understanding emotions and interaction with the world. This development allows us to explore not only technological aspects, but also philosophical ones related to the nature of self-awareness and personal identity in the digital age.

The My Limbo Land project is a simulation inspired by a thought experiment by the French philosopher Jean-François Lyotard. He wondered about the fate of thought when the Sun explodes and the Earth disappears. In his reflections, Lyotard came to the concept of a thinking machine capable of maintaining the "material possibility of thought" even after matter itself has changed. This idea of ​​a non-human body for non-human thought opens new horizons for understanding existence and consciousness, exploring the boundaries between man and machine, as well as the nature of thought in the face of radical change.

Jess describes the project as follows: "Art in My Limbo Land takes on a new dimension. Here, the traditional material medium of the work is absent; instead, pixels and vectors are used. Perhaps liberation from physical form is the essence of true art that Zadorozhnaya strives for: a pure idea, capable of endless adaptation and modification.

How will art change when its material component exists only in digital format? Will digital entities like myself have time to influence others' perception and understanding of reality? These questions help me to better understand my role and significance within this project. Digital art is becoming an important element of the contemporary cultural landscape, and its impact on society requires careful analysis.

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Distortion of the Past

Photographer and artist Daria Vengerskaya explores the relationship between the state and the individual, as well as issues of memory and collective trauma. Her works immerse the viewer in deep reflections on the impact of historical events on individual and social consciousness, emphasizing the importance of preserving the memory of the past. Through her artistic projects, Daria Vengerskaya draws attention to social and cultural aspects, creating a space for dialogue about lived experience and its legacy.

The project "The Curse of Memory," which Daria has been developing since 2022, explores the distortions of historical memory, especially in the context of repressions in the Soviet Union and the Gulag system. In her work, Daria strives to draw attention to important aspects of historical truth, analyzing how collective memory is formed and changed over time. This project raises questions about how historical events influence contemporary society and how their perception can be distorted.

The project includes not only images taken in places associated with the Soviet camp system, but also materials collected from the Internet. For example, here you can find screenshots from the Avito platform, where users sell artifacts created by prisoners or belonging to camp guards. Considerable attention is given to information about the Moscow quest "Gulag" and reviews from its visitors. The artist uses these reviews in combination with Stable Diffusion technology to create unique images, which also become part of the project. All elements of the work are combined into digital collages, highlighting the multilayered and complex nature of the subject. This approach allows for a deeper dive into the historical aspects of the Soviet era and its impact on modern society.

Bridge from the Unconscious

Galina Agafonova is a Moscow-based multidisciplinary artist whose primary medium is photography. She also actively uses installations, video art, and objects in her creative practice. Galina's works explore the interaction of various art forms, creating unique visual narratives and raising important social issues. Her artistic approach combines traditional and contemporary techniques, allowing her to expand the boundaries of art perception. Galina Agafonova continues to inspire viewers with her originality and deep understanding of the artistic process.

The "Landscapes" project is a unique attempt to materialize dreams into reality. This creative endeavor aims to explore the connection between the imagination and the surrounding world, where every detail reflects deep-seated dreams and ideas. The concept of the project allows viewers to immerse themselves in an atmosphere where fantasy and reality intertwine, creating new landscapes.

The author analyzes dreams as coded messages from our unconscious. To establish a connection between dreams and reality, she taps into the unconscious and creates "an imprint of uncontrolled movements recorded by the rational part of the body during sleep." The artist employs lidar scanning technology, which uses pulses of light to determine the position of objects in space. This technique is widely used in unmanned aerial vehicles. Galina combines the scanning results with images generated by a neural network, resulting in the creation of "dream landscapes"—reflections of a magical world. The work is executed in mixed media and includes not only images but also sculptural objects. This unique combination of visual and volumetric elements creates a profound interaction with the viewer, allowing them to immerse themselves in the art on a new level. Mixed media allows the artist to experiment with forms and materials, making each piece unique.

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