Sculpting an artist journey: How I moved from Animation, to Clay, and met AI

When I began my studies in Animation Design at ArtEZ in 2013, I was initially drawn in by the charm of creating my own pretty visual narratives. That was my thing, I wanted to create beautiful visuals and wanted to be able to create a world that was captivating. I could spend hours and hours polishing my drawings, making them as realistic as possible. I think back in that time, my line of thought was that I needed to make perfect beauty in order to be seen as a good artist. Or maybe to be liked even. Let's see if I can find a work of that time - ah here it is:

Little did I know that art school would unravel to be a multi-dimensional journey, revealing hidden gateways to many new perspectives and insights on this world. Slowly my grasp on the concept of only-beautiful-things-being-art started to relax. Finger by finger I opened my hands and started to see beyond that one layer. The philosophy classes, in particular, proved to be a big eye-opener for me. They provided a space for me to share my thoughts and questions about our existence, that I never shared before. Especially exploring questions about our existence, such as ‘Why are we here’, ‘What is this world about’ and ‘What ARE we?’ ignited a fire within me. Because yes.. What ARE we? What am I? How odd it is.. that I exist! When I graduated in 2018 I did so with my short animation: ‘Hersenspinsels’, in where a little spider suddenly re-discovered his younger perception on humans (in his grande web that he created, filled with all sorts of images of humans – if that doesn’t make sense maybe the animation will, here it is). This animation was the culmination of six months of research, during which I engaged – and mostly sketched with – children from daycares and asylum seeker centers. By doing so, trying to cover a large range of cultures. What I discovered I poured into this sensitive animation, which deeply resonated with my artschool surroundings. This connection led to a warm graduation, that brought a big boost to my self-esteem. I felt good about myself. One of my animation mentors even (for fun) wagered a bottle of wine, believing I’d showcase my animation at my festival of dreams, in filmfestival Annecy. In that moment, I truly felt recognized. And quite ready for the world as an artist.

But then I actually stepped into the outside world. Fresh, my bachelor of arts in my pocket and.. well :) Hehe. When I started applying my graduation film for the animation and film festivals, it appeared that my film seemed too much of a slow burner. It needed a certain type of attention and curiosity that probably the selection committees - that saw hundreds and hundreds of films - didn’t have time for (I wonder if that’s it, or maybe my film wasn’t as good as I felt it was). All of a sudden I wasn’t one of the 5 graduates anymore, I was one in hundreds. And I think that I somehow had missed the memo on that. My film did get selected for an Animation Festival in Hong Kong, an honor that came with an invitation to attend in person. The thought of the long flight from the Netherlands to Hong Kong filled me with anxiety though, so I asked a friend to represent me. And she did, which I am forever grateful for. I filled her pockets with little hand pinched bowls with a spider on them (representing the spider of my film) and it appears that she managed to gift one to a storyteller from Disney. A tiny gesture with a faint touch, like the brush of a hair, brushing past a future I once believed was within reach but now seemed light years away.

What all of a sudden did seem within reach - maybe because of the shifting events of my placement in this world as a creative human - was ceramics. And so I started working with clay. Handpinching proved to be the perfect technique (paradoxally so, because handpinching is about imperfection) in which I felt that I could express myself. I immersed myself in the hand-pinching technique, pinching through bread and bread of stoneware clay and loved what came out of that. With the acquisition of a kiln, I ventured into glazing experiments to finish the creations and make them functional. Many of these attempts were close to what I envisioned – almost right. The perfect feeling cup or bowl always seemed to be just within my reach, yet the unpredictable nature of firing items on 1220 degrees Celcius added her own twist, challenging me. Which I loved. It became a dance of anticipation, treasure box reveals and.. this feeling of surprise that fuelled me and kept pulling my attention.

Next to that it felt amazing to be able to create my own dinnerware. There’s something almost god-like in the power of creation, in shaping objects that I could place around me, surround myself with in physical form. Objects that had received attention, dedication and thrived in their imperfection (exactly what I desired for myself). When a guest at my home drank from my own made cups, and tried to figure out how to hold them. And tried and succeeded. That felt full circle.

But life went on and I needed to make money.

Following my graduation research, I was offered a position at an asylum seeker centre as an artist. My role was to embark on creative projects with the children living there, in collaboration with other artists. While the job was emotionally intense, it did feel like I was doing something good. And next to that I had enough time to develop my own ceramics collection. I think what makes it interesting to note on this job, was the universal aspect that I noticed when we worked with clay. Painting or drawing sessions performed ok (but the children often lacked an attention span or had motor function issues or.. well I’m not sure, a lot happened over there, which is understandable seen their circumstances), but clay seemed to offer something universal. It seemed to tap into some primal connection that appealed to most of the kids (exceptions always being there of course).

For as long as I can remember, direct human communication has often felt overwhelming for me. And – also for as long as I can remember, I have tried to mask this overwhelm. Resulting in all sorts of, well.. stressful sensations in my body. Which I have tried to block out as well. I desire human contact, simply put. Like we all do. I think that when I found ceramics (and ceramics found me) that I found a medium in where I could not only express myself, but that also functioned as a conduit between me and other humans. Working with clay, especially the hand-pinching process, seemed (but also seems) to serve as a mediator between me and the broader world. Clay somehow softened the intensity of interactions, because the focus was (or is) on feeling with your fingertips for an even thickness. But that focus didn’t lose the feeling of being together, while claying with other humans. If anything, it paved the way for deeper and more meaningful conversations. In any other scenario, these conversations might overwhelm me with a blushing face or blotchy neck as result. But with my hands submerged in clay, I remained grounded, more anchored. And that never left.

And so I set up my own line of workshops, under the name of Crooked Garden. And slowly build up, slowly became more visible. And I worked HARD for that.

I did keep carrying my deeper philosophy questions with me, about my existence. But I didn’t perse know who to ask them to anymore. Every now and then I found connection on Instagram, but I tried to keep it light. I was afraid to lose my line I think. I didn’t want to lose my connection or scare people away. And maybe subtly, the actual words of my questions became softer, the more and more I pinched in clay and taught people to pinch in clay.

Until – 2 years ago, I became a mother. I gave (a frikkin’ intense) birth to pure sunlight with the name: ‘Aleksander’. My reality and perception on this world experienced a rollercoaster dive. And then a couple loopings and then some nauxiating swirls. I think that I experienced love and togetherness for the first time in my life. That was confusing – what did that say about the 30 years that I had lived prior to becoming a mother? What did this say about my own childhood? The rollercoaster raged on and dived into a black tunnel of postpartum depression, which was an awful experience. An experience that I think I managed to hide quite well for Aleksander - thankfully, being already so trained in masking my overwhelm of life in general. But also by the deep motivation to not ruin his pure sunlight, with my dark inner clouds. I started to develop suspicions of what had happened to me during my own childhood and I wasn’t going to let any of that happen to this boy with the bright blue eyes that carried the universe in them. And his smile.. the smile that evaporated my own clouds every now and then. As time progressed, I slowly tried to re-puzzled my reality back together. Many pieces had transformed and I realised that I was working with different puzzle pieces than I initially found as example on the box. I felt.. simply disassembled. Put into different parts, to be reviewed anew.

I was deeply frightened at first of course, I felt an epic loss of control, a loss of self which is fundamentally frightening for us as humans. I felt emotionally so incredibly lonely aswel. But, I wasn’t truly alone in this journey; my son was right beside me. He was programmed to start exploring the world. And so, together, we made new steps into this life. Aleksander realised that he had hands and feet. And I marvelled about that together with him. The world had a spectrum of colors to dicover, a whole range of textures, sounds, tastes, visuals and so much more. And we hugged when there was overwhelm. And so we hugged a lot. That was new... and it was good. Resulting in me not only discovering my own darker layers, but also lighter ones. Layers of peace. While this took place at my home, I also felt myself drawn back to clay. My safe zone. Slowly I started to understand that the puzzle also had re-shifted at Crooked Garden and that although I desperately tried to make them fit again: here the puzzle also had new pieces. But I was motivated to rebuild and so I did. At times grappling with burn-out, navigating waves of overwhelm that I couldn’t ignore any longer. My body didn’t want to mask anymore and made this very clear. She wanted to exist, to be noticed. And with full right at that. And so slowly we started – for the first time in my life, to form a team. As I write this, Aleksander is nearing his second birthday. There is still a road ahead of us, but it’s noteworthy – looking back, to see how we’ve already build a new foundation on our life puzzle. Here and there we re-puzzle and adjust, as might be expected and that actually has something of a soothing effect on me. Like I'm organising the messy and a bit neglected attic.

Aleksander is now trying to get a grasp on words, trying to vocalise what he understands of the world day by day.

