OVERVIEW
Encoded Echoes
This project is an exploration of AI tools to evaluate how effectively they capture and visualize human emotions. I selected excerpts from my poetry collection Letters to Antares and wrote prompts in MidJourney to express and visualise the emotions through digital art.
Timeline: Jun 2023 - Apr 2024
01
Fade
Chapter I from the collection focuses on the persona slowly fading away. It captures moments where the persona's existence seems to be disappearing or dissolving into nothingness.
The fading light— the persona feels her light slowly dimming, slipping away into the abyss.
The fading colors—vivid hues slowly turn to gray, and with them, the self fades, growing thinner and thinner into nothingness.
210+ attempts on MidJourney to visualise the emotion
02
Blue
Chapter II depicts the persona as lost and consumed by despair, unable to find an escape. The chapter also highlights moments where she is shown inflicting harm upon herself.
Insomnia causing tiredness. The struggle with depression turns sleep into a battle.
Surrendering to the raging fire — an expression of accepting defeat.
03
Hope
Chapter III centers on recognizing hope and pursuing the positive light at the end of the tunnel.
Resurfacing after being lost in deep, dark waters.
With the rising sun at dawn, embracing new beginnings.
170+ attempts on MidJourney and a few touchups in photoshop to visualise the emotion
04
Heal
The final chapter explores the journey of healing from trauma and the search for peace amidst chaos.
Mother nature to restore the body, mind and soul.
Finding peace through prayer
PROMPTS
What kind of prompts did I write?
MidJourney requires prompts that specify angles, perspectives, and environmental factors to product the best results. I included every detail — from skin tone to falling leaves in the scenery. The key is to focus on keywords rather than complete sentences to convey the desired effect.
ENDING NOTE
Did AI capture the intended emotions?
It did to some extent. MidJourney requires detailed prompts to generate art effectively. It lacks the depth that a real artist brings to their work. That said, AI serves as a tool that can assist in the creative process, but it does not replace the unique perspectives and the emotional depth that a human artist provides.