We’re beyond thrilled to announce the MakersPlace debut of generative photography pioneer Hein Gravenhorst and renowned contemporary artists David Young, Ganbrood, and Kevin Abosch. The artists will make their debut during Paris Photo 2024 at a special opening event on Thursday November 7 at Galerie Joseph’s Tournelles Showroom (RSVP) as part of the Exhibition From Code to Imagery, presented by digital art advisor Georg Bak and MakersPlace curator Eleonora Brizi.
“The word Photography literally means ‘drawing with light.’ It is the process of recording a two-dimensional image using light. But what if, instead of drawing with light, we draw with code and utilize the data that is all around us? Can we open up other dimensions this way? Can a machine create a photograph? That is what we’re exploring with this exhibition,” said curator Eleonora Brizi.
Hein Gravenhorst (b. 1937) is a German photographer and co-founder of Generative Photography, a genre that aims to create aesthetic structures based on defined programs. He studied at the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg and developed a systematic, experimental approach as early as the 1960s. Among other things, in 1968 he participated in the Bielefelder Kunsthaus exhibition Generative Photography, which became the namesake of a new art genre in which the photographic process does not reproduce objects but generates new forms and images.
“When talking about the evolution of AI and Post Photography, we should not forget that this whole art movement started with Generative Photography in 1968 at an exhibition at Kunsthaus Bielefeld. Hein Gravenhorst was one the visionary artists beside Gottfried Jäger, Kilian Breier and Pierre Cordier who were the founding fathers of this art movement,” said digital art advisor Georg Bak.
Also participating in the exhibition is Irish conceptual artist Kevin Abosch (b. 1969), known for his extensive work in photography, AI and blockchain. Most recently he premiered a fully AI-generated feature film “Am I?” at the Helsinki Film Festival.
American artist David Young (b. 1964) will also join the lineup. Known for his work with AI and quantum computing, Young explores how art can serve as a means to investigate the problems and imperfections of new technologies.
Rounding out the presentation is Dutch artist Bas Uterwijk AKA Ganbrood (b. 1968), whose art practice stems from a background in 3D animation, video games, and photography. Using generative adversarial networks (GAN), Ganbrood focuses on creating images that blur the line between illusion and reality, drawing from a wide range of visual art practices and influences.
New work from all four artists will be showcased at Galerie Joseph’s Tournelles Showroom from Thursday, November 7 through Sunday November 10, 2024, and will be offered for sale on MakersPlace starting Thursday, November 7 at 9am PT / 12pm ET. The opening event will also take place on Thursday, November 7 and is open to the public.
To join, please RSVP here, as space is limited.
