Frank Manzano
Faced with the incessant bombardment of audio-visual material by television and social media we often find ourselves insensitive to violence and horror. Frank Manzano's warning is therefore to touch the chords of the most desensitized men, who experience a certain sense of disorientation and loss of self. Pervaded by the exaltation of the ravine, the scenes portrayed are nothing more than a mirror of our reality, reinterpreted by the artist's visual language. Consumerism; massification; the loss of the self; the overwhelming presence of technology that controls our lives: current human conditions that, mixing with our personal stories and current circumstances, make the artist's work a satire of the age Contemporary. The human parade.
The central theme is the conflict between individual identities and collective consumerism, represented by the loss of individuality and the presence of elements of popular culture: such as screens and televisions; excessive consumption of food; or even the obsession with the body. This offers a lens through which it is possible to view the artist's work as a satire of the American Dream. The work invites viewers to reflect on the origin of the phenomenon and its social consequences in today's era.
The role of AI in this is fundamental. Art generated by AI allows the artist to build unlikely scenarios that enhance and exaggerate these elements, forcing the viewer to confront the consequences of his lifestyle.
Frank Manzano aka @loved_orleer: what does your nickname mean? Where do you come from?
My nickname, 'Loved Orleer,' has its roots in my early experiments with AI. I noticed that AI struggled with interpreting and visually representing text. Intrigued, I began to explore how different prompts influenced the rendition of letters and words. In these explorations, the AI-generated text would occasionally form shapes resembling actual letters or almost coherent words, despite anomalies like additional lines or distorted forms. One such experiment resulted in the AI creating a text that closely resembled 'loved order'. This discovery fascinated me, and I adopted 'Loved Orleer' as my new Instagram handle. The uniqueness of this name appealed to me, especially since it seemed to be one-of-a-kind globally. The name resonated with me, both for its distinctive sound and its origin in AI's interpretative quirks. It's a name that not only stands out but also encapsulates a pivotal moment in my journey with AI art.
I found your creations uncomfortable. In your works created in AI there is all the restlessness of the human race; dysmorphic bodies, electronic noises: the circus of the horror. Where does your work take inspiration from? How did you start?
Inspiration for my images emerges from the complexity of our modern information landscape. In an era where television and social media incessantly bombard us with a spectrum of imagery, from the mundane to the shocking, we often become desensitized. Yet, these images still permeate our consciousness, mingling with our personal histories and present circumstances. This inundation makes it challenging to stay fully aware of our internal processes, leading to a blurred perception of reality and our place within it.
My fascination with AI art began as a reflection on this phenomenon. AI, in its processing of vast data sets and prompts, mimics our own attempts to make sense of the world. It amalgamates and formulates ideas and images, offering a visible manifestation of this process. This exploration into AI was an evolution from my work in traditional media like photography and painting, and later, digital expressionistic animations.
My journey with AI began as a practical endeavor to streamline animation workflows, but soon, the process of generating and referencing images using AI captivated me. A two-month period of intense exploration resulted in a wealth of images, from which narratives and patterns emerged, leading to the creation of stop-animation pieces and, eventually, AI-generated videos. This progression opened new ways for presenting narratives.
The unsettling nature of some of the work, I believe, is not just a reflection of artistic intent but a mirror to our reality, expressed in a visual language that is still new and evolving.
The middle class is the subject of your works, you often portray the massification. Identities that blend into the crowd, liquefied bodies that merge with each other and become one with objects, such as televisions, screens; degradation and consumerism. Do you consider your work a contemporary satire? What is intentional and how much is random?
The portrayal of the middle class and its massification in my work is a deliberate thematic choice, reflecting on the interplay between individual identities and collective consumerism. The fusion of human forms with objects like televisions and screens is a conscious decision, symbolizing the blurring lines between self and the consumer culture.
While the core themes are intentional, the creative process involves a balance between planning and experimentation. Humor is a recurring element in my work. The prompts I use are initially broad, allowing room for evolution and refinement as the project progresses. This approach mirrors a stream of consciousness, where ideas flow and evolve naturally. Randomness plays a pivotal role in the excitement and unpredictability of the creative process. It's not just about accepting the unexpected but also about understanding and replicating it. Over time, this practice enhances my ability to predict or approximate the outcomes of the AI, though an element of surprise always remains. This interplay between intention and randomness is in my opinion, what makes AI an interesting collaborator.
Food is very present and often abundant, in access, wasted. Objects from popular culture are often present. The figures in you art are represented as lost in an orgy of food and technological machinery. Have you ever thought of your works as a satire of the American dream?
The recurring themes of food abundance and the presence of popular culture elements in my AI art indeed offer a lens through which one can view them as a satire of the American Dream. This portrayal is not incidental but a deliberate choice, reflecting on the nuances and complexities of modern society.
In my works, the juxtaposition of excessive food with figures entangled in technological machinery serves as a metaphor for the relentless pursuit of material abundance and technological advancement, core aspects often associated with the American Dream. This excessive portrayal aims to provoke thought about consumerism and technology on our identity and values.
Moreover, the depiction of figures as lost amidst this chaos underscores the paradox of plenty — where abundance leads not to fulfillment but to a sense of disorientation and loss of self. It's a commentary on how the relentless quest for more can lead to a disconnection from what truly matters.
While not exclusively a satire of the American Dream, the work does invite viewers to reflect on its interpretations and consequences in today's era, characterized by overconsumption and the overwhelming presence of technology.
Opulence, violence and horror: the human parade. As an AI artist can you explain to us your vision and representation of consumerism in art?
My vision and representation of consumerism in art are deeply interwoven with themes of opulence, violence, and horror, portraying a vivid tableau of the human condition. This vision is not just an aesthetic choice but a deliberate commentary on the societal impacts of consumerism. In my works, opulence is depicted through demolished displays of excess, symbolizing the pursuit of material goods that characterizes modern consumer culture. However, this opulence is often juxtaposed with elements of violence and horror, reflecting the darker side — the relentless exploitation of resources, the degradation of the environment, and the often unseen human cost of relentless material pursuit.
The AI's role in this is pivotal. It allows me to blend and exaggerate these elements in ways that overwhelm the viewer's perception. The AI-generated art becomes a canvas where surreal and hyperbolic scenarios are constructed, making the viewer confront the absurdity and often grotesque nature of unchecked consumerism.
Through this lens, the work serves as a mirror to society, highlighting the contradictions and consequences of our consumerist lifestyle.
In your works art meets music; sound links to images. Name three artists who inspire you.
Music: Klaus Schulze; Visually: Philip Guston and Cy Twombly.
interview VALERIA DE CRISTOFARO
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