Casual Curator

In the era of artificial intelligence, one can rapidly be inundated with possibilities. An AI system churns out thousands of visual artworks, each piece made with a prompt (you can program random prompts, like “a { painting | photo } of a glass of { wine | coffee }”, which will build prompts by choosing the words in brackets. In this burgeoning space of infinite creativity, there emerges a new role, as critical as it is understated – the “Casual Curator.”

The Dawn of Creation

You program a good long prompt, make 2500 images, and in the morning you are greeted by a treasure trove of thousands of images, each crafted overnight by the tireless algorithms of the AI system. Every piece is unique, inviting a gaze, and demanding attention. But what to do with this embarrassment of riches?

The Dual Dilemma

One faces two immediate challenges.

First, determine the destination of these AI-generated artworks. Will they grace the virtual walls of an online gallery, or will they morph into a YouTube movie?

Second, and perhaps more critically, I must curate. I’m not just a casual observer. My eye must sift through the sea of these pictures to select those pieces.

The Eye of the Beholder

Being a Casual Curator is no casual task… It requires a visual culture. Everybody has one!

So yesterday I made almost 3000 images, with two programs, with prompts using the name of a Russian painter named Arkhyp Kuindzhi. Elements of nature, but also Science-Fiction, because… why not?
Now I’m embarrassed. I have to curate. But… what for?

Thanks for reading!

Here are 18 pictures coming from one single prompt.

Some images are just paintings. Others captivate me with their intriguing lighting or compelling compositions. I have the ability to guide the prompts, leading the model to generate specific types of imagery. Certain pictures inspire dialogue, while others when paired together, have the potential to weave a narrative, don’t you think?

What do the sisters say?

The Untranslatable “Velléitaire”

In the intricate dance of language and translation, words aren’t just letters strung together but containers of culture. One such gem in the French language is “velléitaire.” It doesn’t have a direct counterpart in English, and I like to find those small gaps.

A Closer Look at “Velléitaire”

“Velléitaire” encapsulates a particularly nuanced state of being. It paints a portrait of an individual harboring desires and intentions but tethered by an inability to realize them. In French culture, this term often resonates as a “vague obsessional desire” – it’s not passive or merely about unfulfilled intentions. It’s more complex, tied to a profound internal yearning that, for reasons often undefinable, doesn’t transition into action.

You anticipate THAT DAY when you’ll be alone with no scheduled tasks. Finally, the moment arrives, but you find yourself doing nothing. Hahaha.

The English Adjacents

English phrases like “indecisive,” “lacking follow-through,” and “non-committal” come close but miss the mark in capturing the essence of “velléitaire.” They lean heavily into action and decision-making but do not entirely embrace the emotional and internal struggle that the French term so eloquently encapsulates. Well, that’s what I think when I read the definitions!

The Linguistic Dance

Every language, with its unique terms and phrases, offers a window into the distinct worldview of its speakers. While it’s tempting to perceive the absence of a direct translation as a linguistic shortcoming, it’s really a testament to the rich diversity inherent in each language. It’s not a flaw but a feature, an invitation to explore the depths of human experience as articulated uniquely in different tongues. And it works the other way around!

Well…

So, the next time you stumble upon a word like “velléitaire” that doesn’t have an English sibling, pause and appreciate it. It’s an opportunity to step into another world and explore the textured layers of human emotion and experience that are crafted and cradled in the unique embrace of each language.

We aren’t limited by the “untranslatable”; instead, we are invited into a broader, more colorful world where every word is a story, every phrase a journey, and every language a universe unto itself. Welcome to the dance, the delicate ballet of words that do more than speak—they sing, soar, and reveal the unsung melodies of the human soul, one untranslatable term at a time.

PS:

In French, there’s no verb “To elope”, even close.

French: “Ils ont décidé de s’enfuir pour se marier sans le consentement de leurs parents.” (“to run away to get married”).

(I wrote it with a dialog with ChatGPT and Grammarly for the mistakes)

Thanks for reading!