Konterfei Series. 2023

The visual work called ‘KONTERFEI’ addresses the theme of AI image generation, albeit by taking a somewhat different, playful approach. In contrast to normal AI image generation, in which images are calculated and produced out of ‘nothing’ by means of written instructions (prompts), this work begins on the basis of photographs, which are subsequently broken up, dissected and transformed almost beyond recognition by means of prompts. Portrait photographs serve as the initial image motif, progressively distorted, abstracted, and driven towards the near dissolution of the subject through iterative commands. A playful interaction between human and machine. All the images created in this way are unique and cannot be reproduced afterwards – despite identical chains of text commands. The main focus of this work is the question of to what extent, by incorporating AI image generation, more abstract and evocative images can be created. The aim is not merely to imitate photographic representation but, analogous to painting, to open up a greater space for ambiguity and interpretation.