‘Ground Truth’
Inspired by scientific images found in academic papers.
Beginning as a period of deep research in the UK in 2021 this project has since lead to international research and exhibition. From academic papers found online, to sitting in rice fields in Indonesia. Inspired by the digitalisation of farming and the use of AI in agriculture, the artworks for this project have been created through a multidisciplinary analogue and digital methodology, presented as paintings, digital artworks, photographs, short films and projections.
This body of work forms an engaging visual dialogue, set to continue to grow and reach audiences as an international language, exploring how we all eat in the current milieu. The artworks have been displayed indoors and outdoors, as static images and moving images, using presentation methods that enhance narrative, celebrating cross sector pollination.
Initially I used YouTube was as a dynamic portfolio platform, reaching over 500,000 views via the channel, becuase I created work as a moblie studio whilst travelling. In 2024 I was given an artist residency opportunity in Bali at Kedungu Kolektif, linked with Indonesian Insitute of the Arts, for 3 months. I painted a large abstract image ‘Free Energy Landscapes’, mentored by local well know artisit IWENG, who taught me how to stretch and prime my own large scale canvas. The painting, titled ‘Free Energy Landscapes’. Inspired by an academic paper titled ‘Proetin Folding, Binding and Energy Landscape: A Synthesis’ which can be found here. I hand painted a QR code within the painting which linked to the academic paper. I painted with custom made UV paint supplied by Indonesian artist HAMKA, to make reference to optimal light waves for crop growth, predominently used within verticle farming, more prevelent in Singapore. My research for this image led to the start of another project titled Alpha, which specifically explores protein folds.
‘Free Energy Landscapes’ Acrylic on Canvas, 2024.
‘Seed Soverignty in the Age of AI’ Mixed Media, 2023.
I was selected for exhibition at an international arts festival called Suara at Nuanu, a purpose built creative complex in Bali. This festival has a strong correlation with my values about sustainability and my goal towards being a New Zero artist. I exhibited a triptich of images ‘Seed Soverignty in the Age of AI’ depicting abstract interpretations of hands and rice and the use of leaf segmentation masks to measure crop growth, which justaposes the traditional labour intense non-digital farming methods for the rice fields in Bali. The images were well recieved and caught the attention of international curator Natasha Doroshenko Murray who then provided a reference for my application for funding from the Arts Council.
In 2023 I was accepted to represent the UK at an art festival in Medan, Sumatra Indonesia. I co-created with a local artist and together we painted a large mural depicting a historical political figure called Guru Patimpus, I added a deconstructed interpretation of the well known vegatarian dish called lonton which includes rice, vegtables and a spicy sauce. The experience and hospitality during the festival was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before, and it was my birthday too! I was interviewed by the local press and featured on the newspaper’s website. Later in the year Medan Street Art and I applied to the Connections Through Culture grant offered by the British Council. Although we were unsuccessful in recieving the grant, there is still the framework from the proposal that could happen, in which 5 artists from Medan visit the UK to experience the culture, and engage the UK-Indonesian community within Gloucestershire in arts and cultre, as a high minority demographic.
Me and local artist FRA with our finished street art, 2023.
The success of my reaserch and collaborations led me to setting up a small studio in Ubud, Bali Indonesia were I worked with a studio assistant to direct and produce a 20 minute avant-garde video titled ‘Elan Vital’. This film has not been uploaded to YouTube in it’s entirety, in an attempt to preserve it’s authenticity in this age of LLMs harvesting content. In 2024 I showed the film to an audience at a private screening in Ubud. This video is a short edit of the event. The feedback from the screening was that the film is professional, engaging and thought provoking. My goal for 2026 is to show this film in Gloucestershire to raise people’s awereness to not waste rice. According to Bartec Municipal Technologies each person in the UK wastes approximately 70kg of food, or 140 meals, anually. More food waste facts and figures can be found here.
Private screening of ‘Elan Vital’ in Ubud, Bali Indonesia 2024.