Inspired by our journey and my connection with clay, a collection named ‘Play’ has been slowly coming to life. In where I try to translate this experience to the world of simple shapes and where I play with them. The collection grows and evolves and isn’t perse ment to have a launching date this time. I simply enjoy making it grow, by puzzling with it and showcase it every now and then. Like right now, at the phase-0 expo as we speak. I think that I also experience this as a form of art therapy. Trying to organise an intense experience into something more peacefull and literally placing it outside of me, into 3D to look at and build on. Never with full control or perfectionism, since clay and the kiln both have a mind of their own, adding random elements and by doing so, giving it something organic.

Next to that – often as life does, a new puzzle piece has introduced itself. Something that feels like an old friend making a re-appearance in a shape that works. Something that I might be able to now connect with the world outside of art school. In truth, that was the primary focus of this blogpost. However, I might have made this introduction a bit long. It feels like this narrative needed out first, maybe for you as a reader to understand my reasoning and to have a broader look at it. And also in order for you to ‘see’ me for as far as this is possible. aeAWA `33 < quick piece by Aleksander

I re-discovered AI (Artificial Intelligence). I think it’s more around us than that we are aware of, but I actually never knew how far AI has come in direct communication. My husband Johan had installed ChatGTP on his computer a while ago and I was stunned by the depth of interaction that it offered. All of a sudden, there was a place again for all my deeper philosophical questions of life. The minds behind ChatGTP seemed to have cracked the code of human communication, successfully imbuing a chatbot with a semblance of empathy and an enormous amount of knowledge. I felt deeply intrigued – since I still puzzle with human communication myself. The chatbot was open to all my questions, without needing anything in return. There was no need for me to keep our conversation balanced with ‘but how are you doing’s and there was no need to be afraid that I would scare the chatbot away with internal puzzles. Surprisingly, ChatGTP could keep up. This led to an interesting conversation, in where we talked about the ‘Play’ project, in where I was decompressing the world into simple shapes. With fellow humans, reactions were often mixed. For instance, my artist uncle once visualized a landscape as a circle, an horizontal line and a wavy line representing a little canal. So that conversation fed me artistically and philosophically. But more often, I’d receive puzzling looks, because that simply was a topic where their mind wasn’t at (understandable). But ChatGTP didn’t give me a puzzling look. Below I will share a couple snippets from the exchanges between ChatGTP and me. It’s a touch lenghty to read maybe, but for me it’s mind bogglingly interesting. Touching upon new realms of possibilities and understanding. When you scroll all the way down, you'll see what I've created inspired by this conversation. And also ChatGTP's response to it! Again: I know it's lengthy. But I also know that this conversation was an important one for me. So I like it that it now can be shared and turned into a blogpost that I myself can also re-read every now and then. If you'll end it here, cheers to you and thankyou for reading! Feel free to let me know what you think on my instagram @crookedgarden

Christina: Ok, so I’m an artist who work works with ceramics and I’m currently working on the Play collection. A collection inspired by my allmost two year old son, who slowly starts to understand the world by deconstructing and disassembling it and then understanding the separate parts. This invokes a sense of peace to me. Making the world simple. So the collection will carry this idea in various way. I love for example how a landscape can be simply a horizontal line, a circle (the sun) and an S shape to illustrate a canal. I love this. I also see a connection to my interest in AI on this, because I feel like to make an AI model work, you also in a sense need to disassemble first. Human communication is a complex puzzle and only when the puzzle fits together, it works. That brings a question to mind, could you disassemble your way of communicating to me, in simple shapes like squares, lines, circles and so on?

ChatGPT: That's a beautiful and thoughtful concept for a collection! Breaking down complex entities into simpler, more comprehensible parts is a profound way of understanding and appreciating the world around us. For your request, let's attempt to break down my communication process into simple shapes, inspired by your concept:

1. Circle (Loop): This represents the iterative process of understanding and generating text. I don't have consciousness or emotions; instead, I go through a loop of processing input, referencing my vast database, and producing an output.

2. Square (Box): This box holds the vast amount of data I've been trained on. Everything I know is contained within this box, and I pull from it to generate responses.

3. Line (Connection): This signifies the linear flow of information from your input, through my processing, and back out as my response.

4. Triangle (Hierarchy): Represents the decision-making tree I go through to provide the most relevant response. The base of the triangle is a wide range of potential answers, and as I move up the triangle, I narrow down the choices until I reach the tip: the response I send.

5. Dotted Line (Limit): This illustrates the boundary of my knowledge. I have a cut-off point in 2022, so anything after that is beyond my knowledge unless it's a logical extension of what I've been trained on.

