ARTIST AND THE MACHINE: FT. NINOCENCE

Happy Thursday, Cyborgs.

Welcome to Artist and The Machine, a bi-weekly download of AI and culture. Every other week, we feature an artist at the helm of today’s paradigm shift, highlighting the magical synergy between creator & technology.

Today’s edition is particularly special, as we feature the brilliant artist NINOCENCE, one of the participating artists in our ORGASM, ACTIVATED collection - a series of 5 bespoke 1:1 artworks commissioned by NARS Cosmetics in partnership with leading digital art marketplace Superrare, featuring leading digital artists at the forefront of identity and self-expression, inspired by the iconic shade of Orgasm (VIEW ON SUPERRARE HERE)

FEATURING: NINOCENCE 👽

Q: Can you give us a bit of background on your journey as an artist and how you got here.

I've always been attracted to technology, art, and fashion and finding ways to combine them. Since a young age, I've been obsessed with creating images. I remember having my first film camera when I was around 6, and I would shoot everything I saw, never letting the camera out of my hands. As I grew older, I developed a passion for music and fashion industry and started my career as a model. Later on, I developed into photography and directing, working on shorts, music videos and commercials. One particular encounter with a photographer who used 3D in her art of me back in 2009 piqued my curiosity about it. However, it wasn't until 2015, when I moved to the US and began a 3D interior design job, that I had my first personal experience with digital graphics. Despite this exposure, I didn't fully comprehend how to integrate 3D into my art beyond that one specific use of virtual staging. During the pandemic, I finally had the opportunity to dive deeper into learning the 3D and avatar process - avatars felt natural to me because of my work with human faces from portraiture photography and that inspired me to start my Digital Avatar Incubator Lilium Labs. Which led me into the Web3 space that has profoundly transformed my life - it has made me much more independent as an artist and exposed my art to a new audience.

Q: Tell us a bit about your process in creating the artwork for today’s ORGASM, ACTIVATED launch. Is there a workflow that you are particularly proud of that involves AI or another related toolset? How did you go about creating the artwork itself, and then translate it into an experiential AR filter that allows others to self-express in the context of your creation?

A: I've utilized AI mostly at the concepting stage for this project, specifically Midjourney - I use numerous AI tools in my work on an everyday basis. These tools have been instrumental in organizing my thoughts and ideas, allowing me to transform them into creations that truly resonate with me. During the creative process, a simple, striking yet empowering shape representing the female body caught my attention, perfectly aligning with NARS Orgasm concept and vibe.

Recreating the idea in 3D involved a complex multi-step process, utilizing different devices, technologies, and software. I sculpted the shape using various 3D programs like Nomad and Z Brush, with additional fine-tuning achieved through sculpting in a VR headset for intricate facial details. Later, I textured it separately and designed a fully rigged avatar in preparation for the animation. It was truly enjoyable to experiment with different makeup looks on the avatar and bring all the pieces together, culminating in the harmonious fusion of all the artistic elements.

Q: What are some of your favorite artworks you’ve created that involve AI?

These pieces below represent some of my early work in MidJourney 2.0, and to this day, still some of my favorite AI work. The young AI brain's lack of training resulted in a quite creative generative outputs, unbound by limitations of conventional shapes and definitions. I've always enjoyed discussing the concept of post-humanism in my work - the merge of the human and the machine. My fascination lies in envisioning a transhuman heaven and the boundless possibilities of a future where man and machine coexist in beautiful harmony with advanced technologies.

Next, these artworks below were crafted with the purpose of creating press imagery for my EP releases, using Stable Diffusion and Lensa, totally defying all their conventional rules. I morphed my real photographs with unconventional makeup and eccentric 3D shapes, merging them with my avatar's renders to explore how AI envisions a love child between my physical self and my digital twin:

These are some of my latest creations in Midjourney 5.2 utilizing infinite zoom feature and face swap with my photographs on some of them. I’ve been always inspired by chimeras - the fusion of human and animal, I particularly focused on a scorpion theme in these. Soon, I'll be releasing a full series dedicated to these artworks. I find great inspiration and excitement in the blend of organic and mechanical elements, crafting a high fashion and cinematic sci-fi vibe with multi-racial influences, particularly drawing from my half-Asian heritage, which adds a truly personal touch to my work and reflects my artistic identity well.

Q: How do you see AI helping artists vs. being a hindrance or competitor?

A: AI plays a transformative role for artists, it’s just a tool much like how cameras and Photoshop are for photographers. This perception of AI being a hindrance or a competitor arises from a lack of willingness to embrace education and self-improvement. In modern days, with such easy access to information, people have the potential to become unstoppable, yet many fail to take the initiative to advance their skills.

This inescapable progress has engulfed us all, and it is here to stay. So we must be willing to adapt swiftly to technological innovations and AI's immense potential. It can be a highly valuable and game-changing tool. Once we as humans can automate mundane tasks that shouldn't occupy our time, I’m sure AI can liberate us to focus on generating better creative ideas and utilizing that freed up extra time on solving new problems.

Just like any tool, AI can brings harm in the hands of a person with malicious intentions. As artists, we have an exciting future of innovation to explore, pushing boundaries and embracing the potential of AI to augment our creative endeavors. Embracing AI and harnessing its capabilities can propel us to unimaginable heights in the artistic realm.

Thank you, NINOCENCE! Follow her journey here :)

ARTIST AND THE MACHINE is a newsletter on the latest in AI x culture, featuring one cutting-edge artist every other week. Subscribe so you never miss an issue, and if you’re feeling inspired, and share with 2-3 friends! And send us some feedback :)

xx Dani Van de Sande & Team ULO

About the Author

Hello, and thanks for reading! I’m Dani, and I was inspired to create Artist and The Machine from the belief that technology is about more than just utility - it has the power to unlock humanity’s creative potential. I consider myself an artist without a medium, and so I’m on a quest to uncover the power of AI and new toolsets (ie “the “machine”) to unlock my own, and everyone else’s, creative expression.

On the career front - I’ve been tinkering around with digital art, blockchain, and growth marketing since 2013, and have had the privilege of helping global brands such as Snap Inc, Whalerock, NARS/Shiseido, Chrome Hearts, Drake, Outside Media, Art Miami and many more navigate the space. I recently started ULO (short for Unidentified Landed Object), a next-gen agency and experience studio helping brands activate compelling use cases at the intersection of innovation (Web3/AI/Immersive) and culture.

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