this AI software can render historical figures in the style of pop culture photographers

luke somasundram asks: Can an AI photograph the past? 

 

Artists across the planet have fallen in love with OpenAI’s new project DALL·E 2, designed to render visual masterpieces from strings of text. But more than predicting potential futures, perhaps artificial intelligence is most fascinating in how it can help us (re)imagine our past. Artist Luke Somasundram explored that path with his new work, ‘AI Portraits of History,’ in which he envisions historical figures in the style of pop culture photographers.

Vincent van Gogh in the style of Terry Richardson

 

 

Specifically, Luke Somasundram used DALL·E 2 to recreate portraits of iconic figures — like Marie Antoinette, Shakespeare, and van Gogh — through the lens of Yousuf Karsh, Terry Richardson, and Steven Klein — among others.

 

Beyond illustrating a photographic style, the artist also generated the images to reflect the characters’ historical context and traits. For example, ancient figures like Artistotle are rendered in black and white, while van Gogh is depicted in a color and texture composition echoing his unique painting technique. 

Aristotle, in the style of Yousuf Karsh

Shakespeare, in the style of Yousuf Karsh

Marie Antoinette, in the style of Rankin

Girl With Pearl Earring, in the style of Steven Klein

 

 

 

project info:

 

name: AI Portraits of History

artist: Luke Somasundram 
system: DALL-E 2 (OpenAI) 

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom