Press X to… is a series of photographs, staged physically, captured digitally and then translated through varying degrees of both analog and digital media and materials. Spurred by the debate within the computer sciences against the rise of the “one model to rule them all” approach to machine learning and artificial intelligence. The work explores whether it is possible to create a truly empathetic model of artificial intelligence.
The work is a series staged self portraits with the artist real world performance companion; a mechanical great white shark (Baby) in a studio to resemble early video game screens similar to that of Tamagotchis and Pokemon. Using the artists’ own absurd binary of characters; a cow and a shark, coming from the colloquial saying that “you are more likely to be killed by a cow than a shark”. The cow and the shark act as binary figures on many levels including the differences in their environmental needs and social behaviours, as grazing herd animals vs solitary predators. Without the intervention of humans they would have no reason to interact or become aware of one another. The still image behaves as an open generative prompt for the viewer's imagination. The model created within this image generates an endless loop of images within each individual viewer’s mind that only they can see, each new image unique in how the shape of their own minds has interpreted the prompt.
Press X to… in its various mediums was exhibited as part of the artists graduating honours body of work Bedtime Stories for Tired Bots at the Australian National University School of Art and Design, winning the Peter and Lena Karmel Anniversary award for the most outstanding graduating body of work.