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The floating world, land of dreams and passion, and its inhabitants discover electricity. Eleven characters from eleven different places, all of them created using artificial intelligence.
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The kabuki theatre is at the center of the entertainment in the floating world in Edo, as it is the heart at the origins of passions and dreams. The representation is usually organized around the story of three characters: the male hero, the female hero, and the villain, all played by male actors. Kyūjū plays the male hero, and he is from the Sacred Heights.
GANs algorithms, woodblock print on washi paper, 25x37cm
"Only our actions define the future we set for our children."
The sacred heights are known as the land of the crying red ogre, who made friends with the villagers by protecting them from a fake attack by his friend the blue ogre.
GANs algorithms, woodblock print on washi paper, 25x37cm
Land of the pragmatics
The kabuki theater is at the center of the entertainment in the floating world in Edo, as it is the heart at the origins of passions and dreams. The representation is usually organized around the story of three characters: the male hero, the female hero, and the villain, all played by male actors. Saki plays the female hero, and he is from the Dormant Lake.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
"All these lines of connections, yet I don't see a better way
than the kabuki theatre to help connect with each other"
The dormant lake is the theater of the legend of Sono, who got her hair cut as a service to her husband, so that she would remain faithful to him during his absence.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
Land of the skeptics
The kabuki theatre is at the center of the entertainment in the floating world in Edo, as it is the heart at the origins of passions and dreams. The representation is usually organized around the story of three characters: the male hero, the female hero, and the villain, all played by male actors. Katsuwaka plays the villain, and he is from the Dawn Lagoon.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
"People come to the theater to dream, and a dream
is what I give them."
The Dawn Lagoon is known for being the land of residence of the Nabeshima vampire-cat. The creature drinks the blood of ladies, in order to take their appearance and seduce their pretendant.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 106x78cm
Land of the manipulators
Okuni is the creator of the Kabuki theater, which is the main attraction in Ukiyo. She grasped the power electricity could have at a very early stage, allowing her to gain a large influence over the floating world. She comes from the Shadow Village.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
"Electricity will change the shape of japan,
and I will be the one shaping it."
The shadow village is famous for its neighbour querels. A couple's dog once found a treasure in the ground. Their neighbour tried to use the dog as well, and killed it when they realized that it wouldn't help them. A strange shadow floats over the village eversince.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
Land of the opportunists
Kamio is a reknown singer, made famous after using the silver microphone to add some lyrics to the traditional instrumental music of Ukiyo. He suffered many criticism, before being accepted by a younger generation. He comes from the region of the Mist Volcano.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
"My silver microphone will be heard from all over the
country, only then will they all know who iam."
Some say that Fuji, the ancient godess of fire, trained on the floating world before creating in one day the volcano that would make her famous amongst all humans.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 106x78cm
Land of the creatives
Chieko is the most famous musician of Ukiyo. She is known for playing the biwa, which she amplified after hearing of one of the many possible applications of electricity. She was raised on the Catfish Bay.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
"The latest advancements at the service of the greatest
entertaiments. I couldn't see any better application."
Namazu is a giant catfish who lives in the mud near the coast. He is known for being held prisonner by a rock. Whenever its keepers aren't watching, it tries to escape, causing violent earthquakes.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
Land of the lucky
San works in a silk manufacture. For generations, his family has seen different innavations make their way into the japanese society, without ever improving their quality of life. His property is situated on the western side of the Lonely Mountain.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
"Another promise that will change the lives of
a few lucky highborns."
Some say that they have seen Inari, the fox divinity of agriculture, climbing the lonely mountain. Since then, many farmers have settled there.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 106x78cm
Land of the defeatists
Since his youngest age, Hayao has been training and following the precepts of his mighty stables master, in order to make his way into the Sumo world. He hasn't been defeated for as long as anyone can remember. He was born in the Mirror Glacier region.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
"This new magic will anihilate society as we know it. Don't
expect me to take part in it."
The Mirror Glacier earnt its name from the legend of the Mirror. It is said that one that travels there might see the faces of his lost relatives through the ice.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 106x78cm
Land of the scared
Ken is one of the few remaining samuraï masters. He dedicates his life to maintaining the equilibrium between all things, and follows the way of the warrior. He has always lived hidden, in exile, due to adversarial governmental policies. His village is situated in the Two Passes.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
"I see nothing natural in these changes, and what good is
it if it doesn't sustain the cycle of all things ?"
The region of the Two Passes is known as the place where the bravest of all mothers live. This legend follows the tale of Hara, and his mother who gave her life to allow her son to die as a vaillant samuraï.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
Land of the traditionalists
Bulma is a Geisha, a part of the population that participates in the entertainment of the floating world by performing different types of artistic activities. Bulma is especially famous for her talents in sculpting candles. She comes from a region recognizable by its abundance of High Red Pines.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
"These abstract notions will never overthrow
the art of making candles."
The region of the High red Pines is known as the shelter of the fountain of youth. This fountain allows anyone who tastes it to counter the power of aging.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
Land of the outraged
Eikichi is one of the pillars of the floating world. He makes sure that everyone enjoys his travels in Ukiyo by providing some Shōchū to anyone showing sign of thirst. He comes from the Dry Harbour, and he swore never to return there.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 78x106cm
"This whole seemed a bit disturbing at the beginning, but I
haven't noticed any change in peoples' appentency for partying"
The dry harbor was once wet, and its deepness were inhabited by the Dragon King. After a brave diver stole a magnificent pearl from him, he cursed the region which has been dry eversince.
GANs algorithms, inkjet on washi paper, 106x78cm
Land of the realists
Electric Dreams of Ukiyo
A series of Japanese artworks created by an artificial intelligence.
1868. Walk, observe and feel the atmosphere during the transition from the Edo Era to the Meiji Era, carried by the arrival of electricity.
Visit the Kabuki theater, have a chat with the innkeeper, observe Geishas’ dance and work, discuss with samurais and Rikishi Sumos to discover how electricity affected their lifestyle.
Collection
Project
We are Obvious. We create artworks using artificial intelligence. We use algorithms called Generative Adversarial Networks, which allow to process a large number of images to create an entirely new and unique visual. To do so, two algorithms work together to learn the codes of a specific type of art.
We decided to train a set of algorithms to learn how to recreate Japanese woodblock prints. The collection of 11 portraits and 11 landscapes talks about the arrival of electricity at the end of the Edo era in Japan to make a parallel with the arrival of Artificial Intelligence in today’s society.
We decided to fit with centuries of Japanese tradition, by collaborating with Uki-ga to create woodblock prints, for the two iconic artworks of our collection.
Centuries of tradition at the service of the latest technologies. We want to create a bridge between the ancient and the new, and give an opportunity to a new public to discover this fascinating world. We present: Electric dreams of Ukiyo.
Contact
We are here to discuss AI, its implications, and to build artistic projects with this amazing tool.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to talk !
