Human PrAinter

The Human PrAinter regards of a system where the artist becomes the output of the computer. An algorithm creates digital images. The same way a printer would function as the output of a digital image, Human PrAinter becomes the output by painting it. The artist has “to obey” the algorithmic creation and limit her personal hand style.

The digital images created by the algorithm, are collages of 19th century portraits of Greek “Munich School”. The Hellenic State was created after the Greek Independence war in 1822. In 1832 the Great Powers declared Greece a Kingdom and selected the Bavarian Prince Otto to be its king. Immediate consequence was the penetration of German influences in all Greek aspects of life and subsequently in art. Academic bonds developed between early Greek painters and Munich artistry, giving birth to the Greek “Munich School” of painting. Moreover the Greek bourgeoisie in a need to separate its identity from Turkey and generally the “East”, is looking up to the Europeans. Greek bourgeois were dressed following the European standards and hired painters to create their portraits dressed in their new looks. Hanging their portraits in the living room became a social status symbol.

Almost 2 centuries later Greece is facing severe economic and social difficulties in an attempt to preserve its presence in the European “family”. The identity of the contemporary Greek urban class has never been questioned more. The algorithm creates these portraits out of elements of a past period that symbolically has launched Greece’s european identity.

The system will be live demonstrated as an online performance. The artist will work for 12 hours per day for a period of 12 days in her studio, painting non- stop what the algorithm creates. The complete action will be recorded and live streamed through the project’s website. 

The project creates several dipoles and questions on:

  • machine (algorithm) creates vs human (painter which stereotypically is the most creative work) serves
  • Greek identity vs European identity
  • urban class identity then vs urban class identity now
  • imposed labour abuse
  • colonialism in the 18th century vs economic colonialism nowdays
  • de-value of:  the art product, creative work, working hours
  • monitoring of contemporary working environment vs monitoring of a whole country’s functionality