IN THE STYLE OF
by Slava Romanov
Interactive multimedia installation by Slava Romanov (2022). A series of AI-generated graphic pieces explores the challenges of public critical political artistic expression under war and state censorship conditions.
Despite being physically distant from the immediate threat of political persecution, many artists still face risks and threats to their families back home due to authoritarian states. This creates a sense of unease, fear, and guilt that can obfuscate problems being investigated, whether it be police violence, propaganda, surveillance, or war.
photos: Slava Romanov (1), Studio Bettina Pelz, Jennifer Braun (2-18), Brixen Tourismus, Matthias Gasser (19)
The interactive installation utilizes canvas and projection mapping to convey its message. The AI-generated image arrays are based on potentially insecure and hidden prompts, resulting in generative metaphors and interpretations of current events becoming the artistic language of the installation. The authorship of the work is blurred between the chosen technique, the textual content of the prompt, the stylization of real artists’ work, and the results of the image-generating algorithms.
The generative pieces are inspired by the work of artist Felix Nussbaum (1904-1944), who painted under political repression and the constant need to hide.
The artwork was exhibited during Brixen Water Light Festival, in the Reading room of the Kloster Neustift on the 03-21 of May 2023.
video: Slava Romanov
BIO: SLAVA ROMANOV
I am a Bremen-based data artist and media designer, specializing in generative graphics, interactive installations, performances, and auditory displays. My work is driven by a passion for sparking social and institutional change, which I draw from my previous experience in the Russian human rights sector.
My research focuses on the intersection of language, socio-political processes, open data, mass media, and immersive interaction. Early in my career, my visual performances explored the interplay between urban landscapes and natural environments, the fluidity of time, and the potential of data for investigative journalism. In my more recent works, I explore themes of loneliness and fear, examining the erosion of public trust in institutions and the media.
Currently, I am working on the “Edit Wars” project, which explores how big data research and art can be used to deconstruct propaganda narratives. Through interactive installations, sonification, and awareness-raising, I aim to experiment with various representation methods, drawing inspiration from the worlds of activism, data journalism, and contemporary art.
| EXHIBITIONS | |
| 2023 | Berlin (DE), Cases of Spaces Bremen (DE), Propaganda Narrative Soundscapes, Kompliziert Gefaltet |
| 2022 | Berlin (DE), Sehsüchte Film Festival, Spotlight Film Festival Bremen (DE), Hochschultage, Trickfilmabend |
| 2021 | Stuttgart (DE), XChanges X2 Bremen (DE), Open Space Domshof |
| 2020 | Yekaterinburg (RU), Pixels Fest |
| 2019 | St. Petersburg (RU), Form of Communication |
| PERFORMANCES | |
| 2022 | Bremen (DE), Rave for Ukraine, Baradio St. Petersburg (RU), NoiseRoom AV Festival |
| 2020 | St. Petersburg (RU), NoiseRoom AV Festival |
| 2019 | St. Petersburg (RU), BYOB Festival |
| STUDIES | |
| 2020 – now | Hochschule für Künste Bremen (DE), Digital Media M.A. |
| 2006 – 2011 | USLA (RU), University, Degree: Diploma, Cum Laude |
| BIO | |
| Since 2020 | Lives in Bremen (DE) |
| 2014-2020 | Lived in St. Petersburg (RU) |
| 1989 | Born in Yekaterinburg (RU) |