Simulacrum
"Her fusion of artificial intelligence and screen printing not only highlights the evolving nature of art but also prompts important conversations about the role of technology in shaping our understanding of the visual." - Alissa Klaus
Jessica Hawkins
October 21 - December 2, 2023
Hawkins' works go beyond mere imitation, embracing the inherent tension between the simulated image and the substance of the original. The artist creates a visual dialogue that prompts viewers to contemplate the complexities of contemporary artistic expression. Visitors can experience firsthand the captivating interplay between the digital and the physical, as Hawkins invites them to question the essence of what constitutes an authentic representation.
Artist Statement
A simulacrum (Latin, meaning "likeness, semblance") is a representation or imitation of a person or thing, but also has a secondary association of inferiority: an image without the substance or qualities of the original. Drawing on artificial intelligence to generate imagery in the style of famous designers and then producing those images through the iterative medium of screen printing, works in this exhibit pose questions about authenticity, originality, and authorship while playing on the tension between the digital and the physical. This exhibit is the culmination of a Fall 2022 sabbatical project that centered on the installation of a screen-printing studio in the Turner Arts Center at Centenary College of Louisiana.
