Project Overview
AfterLife is an AI-generated art piece exploring the intersection of personal history, identity, and Afrofuturism. Since childhood, I’ve been fascinated with history, especially my personal heritage. However, due to the erasure of Black history, I’ve never been able to fully know where I come from. This project delves into these themes through AI-generated visuals that incorporate prompts related to Black identity, colonization, and Afrofuturism.
I trained the AI for over 32 hours, using STABLE dIFFUSION to generate video content. The AI was prompted with themes such as Black people, water, coastlines, ships, and colonization, with a focus on creating a narrative around the creation of a new history rooted in Afrofuturism. Afrofuturism, which blends Black diaspora experiences with technological advancements, emphasizes the progress and empowerment of Black people.
Inspired by Sadiya Hartman’s Lose Your Mother, particularly her exploration of personal history and ancestry in Ghana, I connected deeply with her journey. A quote from Hartman, "I, too, am the afterlife of slavery," resonated with me, symbolizing how we, as descendants, carry the weight of the past while shaping a future for generations to come.
Interactive Features
TouchDesigner: Used for creating the interactive video environment.
Camera Tracking: Integrated with TouchDesigner to detect user movement, allowing the viewer to be transported into a new space with unlimited possibilities.
Ultrasonic Sensor: As users walk closer to the sensor, they are transported into a new digital space with limitless possibilities, symbolizing a departure from historical constraints.
Media and Tools
AI Generation: Trained over 32 hours using Google Colab
TouchDesigner: Interactive video and environment creation
Camera Tracking: For movement-based interaction
Ultrasonic Sensor: For user-triggered scene transitions
Purpose
AfterLife represents the potential for Black people to transcend the limitations imposed by history, particularly the legacy of slavery and colonization, while focusing on the boundless opportunities of the future. The project highlights Afrofuturism as a means to envision and create a new, empowered narrative for Black identity.
