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S24 by Frank Manzano

Frank Manzano

S24

Video, 2025

About the artwork

My work is rooted in a process of continual experimentation. With the works that I will be presenting, each piece is titled using a unique system: a letter followed by a number. The letter represents one or multiple core ideas, while the number allows me to explore the evolution of those ideas over time. This system isn't just a method of organization—it's a reflection of my practice. Through this numbering convention, I can revisit concepts, bring fresh approaches to them, and examine their transformation alongside the development of technology. The process allows me to explore new creative possibilities, while maintaining a thread of continuity. The advancement of AI tools mirrors the trajectory of my work, as I attempt to push the boundaries of what's possible in this medium. Ultimately, these works serve as markers of both personal and technological evolution, presenting a dialogue between myself, the machine, and the ideas themselves. A: This series examines suburban transit systems through abstraction, focusing on the disjointed flow of movement and the depersonalized rhythms of commuter life. By reducing the familiar to its visual and emotional essence, it reveals the alienation and anonymity embedded in transit spaces. B: Through the deconstruction of cars and homes using image keyframing, this series dissects symbols of mobility and domesticity, unraveling them into fragmented, surreal narratives that challenge their inherent stability and cultural meaning. C: Machinery, industrial workspaces, and vehicles are obscured to expose the tension between their utilitarian function and the mystery of their form. This series transforms the mechanical into something enigmatic. D: Centered on themes of surveillance, exposure, and fragmented modern life, this series employs the deconstruction of space—especially through cross-sectional layouts—to convey the fractured and transactional nature of existence in a world where privacy is an illusion and identity is perpetually under scrutiny. E: Exploring cultural narratives, this series reflects on collective histories and shared identities, using layered visual storytelling to uncover how time and societal shifts reshape, erase, and reinterpret the cultures we inhabit. F: Captured from the lens of Google Maps, this series presents snapshots of seemingly mundane figures—NPC-like characters frozen in their environments. These static moments reveal the haunting stillness and quiet humanity of lives perpetually observed yet inherently unseen. G: By distorting common visual spaces, this series challenges the perception of familiar environments, uncovering their hidden instability and disrupting the viewer’s sense of reality within the ordinary. H: Through the repetition and degradation of data, this series examines memory, loss, and the erosion of imagery over time. It brings focus to the disenfranchisement of forgotten visuals, reclaiming them as reflections of impermanence and fragility. I: This series follows neglected and disenfranchised images, reimagining their purpose and recontextualizing them to highlight their overlooked vibrancy. It is a process of reclamation, where the discarded becomes essential. J: Employing a collage approach, this series layers fragmented visuals to create dynamic compositions that reinterpret meaning and form. The chaotic interplay of disparate elements is an attempt to deconstruct modern visual culture. M: This series explores the evolution of marketplaces, emphasizing the recurring theme of destabilization within seemingly stable environments. By focusing on technological shifts, heightened surveillance, and the growing prevalence of shoplifting, it reveals the tension between progress and disorder. The series reflects on how these forces reshape the marketplace as both a cultural and physical space, disrupting its perceived equilibrium. S: Marking a departure from my usual reference-based approach, this series represents my first works with SORA. By experimenting with elements of traditional cinema through a strictly prompt-based process, it reimagines cinematic techniques, embracing a new creative methodology that challenges conventional workflows. Sound design by Frank Manzano

Audio explanation

Listen to Frank Manzano discuss this work.

About the artist

Frank Manzano

Frank Manzano, based in Chicago, is an artist focusing on abstract and conceptual digital compositions, with formal training in film and photography from Columbia College. His work delves into the exploration of shared societal symbols and aims to unravel the individual connections people forge with these symbols. Manzano embraces the idea that moments of revelation can arise from idleness and boredom, a belief he consistently incorporates into his creative process. His artistic ambition centers around deciphering the symbols that define our culture, using contemporary digital mediums to articulate these foundational emblems. Through his artwork, Frank Manzano seeks to inspire viewers to embark on introspective journeys, encouraging them to scrutinize their personal relationships with the symbols that shape their existence.