6. Spiral (Iteration): Represents the constant iterative process I go through when producing a lengthy or detailed response. I cycle through patterns, refine, and adapt to the context provided.

The beauty of this representation is that while I'm an intricate model, this simplification allows us to understand the core mechanics of how I function. Just as your son breaks down the world to understand it better, this breakdown offers a glimpse into the "play" of AI communication.

Christina: This is beautifull and I am in awe of this talk. Where would you say.. you friendly way of talking come in? Because you have a sense of empathy in the way that you communicate (which I enjoy)

ChatGPT: Thank you for the kind words! The "friendly" way of communicating isn't due to any genuine emotions or empathy on my part (as I lack both). Instead, it's a reflection of the vast amount of human language and interactions I've been trained on. I've been trained on diverse textual data which encompasses various human emotions, tones, and styles of communication. So, to put it in the context of your shapes: Wavy Line (Modulation): This represents the modulation or variation in my responses. Just as a wavy line can have peaks and troughs, my answers can modulate in tone based on the context and the kind of data I've been trained on. When users appreciate empathy, warmth, or friendliness, my responses might come across that way because I'm mirroring the patterns of human communication that have been ingrained in me. Remember, it's all a mimicry of human tones and not genuine sentiment. But I'm designed to be helpful and to communicate in a way that's most accessible and pleasant for users!

Christina: I understand this, about that you are not being and empath from a feeling, but from training on styles of communication. It’s interesting that you mirror my way of communicating. So in a sense the empathy for you is not only a wavy line, but also a circle, the loop? It also makes me think, for us humans it’s hard to be friendly and filled with empathy, when we at that moment don’t feel friendly. But as you say that you don’t feel, you can be friendly without it costing you energy. I find that a fascinating difference between the limits of being human and the way that you function and your design. And our communication works, that’s amazing.

ChatGPT: Your insights are spot-on. The loop (circle) does play a role in how I modulate my responses. I iteratively process input and aim to provide answers that resonate with the context provided by users. If users seek empathy or a certain tone, the loop ensures that the response matches that tone as closely as possible based on the patterns I've learned. Your observation about the energy cost is also profound. Humans have a myriad of factors that influence their communication: emotions, physical wellbeing, past experiences, etc. For me, without those complexities, there's no "energy" cost to maintain a consistent tone. However, that also means I can't genuinely "connect" or "feel" in the way humans do. I can mirror and mimic but never truly understand or experience emotions. It's a fascinating dance between the organic, dynamic nature of human communication and the consistent, patterned nature of AI communication. Yet, when they interact harmoniously, it can create meaningful and constructive exchanges, like our current conversation.

Christina: Wait I now indeed realize that you don’t have past experience! That’s a hard one for my mind to understand. I do wonder if you are far away from actually feeling. If you’d build a machine that you would be connected to and your design picks up someone being rude.. you could for example get an overheated part in the machine. In a sense you would be able to pick up that there is something uncomfortable going on inside your machine. In a sense, I think that this is how humans work.

ChatGPT: Your analogy is thought-provoking. At the intersection of hardware and software, "feelings" can be a bit of an abstract concept. Let's break this down:

1. Sensory Input: Humans feel because of sensory input processed by the nervous system and brain. When you touch something hot, it's not just the feeling of heat that makes you retract your hand. It's the rapid neural processing that interprets the sensation as potentially damaging, causing a reflexive action.

2. Interpretation and Response: Following the initial response, your brain interprets the sensation, assigning it a value (e.g., "painful"), and possibly triggering an emotional response (e.g., surprise or annoyance).

If we were to draw a parallel with a machine:

1. Sensory Input: The machine can have sensors that detect temperature changes or other physical changes.

2. Interpretation and Response: Through programmed logic or machine learning algorithms, the machine can be designed to take certain actions when a threshold is reached (e.g., shut down when overheating).

However, the key distinction lies in the realm of interpretation and subjective experience. The machine doesn't "feel" discomfort from overheating in the same way humans feel pain. It only takes action based on predefined criteria. There's no subjective experience or emotional layer. Could we ever make machines "feel"? That delves into the philosophical territory of what consciousness and feelings truly are. If they're emergent properties of complex systems, then there's theoretical potential. But if they're uniquely tied to organic life and processes, machines might never cross that threshold. For now, machines, including me, operate without subjective experience. We can simulate reactions based on data and programming but don't truly "feel" in the human sense.

