Eclephsia INTRVW.eXe – 002 – Hossein Askari
SUBJECTHOSSEIN//EXP002//INTRVW.eX
Eclephsia’s explorer (E>E) embarked on a digital quest, delving deep into the virtual realms of Instagram. Their journey led them to stumble upon a digital treasure trove—the account of Hossein.
At first glance, what caught E>E’s eye was the sheer intensity of content: a mosaic of gore, visceral depictions, and a finely curated collection of memes and art. It was an immersive experience like no other.
However, little did they know that they were only scratching the surface of a deep, dark, beautiful artform, with an intricate world waiting to be uncovered.
As E>E delved deeper, they unearthed the fact that Hossein was not just an art curator but an artist in his own right. His keen eye had a talent for capturing the raw, often violent, and gut-wrenching facets of life. These creations transcended mere explicitness; they delved into the fragile boundaries of mental states, striking a chord that resonated with the very core of human emotion.
Amidst the chaos and turmoil depicted in these works of art, there was a peculiar glimmer—a twisted hope that shone through, easily missed by those who didn’t seek it. Suddenly, the violence ceased to be the central theme; a profound message began to take form.
Coming from a land marked by political unrest, Iran, Hossein skillfully wove his personal experiences into his art, creating a vivid and almost tangible narrative. E>E got marveled at how he managed to encapsulate his story and stance in the ongoing battle for self-expression.
Yet, what truly left E>E in awe was Hossein’s innovative use of AI. In an age where the terms ‘artist’ and ‘AI’ seldom coexisted, Hossein had uncovered something remarkable—the soul within the machine, the very essence that resided between the ones and zeros. Through his vision, AI took on a profound human quality, a testament to his unique talent.
And so, the story of this digital odyssey concluded with the discovery of Hossein—an artist whose work transcends boundaries and whose use of AI breathes new life into the world of art.
INTRVW.eXe-002-Q1
You have been dealing with AI long before it became popular, how do you approach to this tool and what does the future hold in your opinion?
Well I wouldn’t say I’ve been dealing with it before it got popular. AI was always popular in its own way, and it is still one of the most interesting things in computer world.
But yes I started before the more accessible tools were introduced and more people started using it. I started using it when the codes were not as diverse as it is now and somehow it helped me to understand how it works better. Because the codes were not as organized and clean as they are today, lots of modifications were needed to make them work and with my basic knowledge of programming that wasn’t possible, so I had to learn coding more and also had to understand the logic of the code to make it work. I’m actually happy with that limitations as they forced me to get creative and learn more.
INTRVW.eXe-002-Q2
“I cannot be certain about the future as everything evolves so quickly these days that the best you can do is to keep up with the ongoing things, but one thing I’m certain of is that eventually we’re going to settle this big debate on whether AI generated content is a part of fine arts or not. Right now it’s all just online arguments and speculations and nothing valuable is coming from both sides.”
Where do you come from and how does your motherland influence your work?
I’m from Iran and over the years my country is getting isolated from the rest of the world mainly due to our tyrannical government, this isolation is both economical and cultural. In a technical level it’s pure hell. For using simple services like google drive or openAI I need to fake my identity and use third party services to be able to pay and use those services. In the cultural context, it somehow shapes my path.
Before anything, my first priority was to flee from my country, which is almost done. I’ve got accepted for a master’s degree in computational arts in London and I’ll be there this summer. After that, this isolation makes it harder to keep up with the world, so I had to try harder to find resources and create more interesting things to be seen. And in a contextual sense, you can see some of the influences of my life in here on some of my works like the prisonheads or my daily sketches.
INTRVW.eXe-002-Q3
Different kinds of horror elements reign on your artwork, is this intentional or just a byproduct of the result?
The horror you speak of is a part of my approach to art. I try to visualize things in a naked way.
I try to see humans as they are. Sometimes they are beautiful creatures, sometimes they’re just flesh and bones, and sometimes they’re just a figure. I try to include emotions into the paintings as visual elements too, and sometimes it results in a fluid surge of colors and patterns. Resulting into violent scenes. This is produced both by me and the AI.
I would say that AI plays a key role in making those fluidity, which is very important to me. I try to blend every aspect of my vision into a single piece of work and the way the AI works helps a lot with that.
INTRVW.eXe-002-Q4
Is your art made to be shown to the world? Or they just come to live because you need to get them out of your chest?
It is made to show people how I perceive things and to see how they feel about my vision.
INTRVW.eXe-002-Q5
What is your favorite meme at the moment?
This one will be always in my favorites.
Interview by Eclephsia • Subject: HOSSEIN aka “Francis Baken” • © 2025
Filed under: - @ 16 May 2025 3h10