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GRETCHEN ANDREW: Facetune Portraits

“This work is a reflection on how technology reshapes our perception of identity.”



GRETCHEN ANDREW: Facetune Portraits

Singer, Writer



THE CREATIVE


Profession:

Artist


Location:

United States


Introduction:

Gretchen Andrew, an ex-Google turned algorithmic influencer, is known for her unique merger of traditional media and strategic information technology, as well as her infiltration of major art world and political institutions through AI, ad technology, social media, and robotics. Gretchen Andrew manipulates systems of power with art, glitter and code.



GRETCHEN ANDREW: Facetune Portraits

DJ



Context:

The Facetune Portrait series explores a universal tension heightened by the digital age - a friction we all feel - through the lens of social media. From FaceTime filters that enlarge our eyes to blurring tools that smooth our skin and beauty filters that reshape our features, our digital selves are increasingly diverging from reality. Gretchen’s work is a reflection of how technology reshapes our perception of identity.



GRETCHEN ANDREW: Facetune Portraits

Actress, Photographer



Jaqui captures the nuanced view on the challenges of balancing real life with a digital presence: that is, on social media. It reflects the importance of self-awareness in an online-oriented world.


"No one told us in school how we can consume and handle all these social media platforms. No one told us that we have a digital identity on these platforms... This is not me. This is a part of my work, maybe a part of my identity, but a very, very tiny part."


Facetune Portraits by Gretchen Andrew is a series of paintings that delves into the ubiquitous practices of generative code, AI-powered body modification, and traditional portraiture. The algorithmic filters of facetuning, readily available on social media platforms, promise more ›appealing‹ versions of ourselves. 



GRETCHEN ANDREW: Facetune Portraits

Journalist


“I don't feel pressure... I share glimpses of my private identity online but keep most of it to myself.” Annika reveals a strategic approach to balancing digital exposure and personal privacy.


Gretchen challenges artificial beauty ideals by employing custom-built robots to physically apply these ›beautifying‹ algorithms onto wet oil paintings: portraits of Berlin-based influencers interviewed and photographed by the artist herself. For Berlin Art Week, Gretchen’s creative robotics facility migrates from London to Berlin, presenting a blended physical-digital studio where viewers stumble into a captivating exploration of the dissonance between our natural state and the constructed image we strive for. The project is curated and presented in collaboration between HOLON, a Berlin-based art space, and fx(hash), a generative art platform.



GRETCHEN ANDREW: Facetune Portraits

Travel Influencer



Influencer Collaborations: GAHSP SYSTEMS

Technical collaboration: Matr Lab

Exhibition soundscape: Olivier Fröhlich



This conversation contributes to a new media format, where Creatives are in full control of their narratives. By exploring alternatives to narrative journalism, GAHSP starts unconventional conversations, emphasizing values and problems that shape our lives collectively.


Conversation Led by Julia Horvath

Unedited. Only Formatted.

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