BHOWMIK + HAUTAMAKI

Panic Breeder

Samir Bhowmik + Jukka Hautämaki

“Panic Breeder presents a quasi-nature documentary of imaginary fantastical species as the future inhabitants of the Baltic Sea. Taking inspiration from the evolution of species theorized by Charles Darwin, it comments on the iterative and adversarial capabilities of Artificial Intelligence to probe the terrifying future of the “survival of the fakest”. The artwork uses GAN (Generative Adversarial Network), a class of machine learning systems, where two neural networks (Generative & Discriminative) compete with each other for several training sessions. The trainings utilize a large dataset of extinct and endangered birds of the Baltic Sea to generate new images.

Still from Panic Breeder, Ai-generated Video

The animation created from these fake images presents an illusory transformation and evolution of the species. Furthermore, by quantifying the energy consumption of machine learning, from among the machine-generated breeding a singular creature is manifested in physical form. In this fictional scenario, the loss of species is counter-balanced by the possibilities of AI-generated creatures to act as a temporary, if not futile antidote to climate change panic and anxiety”

--Samir Bhowmik +Jukka Hautamäki

Dr. Samir Bhowmik

Samir Bhowmik (born 1975) is a Helsinkibased multidisciplinary Finnish artist. He received a PhD (Art & Design) from Aalto University, Finland, and a Master of Architecture from the University of Maryland, United States. Samir’s artistic research project “Imaginary Natures: Extractive Media & the Cultural Memory of Environmental Change” (Kone Foundation) examines media cultures of extraction through artistic and critical AI practices. Samir teaches New Media, Infrastructures and Environment at the Aalto School of Arts, Design & Architecture.

Jukka Hautämaki

Jukka Hautamäki is a Finnish media artist (MFA), based in Helsinki, Finland. He works with AI, lens-based media, sound and electronics. The works are presented in the form of an installation and generative media art works. The installations reflect on the construction and repetition of AI and digitally generated images.

Recent exhibitions include a solo show at Gallery MUU (2020), Gallery Forum Box (2018). His works and collaborations have been featured in NeurIPS Creativity Workshop in Montreal, HIAP, Mustarinda, Field_Notes by Bio Art Society, AAVE Festival, RIXC Festival in Riga, Pixelache Festival, Hackteria - Biohack retreat in Klontale, HORSEANDPONY Fine Arts in Berlin, Kunsthalle Helsinki, Skaftfell Center for Arts Project Space in Seydisfjordur and Avatar Center in Quebec. 14