William Josephs Radford Erases His Father from Childhood Photos Using AI in 'Transparent'
William Josephs Radford has created a project called 'Transparent' that uses generative AI to edit out his father from family photos, turning them into lenticular prints. When you tilt these prints, you can see the father appear and disappear. The images capture various family moments, like a man sitting on a floral couch, a parent and child by the ocean, and playful interactions with bricks and spades. This work questions Roland Barthes's idea that photographs are pure evidence, showing that family pictures mix facts with personal stories. It also reflects Jacques Derrida's notion of a 'spectre', highlighting the father’s fluctuating presence. Unlike digital avatars that keep the deceased alive, Radford's method emphasizes loss, exploring vulnerability and cultural notions of grief. You can check out the full project on josephsradford.com.
Key facts
- William Josephs Radford created the project 'Transparent'.
- The project uses artificial intelligence and generative editing tools to remove his father from childhood photographs.
- The altered images are reproduced using lenticular printing.
- Tilting the print makes the father's figure appear and disappear.
- Scenes include a man on a floral-patterned sofa, a parent and child by the sea, and play with bricks and spades.
- Other settings include a blue-polka-dot armchair, a kiss, a toast amongst cacti, a family portrait in front of a pink house, and embracing a newborn in hospital.
- The work challenges Roland Barthes's notion of photography as irrefutable proof of what has been.
- It draws on Jacques Derrida's concept of the 'spectre'.
- Unlike technologies that prolong the deceased through digital avatars, Radford uses digital tools to subtract.
- The project is viewable at josephsradford.com.
Entities
Artists
- William Josephs Radford
- Roland Barthes
- Jacques Derrida
Institutions
- C41 Magazine