Krati Metafoor / The Kratt Metaphor

The Kratt metaphor is a photographic collaboration between Eugénie Baccot, Cyril Abad, and the artificial intelligence called MidJourney.

In this journey to the heart of artificial intelligence and ancient Estonian rituals (known as Mauusk, literally “land faith”), we will meet the new actors of virtualization who are shaping in their laboratories the societies of the future with intelligent autonomous cars, amphibious robotic turtles for fish farms, and android bartenders able to hold a simple conversation with a customer. We will also be encountering the guardians of ancient rituals and Estonian folklore who, more than ever, are defending the sacred and healing power of the earth against the onslaught of modernity.

The photographic project was inspired by the Estonian government’s use of the Kratt as a metaphor for artificial intelligence (AI) in order to raise public awareness of the concept of AI. It is also used to initiate debate on the status of AI in a country that is aiming for total digitization (today, more than 99% of government services are provided online). This analogy, which goes so far as to give the government virtualization program the name #KrattAI, was inspired by the central place of folklore and ancient beliefs in Estonian culture.

Authors:

EUGENIE BACCOT.

Human being and independent photographer for more than 10 years.

Produces long term photographic projects around the world.

MIDJOURNEY

Artificial intelligence program generating images from text description.

Midjourney works as a bot on the Discord server.

CYRIL ABAD

Human being and independent pho[1]tographer for ten years. Produces long term documentary projects with a singular and often offbeat perspective on the role of man in society.

Opening of the exhibition at the Põlva Cultural Center, Estonia on May 30, 2024