John Deal
Imprints: A Dialogue Between Humanity, Technology, and the Earth
My artistic practice delves into the palimpsest of human influence upon the planet. It excavates the larger narrative woven by our interactions with the environment, where technology acts as both a tool and a critical mirror. Through a fusion of traditional and innovative techniques – laser etching, AI-generated landscapes, and painting, photography and printmaking – I create visual dialogues that challenge anthropocentric perspectives and promote a deeper understanding of our interconnectedness.
My exploration delves into landscapes that are not pristine environments. Instead, they are spaces that bear the unmistakable imprint of human interaction. Fields etched with agricultural patterns and forests punctuated by transfer towers, trails and debris become my subjects. I immerse myself in these environments, absorbing the intricate details and the grander story they collectively tell. The vast collection of records, etched onto the planet – a saga of shaping, reshaping, adapting, collaborating, and sometimes even compromising and abusing the land we inhabit. This exploration echoes the early photographic journeys of William Henry Fox Talbot, a historical connection that informs my work and mediums: laser-etched images on enamel-painted aluminum or Ai generated images produced as traditional photographic prints. Here, the precision of the laser contrasts with the deliberate imperfections of the hand-painted surface, mirroring the human desire for control juxtaposed with the inherent unpredictability of nature.
The resulting artworks are not merely depictions; they are physical records, capturing moments where human intent has permanently altered the landscape; where the gesture of the hand and the precision of the laser demonstrate their interference. The laser reveals the image, the process and the materials, the human impact. These marks are both additive and reductive, both creating and destroying. They are artifacts, testaments to our ingenuity and folly in equal measure.
With the "Conversations" series, I push the boundaries of artistic expression by collaborating with Artificial Intelligence via NVIDIA's Canvas platform to generate surreal landscapes with anthropomorphic forms. This collaboration draws on the historical evolution of photography, rooted in optics and record-keeping, and challenges traditional notions of artistic authorship, similar to the impact of early photography. The AI's rigid interpretation of landscapes, processed through unique algorithms, prompts my input to train it to create figures. These images are then reprocessed using analogue photographic techniques like cyanotype and salt printing. By combining historical and cutting-edge technologies, I create a dialogue that spans centuries of human artistic exploration, fostering critical reflection on societal and environmental issues.
Ultimately, my artworks are invitations to contemplative engagement. They beckon viewers to move beyond a passive gaze and actively participate in a dialogue about our place within the environment. Each piece is a catalyst for introspection, urging us to reconsider our role as stewards of the Earth. The stark beauty of the manipulated landscapes, the interplay between human intervention and natural forces, and the subtle critique of technology's influence on our perception – all converge to illuminate the complexities of our relationship with the planet and the art that we make of it.
This artistic journey is not a linear narrative of progress, but woven from threads of tradition and innovation. It is a testament to the enduring human desire to understand, shape, and ultimately coexist with the natural world. Through this multi-layered exploration, I hope to inspire a shift in perspective, encouraging viewers to move beyond a paradigm of human dominance and embrace a sense of reciprocal responsibility towards the environment.