GANBROOD
Bas Uterwijk aka Ganbrood, (1968, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) has a background in special effects, 3D animation, videogames, and photography. Mostly self-taught, he has always been involved in forms of visual storytelling that imitate and distort reality. Since 2019 he combined his different skills and experiences when he started working with generative adversarial networks (GANs): Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence based software that interprets and synthesizes photographs. With the help of these neural networks, he constructed photos that were never recorded by an actual camera. Portraits of people that lived before the camera was invented or people that never existed. Since early 2021, he has been minting Non Fungible Tokens on the Tezos blockchain. His latest series of artworks are more abstract: "pseudo-figurative" pieces in which he interrogates GANs on creativity and their ability to disrupt human visual recognition.
In the intricate weave of language—particularly in the Germanic andLatin tongues—the connection between "art" and "artificiality" isn'tmerely incidental. For me, the ultimate act of artistry lies incrystallizing your unique worldview into a format that not onlycommunicates but resonates. There's a magnetic pull in how imitationand illusion factor into this process. So, what's the real deal withoriginality in art? Are we caught in an endless loop of mutualreflection? Adding AI to the mix complicates things delightfully. When an algorithm, trained on a melting pot of artistic styles, pumps out new creations, are we staring at high-tech mimicry or a profound commentary on the very essence of artistic evolution?
Looking for Vincent
Presented at Untitled Miami Art Fair between the 3rd - 8th of December, 2024
In Looking for Vincent, AI artist Ganbrood (Bas Uterwijk, 1968) attempts to reconstruct the "true" face of Vincent van Gogh based on 35 self-portraits, a rare photo of the painter at 19 years old, and painted portraits by Van Gogh's close colleagues. Despite the many well-known images, we think we know what Van Gogh looked like, but his actual appearance remains a mystery. Van Gogh’s self-portraits were more an expression of his inner world than an accurate depiction of his physical features.
Arcana Mirabilis
Presented at the Art Salon “Node to Node” between 13th - 22nd October, 2023 in Paris
In Ganbrood's ongoing artistic narrative, the unifying theme has been an in-depth inquiry into the concept of 'reality.' With the emergence of photorealistic images generated by neural networks, the artist's lifelong intrigue with illusion dovetails seamlessly into an unyielding examination of belief, existence, and authenticity. Drawing on a robust background in photography, Ganbrood combines visual veracity with emotional engagement, enticing viewers through the artificial yet emotionally charged subjects in his compositions. This synergy lures the audience into the artist's elaborately designed imaginative realms.
Morgaine
Presented at the Art Salon “Node to Node” between 13th - 22nd October, 2023 in Paris
In Ganbrood's works, facets of Art Nouveau, classical Japanese art, and 20th-century comic art are skillfully blended. The multifaceted capabilities of AI-driven image creation enable him to delve into the timeless dimensions of latent spaces, echoing a shared cultural awareness. Simultaneously, he crafts a distinctive aesthetic that oscillates between the recognizable and the enigmatic.
ALGORITMO DIVINO
‘Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.’
- Dante Alighieri, Inferno, Canto III.
Our first project used 0KAI technology, 'Algoritmo Divino,' by Ganbrood, one of the most prominent AI artists of our time. This collection of 333 unique iterations takes you on a journey through the three realms of Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso, much like Dante's Divine Comedy. Each artwork is created in real-time, ensuring true randomness in the artwork's generation and giving birth to a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
Sold out at auction on April 18th 2023 at www.k011.com
SOMNIUM
Catalogue of all works
“We ought not to ask why the human mind troubles to fathom the secrets of the universe. The diversity of the phenomena of nature is so great, and the treasures hidden in the skies so rich, precisely in order that the human mind shall never be lacking in fresh nourishment.”
— Johannes Kepler
Kate Vass Galerie is thrilled to announce the exclusive program SOMNIVM by Bas Uterwijk, aka Ganbrood. Selected works are exhibited at the physical the group show ‘'Dear Machine, paint for me” in Zurich from 27th Oct-21st Dec 2022. Three works are on display in New York during CADAF 11-13th November.
Ganbrood, Zorya
Faro Celestiale
Cielo di Smeraldo
Spirito Divino
Respiro Celestiale
Visionario Etereo
Ganbrood, Euros, saviour of Sparta, may you come with victory at all times!
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional
Ganbrood, Latent Frontiers 00
Ganbrood, The Eightfold Noble Path Towards Enlightenment
You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger
In every stroke, I leave behind not only my dreams but the ashes of those I could not live, 2024
From the Looking for Vincent series
Fine Art Print
Size: 23 × 30 cm
Unique
The work is also available as a unique NFT, minted upon request
PRICE: 3.5 ETH
If you are interested in this work and would like to pay in ETH, please email us at info@katevassgalerie.com and transfer the amount to our wallet HERE.
Description:
In Looking for Vincent, AI artist Ganbrood (Bas Uterwijk, 1968) attempts to reconstruct the "true" face of Vincent van Gogh based on 35 self-portraits, a rare photo of the painter at 19 years old, and painted portraits by Van Gogh's close colleagues. Despite the many well-known images, we think we know what Van Gogh looked like, but his actual appearance remains a mystery. Van Gogh’s self-portraits were more an expression of his inner world than an accurate depiction of his physical features.
Ganbrood used neural networks to analyze the differences and similarities between the available sources to create a believable portrait. He had the algorithm generate over a thousand variations, from which he selected a few. During this selection process, he discovered that each portrait, in a way, was also a self-portrait. The images he chose were more an expression of his own inner world than an accurate representation of Van Gogh's appearance. Moreover, the "search for Vincent" gradually evolved into an exploration of Ganbrood’s own artistry.
Exhibited at Untitled Miami Art Fair, Miami, Kate Vass Galerie Booth A43, December 2024