Neural Drawings

Neural Drawings is a series of hand printed artworks that began in late 2021. The initial idea for this series took inspiration from Santiago Ramón Cajal’s illustrations of neurones. This body of work also builds on earlier personal thoughts revolving around the theme of memory and emotion. I'm interested in the role that emotion has to play in memory and consequently how we construct as well as deconstruct thoughts. These ideas are accompanied by my readings of Antonio Damasio, Oliver Sacks, Robert Sapolsky and Lisa Feldman Barrett.

On a technical level, these works combine traditional generative algorithms with contemporary machine learning techniques. To create these images I first write my own computer programs in order to produce a variety of visual outputs. These outputs are then fed into a generative adversarial network in order to explore the formal structures and apply stylistic features that include hand-drawn graphic elements. Finally, each image is exported as a physical object using a laser cutter, creating a matrix with which prints were produced using a traditional etching press.

The particularity of this process is in mixing a variety of techniques both old and new. The creation of the image starts from a very abstract idea and develops from concept to text (as code) to digital form and eventually finding its final state as a printed work of art. Each of these processes make for a unique artwork.