#designbloom

[shamandrummer]

Imaginary Shamans

The shaman in the accompanying image does not exist in real life. He was brought to life by architect and travel photographer Dimitar Karanikolov using artificial intelligence (AI) and Midjourney, a chat-powered text-to-image generator for his portrait series "Imaginary Shamans." All the portraits he created are generated based only on descriptions and words.

In a recent interview for Designbloom, a digital magazine for architecture and design, Karanikolov says, "In order to have a more controlled result, I was very specific and described a lot of the details I wished to see in the final image -- the age, the clothes, the ethnicity, to name a few. I have also specified the camera settings -- or the virtual lens I wish to use -- the light scenario, and the framing. The more words I put in, the better."

From the creases that line the shamans' faces to the traditional tattoos that ink their skin, the details in every image appear crystal clear, making viewers question whether they were generated by artificial intelligence or snapped by a professional photographer. Karanikolov thinks that artificial intelligence in photography is both fascinating and scary at the same time.

"I understand why a lot of people feared this technology," he says. "Still, I think it is an amazing tool that gives lots of people the opportunity to express themselves and visualize their ideas. Surely, it will have a major impact on the photographic industry in the future, and we'll soon have to specify when we post a photo whether it's real or AI, as there will be no difference in the quality."

Karanikolov might be an architect, but travel photography has been a passion of his for the last eight years. "I did numerous trips in order to explore and photograph authentic communities around the world such as Mongolia, Ethiopia, Bolivia, and Indonesia. I have always been fascinated by indigenous people and their culture, their rituals and aesthetics. These are our ancestors, our roots," he says.

"When AI softwares became wildly popular and open to access several months ago, I naturally tried generating spaces and architectural details, but creating human faces and characters brings much more emotion and connection, along with much more powerful visions. So, I have decided to do some AI travel photography," he tells Designbloom. Bringing his photographic zest with him on every trip has culminated in the creation of "Imaginary Shamans," underlining both the beauty artificial intelligence can generate and the underlying concern it might bring.

[guy60660]

Phoebe Says Wow Architects | Designbloom

[nicestuffandmore]

[fulgararchitects]

Would you like a shed like this? We are inspired! Spanish architect @pia.mendaro has designed a home/studio for her friend, artist Clara Cebrian named ‘topo’s shed’, space is a converted warehouse that measures 10 meters by 10 meters. ~ follow @ianfulgar⁠ @fulgararchitects | via @designbloom 👍 Tag | posted on Instagram - https://instagr.am/p/CAUC8oZByIm/

[ianfulgar]

Would you like a shed like this? We are inspired! Spanish architect @pia.mendaro has designed a home/studio for her friend, artist Clara Cebrian named ‘topo’s shed’, space is a converted warehouse that measures 10 meters by 10 meters. ~ follow @ianfulgar⁠ @fulgararchitects | via @designbloom 👍 Tag | posted on Instagram - https://instagr.am/p/CAUDEKkh6iu/

[thedeepblueccc]

Eg: Rotterdam Floating Park

In Rotterdam, Netherlands, a conscious effort is being made to stop the plastic and debris found in the Maas River from entering the ocean, by trapping it and then repurposing it into a floating park. 

One of the main purposes of this project is to illustrate that waste from the ocean is a valuable material, but also, the floating park helps to recuperate the natural ecosystem of the river by providing an environment for various macro and micro fauna to inhabit. The initiator of this project explains “when we retrieve the plastics directly in our cities and ports we actively prevent the further growth of the plastic soup in our seas and oceans,” outlining another sustainable function of the floating park. 

The diagram below illustrates the cycle of how the park the works:

Works Cited

Angelopoulou, S. (2018). Rotterdam's floating park is made entirely from recycled plastic waste found in the Maas River. Designbloom. Retrieved from: https://www.designboom.com/design/rotterdam-floating-park-recycled-plastic-waste-river-07-13-2018/

[itsabebelife]

wutopia's cozy multipurpose community center debuts in shanghai | designbloom

[osman-shahbaz]

I will design 3d minimalist logo

[kristinairl-blog]

Bibliography

Biello, D. (2011) ‘Can geoengineering save the world from Global Warming?’ Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/geoengineering-to-save-the-world-from-global-warming/

Cook, J. (2017) ‘The albedo effect and global warming’, Skeptical Science.   https://www.skepticalscience.com/earth-albedo-effect.htm

Bik Van der Pol, (n.d) http://bikvanderpol.net/122/are_you_really_sure_that_a_floor_cant_also_be_a_ceiling/

Nicoletta, DB. (2010) ‘Bik van der pol: butterfly house at MACRO’, designbloom, https://www.designboom.com/art/bik-van-der-pol-butterfly-house-at-macro/

Yeager, A. (2014) ‘Rock made of plastic turns up on hawaii beach’, ScienceNews, https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/science-ticker/rock-made-plastic-turns-hawaii-beach  

