Stranger Parade (Niceaunties and Pancakepie360)
Video, 2023
About the artwork
The Stranger Parade was created in collaboration with Niceaunties, based off of a discussion of our themes and philosophies of art we shared a few words between our prompts and decided on a celebratory parade as the main event. When I began to think of a parade in this context I thought about how a parade is a celebration of an institution or an identity and I thought it was very appropriate for AI to celebrate its identity, ability and strangeness. So I chose to try and incorporate the oddest characters I could think up and have them celebrate together. However I included guns as a security because it is also a protest, a protest for all the weirdness of the world and all the things that aren't first choice or obvious to make room for themselves to exist, or otherwise be ignored. And so it is both a celebration and a protest as I see life is, we celebrate all its greatness but we have to also constantly be protesting the continuing unfairness's of the world because there is that duality always. To be happy is to fight for that happiness for ourselves and for others.
Original track by Pancakepie360 using beatoven
Niceaunties, a designer and AI artist rooted in Singapore, draws inspiration from the women in her family and the intriguing world of 'auntie culture'. Delving into themes of aging, beauty, personal freedom, and the nuances of everyday life, Niceaunties expresses her artistic vision through the mediums of generative and digital art. Her creations are marked by an amalgamation of surrealism, fantasy, and the vibrant aesthetics of kawaii culture.
Pancakepie360, born in California before the turn of the millennium, follows a distinctive artistic process. Their creative journey often commences with a concept, brought to life through the utilization of prompts and images. Alternatively, inspiration strikes during explorations of specific series on the MidJourney platform, leading to the development of captivating moving clips. The subsequent step involves curating the ideal soundtrack, either by discovering an existing song or crafting a new one. The editing process is a harmonious dance with the music, resulting in a seamless fusion of visuals and sound. Every clip imported into their project undergoes meticulous scrutiny, with multiple versions considered to select the most compelling one. As the project takes shape, Pancakepie360 diligently observes its evolution, exporting and immersing themselves in the viewing experience, iteratively refining their work.
Pancakepie360's initial encounter with AI transpired through platforms like Instagram, where they stumbled upon mind-boggling images that left them intrigued and perplexed. Timmolloyart's remarkable creations captured their attention, prompting Pancakepie360 to delve into MidJourney. They joined the platform in November 2022, embarking on an obsession that has consumed every moment of their day since.
Before venturing into the realm of AI artistry, Pancakepie360's artistic journey began in early childhood. They commenced playing music and drawing at the age of 6, and by 11, they were already exploring the world of film, filming and editing videos alongside family and friends using Adobe Premiere. This multifaceted journey persisted throughout their life, fueled by a profound love for music, writing, and drawing. In college, they pursued their passion, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in film. Post-college, music continued to be a significant aspect of their life, accompanied by a growing focus on writing and intermittent bouts of drawing. While film endeavors transitioned into found footage and experimental video editing, Pancakepie360's artistic exploration remained dynamic and diverse.