Synthetic Identity Speculations launches a participatory artistic research project that monitors individual synergy effects of social network algorithms and their impact on body images. We witness a morphing authenticity shaped by algorithms, trained to maintain affective economies and corporate integrity. Transgressing platforms through hyperrealistic ideals and potentially momentous misclassifications, accountability for algorithmic agency is effectively shifted to users.

Initiating the research with the development of its technical infrastructure during the residency, we explore the potentials of synthetic data and data scraping to trace and cross-reference the impact of algorithmic agency on aesthetics, iconography, choreography and authenticity. 

In its course, the research itself becomes a progressively growing archive in form of a hybrid artistic installation and its hyper-embodiment in the shape of a synthetic identity performing online.

About:

Michael Wallinger is a transmedia artist with interest in data representation, developing hardware and software architectures into objects and installations.

Blaukind is a multidisciplinary artist and developer of interactive experiences.

Project updates

Click here to find out more about the project and its ongoing activities

Applied Tools

• Keras – Deep learning API based on TensorFlow
• Matplotlib – Data visualization
• Meta Graph API – API for reading and writing to the Meta social graph
• OpenPose – Real-time multi-person keypoint detection library for body, face, hands, and foot estimation
• TensorFlow – An open source machine learning framework

For more information, have a look at our MediaFutures Data Catalogue for Experiment Support.