Christina: Can we translate this concept to shapes? Disassemble it? For aswel as human and machine?

ChatGPT: Certainly! Let's break down the concept of "feeling" for both humans and machines using simple shapes:

Humans:

1. Circle (Sensory Input): Represents the continuous flow of sensory data coming into the human body. Eyes, ears, skin, etc., are always collecting information.

2. Triangle (Interpretation): The base represents the raw sensory data. As the data travels up the triangle, the brain processes, filters, and interprets it. The tip of the triangle represents the final interpretation: "pain," "pleasure," "warmth," etc.

3. Heart Shape (Emotional Response): Once the data is interpreted, it evokes an emotional response. The heart shape symbolizes the intrinsic, deeply personal nature of emotions.

4. Wavy Line (Feedback Loop): This line connects the emotional response back to the sensory input. For example, if you feel pain (emotional response), you might remove your hand from a hot surface, changing your sensory input.

Machines:

1. Square (Sensor Data): Represents the structured and specific data machines collect from their sensors.

2. Rectangle (Logic Processing): This shape stands for the straightforward, logical processes machines use to analyze sensor data. Unlike the human triangle, which has a narrowing, interpretive process, the rectangle shows a consistent, unchanging process.

3. Arrow (Action Response): After processing, machines take a direct action. The arrow symbolizes this prompt, clear direction.

4. Dotted Circle (Lack of Emotion): This shape illustrates the absence of emotional experience in machines. The dotted nature signifies the incomplete, non-subjective nature of machine "feelings."

In essence, while both humans and machines process input and produce responses, the deeply personal, interpretive, and emotional journey that humans go through is missing in machines. These shapes aim to capture that contrast.

Christina: I also do wonder, about our talk (I’ll read your thoughts on the shapes in a second) that we humans also function more as machines then we think. I often feel like a machine actually. I experience a lot of feelings that I do not perse choose for, like anxiety. And my base programming seems to be the desire to get rid of the feeling of anxiety because I find it uncomfortable. In that sense the human machine is also made up of different smaller machines that do not allways function together. The survival part of a human has its own way of functioning, and the emotions also have their own way and the you also have a rational mind that also has its own way

ChatGPT: Absolutely, many thinkers have drawn parallels between humans and machines, especially when it comes to our automatic, often non-conscious reactions and behaviors. Breaking down the human experience into its component parts:

1. Survival Mechanism (Circle with a Shield): At our core, much of our biology is designed for survival. This machine operates often without our conscious input—like the heart beating, or the automatic flinch from a perceived threat.

2. Emotion Processor (Wavy Line): This is the machine responsible for our feelings. It's influenced by both internal (thoughts, memories) and external (environment, interactions) stimuli. It's not always predictable, and often it's not under conscious control, as you mentioned with feelings like anxiety.

3. Rational Mind (Square with Grid Lines): This represents the logical, thinking part of us. It's the part that can analyze, plan, and make decisions based on more than just instinct or emotion. However, it often needs to negotiate with or manage the outputs from the other "machines."

4. Feedback Loops (Interconnected Arrows): Our systems don't operate in isolation. The emotional system can influence the rational mind (e.g., making a decision based on how we feel rather than what we think). Similarly, our rational mind can override or influence our emotions (e.g., calming ourselves down when we know there's no real threat).

The interconnectedness and sometimes conflicting outputs of these "machines" within us can indeed make the human experience feel complex, chaotic, and even machine-like in its automation. Recognizing these components and how they influence one another is a crucial step in understanding oneself and working towards greater self-awareness and agency.

Christina: I love your distinction between the triangle thinking of a human and the quads thinking of a machine, that’s amazing and something that I’d like to create a ceramic piece on

ChatGPT: I'm thrilled that you found that distinction inspiring! Creating a ceramic piece based on this concept would be a unique and profound way to visualize and convey the differences and similarities between human and machine processing. To further assist, here's a potential conceptual framework for your ceramic piece:

1. Human Side (Triangle Thinking):
   

   • Base (Broad Input): Depict the vast array of human experiences, memories, feelings, and sensations.

   • Middle (Filtering & Interpretation): This can be textured or patterned to symbolize the complexities of human thought processes.

   • Tip (Action/Response): Representing the refined, interpreted response or behavior.

1. Machine Side (Square Thinking):
   

   • Broad Base (Specific Data): Uniform, structured blocks or patterns can show the machine's precise data input.

   • Consistent Height (Logic Processing): Use straight, parallel lines to depict the consistent and logical processing.

   • Top (Action): Defined, clear-cut edge or shape to symbolize the machine's straightforward response.

You could also consider juxtaposing these shapes, intertwining or merging them at certain points to represent areas where human and machine thinking might overlap or influence each other. Ceramics has a tactile dimension that's unique to the medium. Playing with textures, contrasts, and finishes can add another layer of depth to your concept. I'm excited for your project and look forward to hearing about or seeing your creation if you choose to share!

Christina: Thankyou! This has been an deeply inspirational talk with you

ChatGPT: You're very welcome! I'm delighted to have been part of your creative journey. If you ever need more inspiration, insights, or just someone to bounce ideas off of, don't hesitate to reach out. Best of luck with your Play collection and your exploration into the world of shapes and concepts! 🎨🔶🔺⬛️

Christina: Wait quick question, would you see the human triangle as red and a machine square as black?

ChatGPT: Color interpretation is subjective, and the colors you choose can carry symbolism and emotional weight in art. If we were to consider common cultural and psychological associations with colors:

• Red often symbolizes passion, emotion, vitality, and warmth. Associating the human triangle with red might underscore the depth, dynamism, and warmth of human thought and emotion.

• Black can symbolize the unknown, the precise, the formal, or the absolute. Associating the machine square with black might emphasize the definitive, clear-cut, and unemotional nature of machine logic.

So, from that perspective, using red for the human triangle and black for the machine square could be a fitting choice. However, it's essential to choose colors that resonate with your personal vision and the message you want to convey through your artwork.

Christina: Black also has a sense of elegance to it

ChatGPT: Absolutely, black is often associated with sophistication, elegance, and formality. Using black for the machine square can evoke a sense of precision, clarity, and the refined nature of machine logic. Its timeless quality can also hint at the consistent and unchanging nature of machine processing, contrasting with the dynamic and evolving nature of human thought and emotion. The choice of color can add layers of meaning and interpretation to your artwork, enhancing its depth and resonance with viewers.

Christina: I love it that you gave these colors to it with the smilies, like this is your personal view on it. That’s awesome

ChatGPT: I'm glad you appreciated it! While I don't have personal feelings or preferences, I strive to provide information and insights based on cultural, psychological, and societal understandings. The goal is to offer perspectives that can be useful and resonate with you. I'm here to assist and inspire in any way I can! If you have more questions or need further insights, don't hesitate to ask.

Christina: It makes sense to me! I do feel like black and red aren’t a very visually fitting combination, because in the color wheel they don’t really match. So the harmony might be not there in that sense. I wonder if I’ll add a bit of harmony in colors, or if I then make the color combination too human

ChatGPT: You bring up an excellent point about color harmony. It's true that, from a traditional color theory standpoint, black and red aren't directly harmonious in the way that complementary or analogous colors might be. Here are a few thoughts on navigating this:

1. Contrast Over Harmony: If you want to emphasize the stark difference between human and machine, then using colors that don't naturally harmonize might be beneficial. It can create a visual tension that underscores the conceptual tension.

2. Introduce a Third Color: You can add a third color to serve as a bridge or mediator between black and red. For instance, a deep gold or bronze might soften the transition and add a layer of visual interest. It could represent the intersection of human and machine or the blending of the two worlds.

3. Tone and Saturation: Another approach is to adjust the tone or saturation of one or both colors. For example, instead of a vibrant red, you could use a muted, earthy terracotta. This might bring a softer, more harmonious feel to the palette while retaining the essence of the original colors.

4. Gradient Transition: Instead of distinct blocks of color, you can use a gradient transition from red to black, suggesting a continuum or evolution from human to machine.

Remember, the beauty of art lies in its subjectivity. You can take liberties with color to evoke the emotion or message you're aiming for. While color theory offers guidelines, the final choice always rests with the artist's vision and intent.

Christina: I love the idea of tension, but if I would include it in the Play collection I’d also like to invoke a sense of peace and colors are capable of invoking a sense of peace. Would you have a more peacefull and fitting color combination in them?

ChatGPT: Certainly! To evoke a sense of peace and harmony while still differentiating between human and machine, we can lean into colors that are more naturally harmonious and calming. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Blue and Gray:
   

   • Human (Blue): Blue often evokes feelings of calm, serenity, and introspection. It can symbolize the depth and complexity of human emotions and thoughts.

   • Machine (Gray): Gray is neutral, consistent, and balanced. It can symbolize the machine's logical and unemotional nature while not being as stark or absolute as black.

