Self-ish part 1 is an exhibit that focuses on the status of the self portrait in both society and art today.

The exhibition was shown for the first time during the Oslo Negativ Photography festival from October 14 to 29, 2023. 

A self-portrait makes it possible to be both the observer and the observed, and moreover, to take control of defining one’s own image. Throughout the history of art, this has been an important form of expression. The invention of modern photography revolutionized the art world and significantly contributed to the rise of female artists. Prior to photography, artistic expression was often limited by societal constraints and traditional gender roles. Photography provided a medium that allowed women to capture and share their unique perspectives and experiences without facing the same barriers encountered in other artistic fields. It granted them a means to depict their creativity, emotions, and narratives through visual storytelling, fostering a more inclusive and diverse art community. As photography gained popularity and recognition as a legitimate art form, female artists seized the opportunity to showcase their talents and challenge preconceived notions about gender roles and artistic capabilities.

The advent of the selfie, propelled by the digital revolution, has fundamentally shifted the landscape of visual art, democratizing the creation and dissemination of images. The selfie has become a ubiquitous form of self-expression and documentation and it is this intersection of contemporary phenomena - selfies and Artificial Intelligence- that our exhibit seeks to explore.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) introduces innovative and creative avenues for photography, revolutionizing how images are generated, enhanced, and modified. However, a critical concern arises from the fact that AI systems rely heavily on existing data, which often carry inherent gender biases and stereotypes. These biases manifest in AI-generated photographs, perpetuating and reinforcing preexisting gender imbalances and societal norms.

This exhibit explores how AI-generated photographs influence the image of women and how we view ourselves. What does it mean that women are in a minority among those who contribute to the development of artificial intelligence? And how can the users of AI mitigate these biases within AI algorithms, which is imperative to ensure that the future of AI-driven photography is more equitable, inclusive, and representative of the diverse spectrum of human identities and experiences.

SELF-ish part 1 is an artistic experiment where the audience was also be invited to make their own self-portraits. The photographic collective A Female Gaze exhibited SELF-ish part 2 at the Hos Arne gallery on the 17th of November, 2023.