a camera for what isn't by Claire Silver

A lucid dream of a generation of artists at the dawn of a new medium. The freedom and boundless possibility inherent in the moment, the childlike wonder of exploration, the constraints of early tools, the fear of losing yourself in an uncertain time of change, the beauty of finding yourself in pursuit of expression.

This made with public domain clips from the early 1900--some of the first clips of dance in the history of film--and combined with AI animation and contemporary video editing tools. AI-Collaborative music was also added, and like the visuals, creating it was an extremely conversational and hands-on process.

The name is taken from a thought that’s kept me obsessed for months: “Photography is a camera for what is. AI is a camera for what isn’t.”

Exhibited for SuperRare solo show in NYC, 2023.

Citation:

Anna Pavlova in "The Dumb Girl of Portici," 1916. Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons.