I was born and raised in Tokyo. "Flowers In Season" is centered around the theme of flowers in the city and flowers in memories. It utilizes AI and generative art to depict seasonal changes, with a focus on flowers that are familiar in our daily lives. I chose flowers because I noticed a similarity between them and digital signage, the method used to showcase artworks in “Poems in Code: Generative Art Today and Programming-Generated Moving Image.”
When I navigate central Tokyo, I'm always surrounded by eye-catching signage that makes waiting at traffic lights feel shorter. In my daily walks, I often get accustomed to the routine of "heading to the destination" and forget to appreciate the changing seasons around me. The vibrant and beautiful seasonal flowers, much like the city's signage, go unnoticed by many. Few take the time to observe them or bother to look up their names. Similarly, people rarely pause to scrutinize the messages on the signage or what is being projected. This shared lack of attention led me to recognize a commonality between flowers in the city and digital signage.
The 3D flowers in the artwork are derived from 2D images generated by AI and transformed into three dimensions using the AI's featured filter. Although generative AI captures characteristics well, it's not flawless. I opted for realistic flowers, aspiring to prompt viewers to compare them with real flowers, notice the differences, and rediscover their connection to memories and emotions.
Moreover, AI-generated images of seasonal flowers are incorporated into the AI video of the artwork. By re-outputting it as a video, the shape and color of the flower blend harmoniously, creating a new, nameless flower. This approach mirrors the way flowers in our memories often become indistinct. I aimed to capture this essence in my work, providing viewers with an opportunity to reconnect with the present amidst their busy lives.
"Flowers in the city" may be vague and hazy in our memories, much like an AI video. I conceived "Flowers In Season" with the hope that it encourages people to take a moment to stop and appreciate the present in our hectic lives.
Credit
Curation: Shunsuke Takawo (Artist / Japan Generative Art Foundation)
Host: Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Photographic Art Museum
Co-host: Civic Creative Base Tokyo [CCBT]