Exhibition at Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads // Craig Ames – Photographs of British Algae – AI Impressions, 2022
Exhibition in public space // Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads // 1-30 June
Craig Ames created Photographs of British Algae – AI Impressions using cutting-edge imaging technologies. He was inspired by the English botanist and photographer Anna Atkins and her photographic record of botanical specimens Photographs of British Algae – Cyanotype Impressions (1843-1853).
As a photography pioneer, Atkins created the world’s first photobook and photographic-based record of botanical specimens that inspired generations of artists and image-makers. Today, Craig Ames uses generative AI to create specimen exemplars of AI impressions.
Ames used the Latin names of the specimens that Atkins photographed and processed them through a text-to-image AI generator, producing a body of work which was labelled and catalogued to create a new visual taxonomy of simulated algae. In this way, the simulacra intentionally distorts the boundaries between the real and the artificial, reflecting some of the many implications that this developing technology also manifests.
The exhibition at Thorvaldsens Plads is part of Copenhagen Photo Festival taking place 1 to 11 June in both public space in the city and at the Festival Center on Refshaleøen. The exhibition at Thorvaldsens Plads will however outlast the festival and ends 30 June. Craig Ames’ also exhibits other parts of his project at the festival center and at Landskrona Foto.
Craig Ames (1971, Great Britain) lives and works in Great Britain. His work concentrates on contested spaces, expanded forms of evidence, simulation and artificial intelligence imaging. He translates his ideas and projects with the help of different mediums, such as photography, AI imaging, text, online material, etc. His work is part of various prestigious collections such as Victoria and Albert Museum (The V&A) in London.
Craig Ames has been selected among 250 participants from all over the world, through an open call on this year’s overarching theme ‘Rewilding’ which contributes to the conversation about sustainable urban development and sustainable art in public space as part of Copenhagen being UNESCO World Capital of Architecture in 2023.
The public space exhibition at Thorvaldsens Plads is supported by Imagine5.
Opening // Craig Ames - Photographs of British Algae - AI Impressions
Exhibition opening
Using one of the cutting-edge imaging technologies of the day, the English botanist and photographer, Anna Atkins, created the world's first photobook and photographic-based record of botanical specimens. Celebrated for its historic significance and artistic merits, her ‘Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions’ (1843-1853), has gone on to inspire generations of artists and image-makers.
Today, artificial intelligence (AI) image generation is perhaps the most transformational imaging technology currently being developed and employed. Adopting Atkin’s philosophical approach to image-making, Ames utilises this rapidly evolving technology in order to create specimen exemplars of 'AI impressions'.
Working from a broad sample of the organic specimens Atkins originally illustrated, Ames repurposed their Latin names and processed them through an AI image generator to create new visual forms. The resulting ‘photographic’ fabrications were labelled and catalogued to create a new visual taxonomy of simulated algae. The synthesized specimens intentionally distort the boundaries between the real and the artificial, highlighting the growing disconnect between the natural world and the simulated hyperreality that increasingly subsumes it.
Opening hours
Thursday - Sunday: 12:00 - 17:00
Exhibition // Craig Ames - Photographs of British Algae - AI Impressions
Inspired by the English botanist and photographer Anna Atkins and her photographic record of botanical specimens ‘Photographs of British Algae – Cyanotype Impressions’ (1843-1853), ‘Photographs of British Algae – AI Impressions’ (2022), by Craig Ames is, as Atkins’ work once was, created using one of the cutting-edge imaging technologies we have at our disposal. As a photography pioneer, Atkins created the world’s first photobook and photographic-based record of botanical specimens and her distinctive works have gone on to inspire generations of artists and image-makers.
Today, Ames uses the perhaps most transformative imaging technology being developed and employed, generative AI. Adopting Atkins’ philosophy of image making, the artist utilises this emerging technology in order to create specimen exemplars of ‘AI impressions’.
Ames used a broad sample of the Latin names of the specimens that Atkins photographed and processed them through a text-to-image AI generator, producing a body of work which was labelled and catalogued to create a new visual taxonomy of simulated algae. In this way, the simulacra intentionally distorts the boundaries between the real and the artificial, highlighting the growing disconnect between the natural world and the simulated hyperreality.
Exhibition // Craig Ames - Photographs of British Algae - AI Impressions
Using one of the cutting-edge imaging technologies of the day, the English botanist and photographer, Anna Atkins, created the world's first photobook and photographic-based record of botanical specimens. Celebrated for its historic significance and artistic merits, her ‘Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions’ (1843-1853), has gone on to inspire generations of artists and image-makers.
Today, artificial intelligence (AI) image generation is perhaps the most transformational imaging technology currently being developed and employed. Adopting Atkin’s philosophical approach to image-making, Ames utilises this rapidly evolving technology in order to create specimen exemplars of 'AI impressions'.
Working from a broad sample of the organic specimens Atkins originally illustrated, Ames repurposed their Latin names and processed them through an AI image generator to create new visual forms. The resulting ‘photographic’ fabrications were labelled and catalogued to create a new visual taxonomy of simulated algae. The synthesized specimens intentionally distort the boundaries between the real and the artificial, highlighting the growing disconnect between the natural world and the simulated hyperreality that increasingly subsumes it.
Opening hours
Thursday - Sunday: 12:00 - 17:00
The festival headliners 2023
Image credit: Nanna Heitmann
Copenhagen Photo Festival is happy to announce the six solo artists who have been selected as this year's headliners at Copenhagen Photo Festival 2023. This summer, photographs will literally be sprouting all over Copenhagen, when the selected six photographers engage with the theme rewilding and present us with new perspectives on an important, current topic.
The six solo artists exhibiting at Copenhagen Photo Festival 2023 explore this year’s theme rewilding in the widest sense of the concept and the complexities it entails. From the rewilding of nature to climate issues and diversity to the rewilding of other spheres e.g. bodies, society, social structures or art in itself.
From Magnum and AI photography to rewilding street photos and flower portraits
Each artist present their own perspective on rewilding and engages with it in an intriguing way – from classic photography techniques , AI technology, 'rewilded' street photography to portrait photography with a green twist, critical climate narratives and documentary photos, where stories about identity, healing and belonging sprout in new ways.
The six announced solo artist for the 2023 festival are:
Rewilding dilemmas
The concept rewilding refers to a process of letting nature regulate itself without human interference. Instead of ‘caring’ for nature in a way that serves human purposes or profits, rewilding seeks to restore, repair, cure or even heal nature in a sustainable way that serves nature in itself and aids our gasping climate and biodiversity. The concept has flourished in recent years and proposes solutions but also contests existing (man-made) structures and power relations.
We look forward to presenting the works of each artist with a solo exhibition at our festival centre on Refshaleøen or in the public space of Copenhagen.