Cheah Orchids
2024, Printed images of AI generated orchids grown in to the shape of Chinese characters
Studio Pollen
(Atticus SIM & Michael WHITTLE)
2024, Printed images of AI generated orchids grown in to the shape of Chinese characters
Studio Pollen
(Atticus SIM & Michael WHITTLE)
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About the Artworks:
Pollen’s most recent and ambitious project to create novel orchid species in the form of Chinese characters. To do so, Pollen collaborated with the contemporary Chinese calligraphic artist Hilde Mertens who created a series of paintings of the Chinese character “谢” (xiè), which is pronounced as “cheah” in some Chinese dialects and used in the phrase “谢谢” (xiè xiè) meaning “thank you”.
Hilde painted the character in a wide variety of historic calligraphic styles both new and old, traditional and simplified. As with the skull in the memento mori project, the goal was to subtly embed the structure of Hilde’s calligraphy within the orchids, to retain a sense of surprise once noticed.
Pollen’s most recent and ambitious project to create novel orchid species in the form of Chinese characters. To do so, Pollen collaborated with the contemporary Chinese calligraphic artist Hilde Mertens who created a series of paintings of the Chinese character “谢” (xiè), which is pronounced as “cheah” in some Chinese dialects and used in the phrase “谢谢” (xiè xiè) meaning “thank you”.
Hilde painted the character in a wide variety of historic calligraphic styles both new and old, traditional and simplified. As with the skull in the memento mori project, the goal was to subtly embed the structure of Hilde’s calligraphy within the orchids, to retain a sense of surprise once noticed.
Atticus SIMS
Atticus Sims is an artist, technologist, and Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Research in AI and Design at the University of Macau, where he researches machine learning and generative AI art tools. His creative practice lies at the intersection of art, technology, and human experience, and spans photography, video art, generative art, and open-source AI image generation, with a particular focus on Stable Diffusion. Some of the key topics his work explores include consciousness, perception, and the liminal space where inner and outer worlds converge. As a live visual artist Sims collaborates with experimental musical ensembles, creating dynamic visuals that respond to live performances. Sims is co-founder of Studio Pollen, an AI-first creative studio pushing the boundaries of technology-driven art.
Atticus Sims is an artist, technologist, and Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Research in AI and Design at the University of Macau, where he researches machine learning and generative AI art tools. His creative practice lies at the intersection of art, technology, and human experience, and spans photography, video art, generative art, and open-source AI image generation, with a particular focus on Stable Diffusion. Some of the key topics his work explores include consciousness, perception, and the liminal space where inner and outer worlds converge. As a live visual artist Sims collaborates with experimental musical ensembles, creating dynamic visuals that respond to live performances. Sims is co-founder of Studio Pollen, an AI-first creative studio pushing the boundaries of technology-driven art.
Michael WHITTLE
Michael Whittle is an artist and researcher specializing in Diagrammatology, the study of diagrams. He previously qualification and training as a Biomedical Scientist, before changing subject to study fine art. His artistic practice incorporates images, ideas, and data from science, as well as dialogues with scientists about their research interests and motivations. Recent projects include ‘Butterfly on the Sun’, a large-scale installation for the 2022 Changwon Sculpture Biennale developed in consultation with astrophysicist David Hathaway of NASA’s Ames Research Center. In 2023, Whittle co-founded ‘Pollen’ with artist-technologist Atticus Sims, an AI-powered creative studio in Kyoto, Japan. He is currently Associate Professor of Contemporary Art in the Department of Art and Design at the University of Macau.
Michael Whittle is an artist and researcher specializing in Diagrammatology, the study of diagrams. He previously qualification and training as a Biomedical Scientist, before changing subject to study fine art. His artistic practice incorporates images, ideas, and data from science, as well as dialogues with scientists about their research interests and motivations. Recent projects include ‘Butterfly on the Sun’, a large-scale installation for the 2022 Changwon Sculpture Biennale developed in consultation with astrophysicist David Hathaway of NASA’s Ames Research Center. In 2023, Whittle co-founded ‘Pollen’ with artist-technologist Atticus Sims, an AI-powered creative studio in Kyoto, Japan. He is currently Associate Professor of Contemporary Art in the Department of Art and Design at the University of Macau.
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