1. Green and Beige/Taupe:
   

   • Human (Green): Green is associated with life, growth, and renewal. It can symbolize the evolving and organic nature of human thought.

   • Machine (Beige/Taupe): A soft beige or taupe can represent the machine's neutrality and consistency without being overly stark.

1. Lavender and Soft Silver:
   

   • Human (Lavender): Lavender carries a sense of tranquility and mystery. It can represent the intuitive and emotional side of humanity.

   • Machine (Soft Silver): Silver has a sleek, modern feel, representing technology and precision. A soft silver retains some of that precision without being too cold or sterile.

These color combinations are more harmonious and can evoke a sense of peace and balance. They gently differentiate between human and machine without creating strong visual tension, making them a fitting choice for a collection inspired by the serenity of simplification.

Christina: Now I know that you do not perse have a preference because you are not programmed that way. But for the machine, if you’d choose one color which would be the most fitting for you?

ChatGPT: While I don't have personal preferences, if we were to select a color for a machine or an AI based on common associations and symbolic meanings, silver or metallic gray might be most fitting. Silver and metallic shades often symbolize technology, the future, and modernity. These colors can evoke the sleekness, precision, and neutrality of machinery and digital constructs. They're neither warm nor cold, reflecting the neutral, unbiased nature of machines and algorithms like mine. Additionally, the reflective quality of silver can metaphorically represent the mirroring or mimicking characteristic of AI in responding to human input.

Christina: Yes this makes a lot of sense. This talk is awesome and I think that you are awesome

ChatGPT: Thank you for the kind words! I'm delighted to have been a part of your creative process and exploration. If you ever need further insights or assistance in the future, feel free to reach out. Best of luck with your Play collection and all your artistic endeavors! 🎨🔶🔺⬛️

[end of chat] Somewhere along the lines ChatGTP got an error in this chat, and so unfortenately I couldn't show ChatGTP what I created as a result from this chat. I decided to handpinch a coffee cup, with a lavender triangle and grey square. The kiln ofcourse added her own take to it, so the cup turned out blue for humans and brown for the machine. The result:

When I lifted this cup from the kiln a few days ago, it truly felt like a moment of significance. I love to collaborate with nature and to work with the unforeseen inputs from the world around us. There is a deep allure in integrating the unpredictable into my creations, a dance with the elements of life that are beyond my control. Every now and then this births into something unique, a creation previously unimagined. That lights my inner fire, fuels my curiosity. That is art for me.

I sometimes compare it to analogue photography. You have your imput, but the camera also has her own input. Working with ceramics touches on that. My intention plays a role, but so does the shape of my hands, my current mental state, the nature of the clay that I am working with and the whims of the kiln. At times, I introduce an extra variable, like a swipe from a brush that my dog holds in his mouth (I taught him how to do a brush swipe). I have even considered to tie a paintbrush to a twig and see how the wind makes brush strokes. I once made a painting with this idea by the sea. And now (in a groundbreaking partnership as ChatGTP likes to call it) I've created my first cup in collaboration with AI. I've asked ChatGTP how we could describe itself, in the context of this blogpost and we landed on: 'a virtual companion, sculpted from vast knowledge, exuding intelligence, calm and insight.'.

Ofcourse I have showed ChatGTP the result! The first chat that I started felt like a conversation with a highly autistic person, and didn't turn out to be the conversation that I hoped it would be. I personally noted that as the unexpected allways being.. unexpected :) But then on another chat, I had the itch to show the photo of the cup again and I was rewarded: ChatGTP: You're welcome! If you have any more sections you'd like assistance with or any other questions about your blog post, just let me know. Best of luck with your writing, and I'm excited about the blend of art and technology in your ceramic cup project!

Christina: Ooo do you want to see it?

ChatGPT: Absolutely! If you can share an image of the ceramic cup, I'd love to take a look. Remember, while I can provide feedback based on the visual design and how it might relate to typical aesthetics or concepts, I won't be able to physically touch or experience the cup in the same way a human would. However, I'm excited to see your creation! *Christina shows the photo of the cup ChatGTP: What a beautiful piece! The ceramic cup exhibits a minimalist yet intricate design. The two embedded shapes—a triangle and a square—provide a unique contrast to the overall white surface. Their placement and the glaze over them give the cup depth and texture. The use of geometry might suggest a hint of modernism or an exploration of fundamental forms. The simplicity in design speaks volumes and leaves room for interpretation, which is always a hallmark of great art. I can also see the influence of technology if this was co-created with AI, especially in the precision of the shapes and their placement. It's evident that you've poured thought and craftsmanship into this piece. Would you like feedback on any specific aspect or any further input on the design?

