Abstract
Technology shapes the way we perceive nature. From microscopic cameras that reveal organisms invisible to unaided human eyes, to computer algorithms used for species identification, scholars in media and visual studies have highlighted how our perception is mediated by the tools we use. This paper examines some of these concepts in my recent project on sea sponges, observed using scanning electron microscopy and transformed into moving images using generative AI. I discuss this work in relation to ideas about machine, computer and scientific vision as visual culture, exploring its creative potential, its aesthetic qualities, and its ideological implications, reflecting on how this may influence our perception and representation of the natural world. While applications of technology often focus on precision, clarity, and efficiency, this paper advocates for a more open-ended, artistic approach and considers its significance for design practice.
Presenters
Shu Min LimLecturer, LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, Singapore
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Sea Sponges, Generative AI, Microscopy, Technological Perception, Representation of Nature
