When Jules Verne imagined daring explorers venturing into uncharted territories, he could scarcely have anticipated how such journeys would evolve: from a quest for discovery into a performance driven by social media and personal branding. As we approach photography’s bicentennial, AI now pushes the boundaries of imagination, merging fiction with reality. My project uses AI to reinterpret Verne’s visionary approach to discovery within a contemporary pre-apocalypse context.
In Tripping To Go, I examine how the pursuit of social status and personal identity might reshape our vision of the future, much like Verne’s era blended everyday realities with speculative innovation. By placing myself at the heart of this imagined universe through a selfie, I emphasize personal identity as a central narrative element. This mirrors today’s culture of virtual self-representation, where an obsession with image often coincides with growing indifference toward nature and the ongoing ecological crisis. Rather than condemning this modern paradox, I engage with it through reflective tenderness, highlighting the complexity of today’s individual—caught between digital narcissism and genuine wonder for the world.
In an age where exploration often feels more like spectacle than discovery, my images merge retrofuturistic aesthetics with surreal landscapes to rekindle a sense of awe. By prompting Midjourney's AI with handmade photo-collages, I supply it with source material that enhances its ability to generate more plausible and captivating visions. This approach not only evokes nostalgia for imagined futures but also reflects on how technology mediates our relationship with the world.
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