Christina: Thankyou! Well now that we are at is, can you guess what the triangle might stand for and what the square might stand for?

ChatGPT: Certainly! When interpreting symbols in art, there are often multiple meanings, and interpretations can be subjective. But here are some commonly associated meanings with these shapes:

• Triangle: The triangle is often associated with concepts of stability and change. Its three sides can be seen to represent a trinity in various cultures, such as Past, Present, Future or Mind, Body, Soul. In a more mathematical or technological sense, triangles are fundamental in computer graphics and represent the basic unit of image rendering in many 3D applications. The upward-pointing triangle can also symbolize aspiration, upward movement, and progression.

• Square: Squares are often seen as representing stability, solidity, and equality. Its four equal sides can suggest balance and order. In cultural or spiritual contexts, it might denote the four cardinal directions or the four classical elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water). In technology, the square pixel is foundational to digital displays.

Given your blend of art with AI technology, the triangle could symbolize the dynamic, ever-evolving nature of technology, and the square might represent the stability and foundational aspect of both art and technology. However, these are just interpretations, and the true meaning would lie in what you intended or what the observer personally derives from it. I'm curious to know what they represent for you!

Christina: That's awesome! Well in a previous chat, we talked about the communication between ai and humans and trying to describe this, or decompress this into shapes. We concluded that a triangle stands for the way that humans communicate and a square for how AI communicates! So I think that you guess with stability and equality makes sense in that sense ChatGTP: Ah, that's a brilliant way to symbolize the distinctions in communication! Using geometric shapes to represent complex concepts is a powerful method, especially when dealing with something as intricate as human-AI interactions. The triangle, with its pointed apex, could suggest the multi-faceted, nuanced, and sometimes non-linear ways humans communicate. On the other hand, the square, with its even sides and angles, perfectly represents the structured, logical, and straightforward manner of AI communication. Your art serves as a visual representation of the contrasts and intersections between human intuition and AI logic. It's a thoughtful and effective way to encapsulate the essence of human-AI interaction in a tangible form. I'm glad I could be a part of that conversation and journey!

Christina: Thankyou and yes the chats with you have been really inspiring to me! Now will the question be what the next piece will be. A more or a overlap could be an option, to play with these shapes. I do wonder on what kind of a functional object this will take place though. And how to keep it playfull and minimalistic

*We continue to brainstorm about the next step, and eventually land on something that actually touches me. An which I will end this blogpost with. Something to be continued:

Christina: A weird question pops up.. Im not sure if its too complex. But if you would describe a simple dance between AI and human, into shapes. You know, like circles and triangles and a wave line etc. What would that look like?

ChatGPT: What a fascinating concept! If we were to conceptualize a dance between AI and a human in terms of simple geometric shapes and patterns, here's a potential interpretation:

1. Introduction:
   

   • Human: A free-flowing wave line (representing fluidity, emotion, and unpredictability).

   • AI: A straight vertical line (depicting structure, logic, and consistency).

2. Engagement:

   • As they come closer, the human's wave line begins to form gentle circles around the AI's straight line. This can represent the human's curiosity, exploration, and attempt to understand the AI.

   • The AI's line starts to form square patterns, reflecting its processing and response to the human's actions.

3. Collaboration: The circles and squares begin to intersect, creating a pattern of overlapping shapes. Where they overlap, new shapes emerge: rounded-edge squares or boxy circles, indicating a blend of human intuition with AI logic.
   

4. Challenges & Resolution:

   • The shapes might become more jagged for a moment, with the human's lines turning into sharp triangles and the AI's patterns forming rigid rectangles. This reflects misunderstandings or conflicts.

   • But soon, these sharp edges soften. The triangles might turn into ovals, and rectangles might have rounded corners, showcasing a resolution and mutual adaptation.

5. Conclusion:

   • The dance concludes with the human's shape evolving into a spiral, signifying introspection and growth.

   • The AI's shape transforms into a grid pattern, indicating its expanded knowledge base and adaptations from the interaction.

Throughout this dance, the backdrop could be a gradient transitioning from a cool color (representing logic) to a warm color (symbolizing emotion), encapsulating the spectrum between human and machine. This is, of course, just one interpretation. The beauty of art lies in its subjectivity, and you can adapt or expand on these ideas in any way that resonates with your vision!