About the lecture:

Boris Eldagsen will reveal which works of photography and promptography (AI-generated photography) from his oeuvre he has chosen, and the path that led him to his current installation TRAUMA PORN. He will also present the personal motivations that pushed him towards the project and how working with Tanvir Taolad led him to the use of artificial intelligence in his work. He will talk about the nature of art, the artistic approach, and whether it is possible for something to be both political and timeless at the same time.

About the project:

“TRAUMA PORN is an experimental installation that explores the lasting consequence of war – trauma.

Using photographs from Nazi Germany and World War II as a source of images, the artist tries to recreate the traumatic memories of his father, then a 16-year-old caught in the meat grinder of war, by using the tool of DI.

A totalitarian regime needs people who will carry out its crimes – but it also needs those who will support the ideology and those who will contribute through passivity. This exhibition is about the latter. It is an attempt to penetrate the average human consciousness, which seems to be submerged in a deep quagmire, with no possibility of emergence.

In order to be impartial, Boris collaborated with Bangladeshi artist Tanvir Taolad to reveal the timeless power of the visual. Spanish photographer Carlos Collado assisted him in the creation of the images using artificial intelligence.

This work documents the roots of our history and, unfortunately, its repetitive nature. It is therefore dedicated to the brave people of Ukraine.

The project is exhibited at the Temporary Čiurlionis Gallery (Mackevičiaus st. 27, Kaunas), 1-31 October.

Content warning: the installation shows authentic images of war, the exhibition is only open to children with their parents, the recommended age limit is 16 years.