ROOPE RAINISTO
Roope Rainisto is a Finnish artist whose expertise spans across art, design, and photography. He holds an M.Sc. in Information Networks from the Helsinki University of Technology and boasts a substantial 25-year background in design before transitioning to art. Rainisto's work, which often combines AI with traditional methods—primarily in photography, has received notable recognition, including winning 2nd place in the AI art contest by Claire Silver. His NFT collections, "Life In West America" and "Reworld", are highly valued, and his art has been featured in a Christie's auction. As one of the founders and Chief Design Officer at Varjo, he contributed to advanced VR and MR solutions and holds about 50 patents or patent applications. Currently, he is creating art, studying technology, and exploring how the latest AI solutions can be used for creative purposes. Rainisto believes in technology that supercharges creativity and argues that AI will not herald the death of creativity but, on the contrary, enhance it.
EXCESSIZE BY ROOPE RAINISTO
We are excited to present an exclusive series by Roope Rainisto, a Finnish artist known for combining AI-generated processes with photography. 'Excessize', served as a precursor to the renowned series 'Life in West America', offers a critical depiction of American consumerism and the fast food culture.
The series consists of 12 unique NFTs minted on the artist's smart contract, set to debut as an auction on Friday 29th of March at 7 pm CET with a starting price from 0.1 ETH
Get Ready For Fast
Service Culture
Emergent Culture
Packaging Suppliers
The Land Of Plenty
Days Of Meat
Inhibition Express
According To Regulations
Temporary Permance
Food Freeze
Inner Strength
Sedan Fries
Frozen Fresh, 2024
From Excessize series
Fine Art Print
Size: 24" x 18.55"
The work is also available as a unique NFT, minted upon request
PRINT: 5,000.00
NFT: 3 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:
Created in October/November 2022, Excessize served as a precursor to his earlier work on ‘Life In West America’, acting as both a study and exploration. Using the visual style of vintage Americana photography and the capabilities of AI, each piece captures the post-war United States atmosphere—a time marked by a significant rise in food production following years of rationing. It examines the mass production and uniformity of food, symbolized by the repetition and uniformity in the images. The artist portrays symbols of American culture using exaggeration, spanning from drive-in dinings and french fries to shakes and sodas, all the way to classic cars. The fast food industry has become a global phenomenon through globalization, often undermining traditional diets and local economies. Rainisto employs a unique custom fine-tuned diffusion models from 2022 to reflect and critique the consequences of this global cultural homogenization, focusing on its effects on environmental sustainability and the erosion of local traditions. This mirrors the ongoing expansion of artificial intelligence, which moves towards automation, affecting authenticity and individuality.
Just as the fast-food industry's mass production encourages uniformity, the use of AI in the corporate sector prioritizes efficiency and scalability, potentially leading to similar homogenization in content and product creation. Fast food restaurants, which saw growth starting in the 1950s, are depicted as more than just dining locations; they are cultural institutions. They cater to individuals across all socioeconomic levels, from presidents to the working class, embodying and promoting values of quick service, efficiency, and uniformity. These concepts, once celebrated as marks of advancement, captured the interest of Pop Art artists like Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, and Wayne Thiebaud, who sought to depict contemporary life and frequently included everyday food items in their art.
“Excessize” captures both the celebration of post-war economic growth and the examination of its negative societal impacts. It echoes Pop Art's engagement with everyday life while bringing the conversation to the societal role and impact of excess and mass production in the digital age.
Exhibited at Untitled Miami Art Fair, Miami, Kate Vass Galerie Booth A43, December 2024