MID CENTURY LOST.
A Digital Collection.
2023
In the midst of a new age, the intersection of creativity between Art & Design and Artificial Intelligence, designers are setting out to create something new. Using AI tools to generate digital artefacts that challenges traditional notions of form and function.
Tradition dictates that designers creating artefacts, take great care and pride in ensuring that each detail serves a specific function and added value to the lives of those who use them. This digital collection "Mid-Century Lost" invites you to reflect on this blend of blurred realities and unrealities between artificial phenomenon whether as physical or digital representations.
Through a collection of chairs "Mid-Century Lost" is intended as a digital pause point, a space to reflect on the familiar in an unfamiliar setting.
Combining the familiar of mid-century modern style with contemporary sensibilities each of these 9 chairs stand alone, and instead of being used and appreciated, each chair are lost in desolate unfamiliar environments, disconnected from the very purpose for which they are created.
In a world that often seems to value only the newest and most trending technology, these chairs stand as a reminder of the timeless power of human creativity and design, and the enduring value of objects that are simply, created, with care and intention.
………………………………………………..
Created by Christopher Hanley using Midjourney, ChatGPT, Photoshop, After Effects
Each video invites you to watch and reflect on the familiar in the unfamiliar.
🔊 Sound On 🔊
Each video invites you to watch and reflect on the familiar in the unfamiliar. 🔊 Sound On 🔊
Amidst Heather | Chair No. 1968
Nestled in the heather and gorse, Chair No. 1968 beckons for a gentle touch within the alluring grace of the rolling hills.
“Without a human connection and interaction, the chair loses all meaning and purpose.”
Without a human connection and interaction, the chair loses all meaning and purpose. But as time continues, something unexpected begins to happen. Watching, realising that these chairs were not really lost at all they were waiting. Waiting for someone to rediscover their purpose, waiting to be appreciated for their unique beauty and design.
Within these environments, what do these chairs become? are they products of their digital environments detached from a physical reality, or are they longing for that reality to find purpose and meaning?
Artic Desolation | Chair No. 286
Surrounded by the vast desolation of the snow & ice, Chair No. 286 waits upon the raw beauty of the artic expanse.
Scorched Terrain | Chair No. 24
Tumultuous, ominous & raw, Chair No.24 bares witness to the charred remnants & violence of the scorched volcanic earth.
Tiresome Tundra | Chair No.659
In the midst of snow & sparse vegetation, Chair No.659 braces the freezing austerity of the unrelenting tundra.
“…instead of being used and appreciated, these chairs were lost… disconnected from the very purpose for which they were created.”
Highland Isolation | Chair No. 1712
Isolated in the landscape of untamed wilderness, Chair No.1712 searches for a breath in the heart of the highlands.
Weary Salt Flats | Chair No. 1364
Upon the tranquil weariness of bitter wet planes, Chair No.1364 parched by the corruption of the reflecting salt flats.
Desert Expanse | Chair No. 156
Blasted by the barren dunes sweeping across the light natural patina, Chair No.156 remains patient in the lost time of the desert.
Impenetrable Jungle | Chair No. 993
Embraced by dense foliage, Chair No.933 stands alone & disconnected from the corporeal lifeforce of the towering jungle.
“…waiting for someone to rediscover their purpose, waiting to be appreciated for their unique beauty and design.”
This collection represents the culmination of three months of intensive work, a journey of discovery and creation that blurs the lines between the familiar and the unfamiliar. The process was one of meticulous searching and imaginative exploration, facilitated by the advanced capabilities of MidJourney V4.
Barren Outback | Chair No. 1476
Unforgiven in the endless barren red sands, Chair No.1476 bakes amongst the weary growth of the forgotten outback
Throughout this period, a staggering total of 2060 chairs were brought into existence. Each chair is not merely a piece of furniture but a unique artifact, embodying a specific moment in the creative timeline. The sequence number assigned to each chair is not arbitrary; it signifies its chronological birth within the vast ensemble.
From this extensive array, a curated selection of nine chairs was made. These chairs are not simply chosen at random; they are the epitome of the collection’s essence and aesthetic. Each one stands as a testament to the project’s evolution, showcasing the diversity of design and thought that has been invested in the collection.
The chairs selected offer a glimpse into the vast potential of design when coupled with the power of imagination and technology. They serve as milestones, marking significant points of innovation and creativity within the project’s timeline. This selection is not the end but a highlight reel of a dynamic process that continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of design.
………………………………………………..
Created by Christopher Hanley using Midjourney, ChatGPT, Photoshop, After Effects