Smell the Roses is a meditative video art piece that explores our understanding of biological processes by looking at the integration of computer rendering and artificial intelligence. In this piece, participants are invited to take a break from the everyday grind to meditate and explore their own personal thoughts and feelings. Smell the Roses also takes a look at the current conversations surrounding the ethics of artificial intelligence and explores a unique way to integrate the technology into an art practice. Smell the Roses is currently being sent into other exhibition shows & grant opportunities for a possible expansion of the project.
Artist Statement:
About a year ago I got the call- my older brother was unconscious, bleeding from his brain, and I needed to find my own way down to Georgia to see him. For the next month I spent everyday in the hospital with him alone in silence for hours, not knowing when or if he was going to wake up. When or if he was going to be okay. When or if he would be the same. This period of my life was full of so much uncertainty and complete lack of control.
During this, I found peace by hiking all around Georgia in solitude. By looking at the fractalized patterns found in nature, it gave me a sense of familiarity as I remembered the childhood trails my brother and I would hike on. I remembered other loved ones that I’ve hiked with and the intimate conversations we had. I remembered the support group that I had gained throughout my adventures in nature.
Made Using: ProGamerGov’s Neural Style Transfer code, Mandelbulber, EbSynth & Premiere Pro
Later on in the year, as my brother got better physically, I was still processing the trauma that happened. It was now winter, and my darker childhood memories began to resurface. Memories of my family abandoning me all throughout my life, especially on holidays. Memories of my brothers beating me up as a teenager. Memories of the fears of abandonment I had during my childhood slowly crept back into my life again. These fears began to consume me, and I started to feel lost and confused. During these intense emotions, I found myself craving for that same sense of familiarity and support again.
Because of how dead everything is here in Indiana during the winter, I went on to explore the vast worlds of 3D fractals. I fell in love with this particular fractal as it reminded me of a field of flowers, while giving me a sense of comfort to explore it along with my emotions. By using artificial intelligence and a single picture of flowers, I’m able to quickly create a captivating landscape of a never-ending blooming field of flowers. In the end, this creates a meditative video piece that brings me the same sense of familiarity and support that I desperately craved and helped me process my trauma.
Smell the Roses is a meditative video art piece that allows participants take a break from the everyday grind to lay down, meditate, and explore their own personal thoughts and feelings. Smell the Roses also takes a look at the current conversations surrounding the ethics of artificial intelligence and explores a unique way to integrate the technology into an art piece.
Public Engagement:
With just two months away from the exhibition, I decided to create little postcards to send to those I wanted to invite to the reception. I designed these postcards myself using Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop, ordered them to be printed and laminated each one so they’re more likely to be kept instead of being thrown away. These postcards also sat in my exhibition space for vistors to pick up!
B.F.A Thesis Exhibition Show Photos:
SMELL THE ROSES EXHIBITIONS
Big Art Show 2023 → The Art Department → Paisley, United Kingdom 2023
a rose is a rose is a rose → Accrete Art Collective → Bloomington, Indiana 2023
ART meets SCIENCE → Ceinnov Lab (Chimaera Gallery) → Baltimore, Maryland 2023
AI: The Next Evolution → Online Gallery → Chimaera Gallery 2023
When All Dreams Come True → Provocation Ideas Festival → Toronto, Canada 2023
B.F.A Thesis Exhibition Show → Grunwald Gallery → Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 2023