Johnston, I (2016) ‘Arctic could become ice-free for first time in more than 100,000 years, claims leading scientist’, Independent,http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/arctic-could-become-ice-free-for-first-time-in-more-than-100000-years-claims-leading-scientist-a7065781.html

‘Works/ Albedo Logger’, AV-ARKKI, http://www.av-arkki.fi/en/works/albedo-logger_en/

Albedo Dreams. (2016) ‘Experiments in DIY climate manipulation’, We make money not art, http://we-make-money-not-art.com/albedo-dreams-experiments-in-diy-climate-manipulation/

Liversidge, A. (2013) ‘The Commercial’. The Commercial Gallery. https://www.thecommercialgallery.com/artist/andrew-liversidge/exhibition/50/for-the-avoidance-of-doubt-quid-pro-quo-and-the-golden-torpor

‘Arctic plastic “garbage patches”’,Ice-blog,(2015) http://blogs.dw.com/ice/?p=16503

‘Human impacts on Antarctica and threats to the environment- pollution’, Cool Antarctica, http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/science/threats_pollution.php

‘Gallery: Ülgen Semerci’ (2015), Dime & Honey,  https://www.dimeandhoney.com/art/ulgen-semerci

[dreamaside]

brock davis' bizarre and brain-bending works for banksy's dismaland

earlier this year, in the british seaside town of weston-super-mare, banksy opened dismaland — a dark and twisted art-themed bemusement park. the elusive street artist invited renowned creatives from across the world to create installations and exhibitions of their work on the occasion of the opening.

american artist brock davis is one of the featured participants, and is presenting a selection of his bizarre and brain-bending works works for dismaland. the selected pieces comprise both old and new photographic works, sculptures and a photographic series. from a fleshy can of sculptural soda to a high-heeled ice cream shoe, the presented images embody davis’ sense of humor, wit, and reinterpretation of the norm.

[bandedesquatres]

Need to try this — 'blow dough' inflated pastries made from fresh herbs and juices. By Omar Polak and Michal Evytar 

[guy60660]

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec | Pascal Rivet | Designbloom

[hm-reckoner-blog]

'bench2' by schemata architects

[crescentandmain]

A Window Apart

My personal design taste differs largely based on environment. I love a black + white New England home the same as I do a shingle side home in East Hampton, a Parisian pied-a-terre, or a post-modern glass enclosed home in Finland. This gorgeous home in Espoo was designed by Helin & Co. Architects and functions as residence and showroom for the company Woodnotes. 

While the kitchen & bedroom are too austere for me, this view of the living area knocked my socks off.

A bedroom window to die for.

You can read more about this home from its source: designbloom.

[countrygirlblogs-blog]

Infrared Conflict - Richard Mosse

Irish-born photographer Richard Mosse has a rare perspective on a part of our world that remains mired in tragedy.  Mosse has traveled through the Democratic Republic of the Congo to document an on-going conflict that includes child soldiers, sexual violence and a death toll that some estimates place as high as 5.4 million.  To capture the scenery of this war-torn environment, Mosse employs an old technology once used for military surveillance in decades past.  These images were produced with the Kodak Aerochrome infrared film technology that exposes the scene with lush pinks and empty greys, a contrast that imposes a strange beauty on an unfortunate subject.  Mosse’s photographs continue to grow in popularity, presenting a new lens on a topic that most would prefer to ignore.  [via designboom]

[kristinairl-blog]

Research

Bik Van der Pol Are you really sure that a floor can’t also be a ceiling?

MACRO, Museum of Contemporary Art, Rome ENEL 2010 award, 2010

Van der Pol’s installation explores the effect that climate change has on butterflies, being the most sensitive and prominent indicator of the various effects occurring to ecological environments and species (Bik Van der Pol). The installation is named after an M.C Escher quotation, with the structure based on modern architectural icon; the farnsworth house by Mies Van der Rohe 1952. The investigation between man and nature's relationship is portrayed as interdependent in a sense, with natural environments influenced by human activities, and the natural environment affected by a small chain of events in the ecosystem resulting from a butterfly (Bik Van der Pol).

“the works of bike van der pol are systematically connected with the creation of new architectural forms, often making use of temporary constructions that offer new spaces of public interaction. their projects bear witness to reflection, with a lasting impact on the host communities. this long-term effect amplifies the importance of the artistic interventions, turning them into a true resource that stimulates the collective imagination and critical reflection in the in the society”. – Hou Hanru, chair and director of exhibitions and public programs at the art institute in San Francisco

I want my work to depict this sense of interdependence, but also a sense of in balance and strain on this relationship. Rather than preservation, my instillation will eventually no longer exist (as all the ice will melt) remaining will be the human destruction of litter.  

Courtesy of Macro

Courtesy of Macro

Bik Van der Pol, (n.d) http://bikvanderpol.net/122/are_you_really_sure_that_a_floor_cant_also_be_a_ceiling/

Nicoletta db,Bik van der pol: butterfly house at MACRO (2010), designbloom,

https://www.designboom.com/art/bik-van-der-pol-butterfly-house-at-macro/