The PopGen
Project - Make the machine do the work!
PopGen is a term that refers to
population-based recruitment of patients and controls for the
analysis of complex genotype-phenotype relationships in the medical
research field. This art project paraphrases the term into a populous
aggregation of images relating to art and culture that examines how
humans interpret complex visual information when juxtaposed with
visual cliches relating to popular culture and technological change.
It uses the juxtaposition of seemingly random or opposing imagery to
create a new reality.
The base images are initially created
with net.art generator (NAG), a computer program which collects and
recombines images from the Internet to create a new image based on
search terms. These are then assembled into metamontages in
Photoshop. Clip art images with transparent backgrounds are sourced
from Pngimg.com, a free Creative Commons library and then overlayed
into the finished piece.
The PopGen Project was developed as part of my current investigations into generative systems and art. It is featured as my contribution to The Perfect Users 2019 Pavilion as part of The Wrong Biennale. I am honoured to be included among some of the best digital artists working today. The exhibition will also have a physical presence at the Anno Domini Gallery in San Jose, California next year from April 3 2020.