PHOTOWORLD Magazine

Glitch Fleur

Photography by Ellie Pritts
Interviewed & Text by Wang Dan

Ellie Pritts is an American new media artist who skillfully blends creative technology with both analog and digital narrative techniques. Her work is characterized by a multi-color palette, glitch aesthetics, and self-portraiture. Pritts is renowned for her use of emerging technologies. She navigates seamlessly between the virtual and physical realms, offering viewers a window into her inner world. Her artistic perception is shaped by synesthesia, allowing her to experience and express her surroundings in a uniquely multi-sensory way. She interprets colors, movement, and sound, weaving them into narrative forms. Her work includes large-scale installations, prints, vibrant floral designs, murals, and captivating videos, all of which showcase her vivid and imaginative world.

Due to a neurological condition, Pritts' hand movements have become limited, preventing her from using traditional painting techniques. The Glitch Fleur series began with modular video synthesis, where she manipulated the rhythm, patterns, and tones of analog video streams, blending footage of real flowers with glitch responses in dynamic oscillation, embodying the bright colors and graphic visual effects of pop art. She moves between the virtual and physical, inviting the audience to glimpse into her inner world.

• Please give us a brief introduction of the Static Glitch Fleur:
  
  My “Glitch Fleur" series consists of printed (static) and dynamic video artworks, each piece capturing the ephemeral life cycles of flowers. In this series I sought to create a striking juxtaposition between the inherent natural beauty of floriculture and the distinct mechanical textures produced by a video synthesizer. This exploration was particularly fascinating as it allowed me to delve into the rhythmic oscillations between the synthesized textures and the organic, time-lapse imagery of flowers in their phases of blooming and wilting. That interplay highlights the contrast between organic growth and mechanical intervention. Hopefully the series inspires viewers to contemplate the delicate balance between the two by offering a unique perspective on the transient nature of beauty.
  

• Where did you get the inspiration for this series? What do you want to express through this work?
  
  The inspiration behind this series comes from the profound and universal cycle of life and death, an experience that touches all living beings. I wanted to express and evoke deep reflection on this inescapable aspect of existence by blending the seemingly disparate realms of technology and organic life. I wanted to share the ways that technology can be beautiful in a way that also feels organic.
  

• How did you come up with the idea of creating art in the form of analogue video streams combined with images?
  
  The idea to combine these methods was born out of my innate curiosity to intertwine various mediums and technologies. I just wanted to see what would happen. My recursive practice of combining this with that produces outcomes that are inherently unpredictable and often singular in their existence. This ephemeral process feels magical to me.
  

• Is your creative style influenced by Pop Art? Who are your favourite artists?
  
  My artistic style is mostly rooted in surrealism, a movement that fascinates me with its exploration of the unconscious mind. Filmmaker David Lynch has been a longstanding favorite artist of mine. I am also deeply influenced by music. While my work is not directly inspired by Pop Art, I think my vibrant colors lend themselves to the Pop Art style and comparison to icons like Andy Warhol.
  

• How did you work with AI and the other traditional methods?
  
  My approach to collaborating creatively with AI is generally the same as my approach to traditional mediums; characterized by an exploratory spirit and openness to the act of creation itself. My process begins with a completely open and curious mind, allowing the interplay between different mediums—be it digital or “traditional”—to guide my creative path. Whether integrating AI with analog art from the outset or layering physical art over digital creations, this iterative process creates a fascinating interplay between the tangible and the virtual for me.
  

• How do you view the impact of AI on art? What do you think AI has brought you?
  
  I see the impact of AI in the arts as a paradigm shift, challenging traditional ideas of authorship, creativity, and the value of art. It also democratizes access to artistic expression. I view these as positives. My personal journey with AI has been transformative, enabling me to transcend all kinds of limitations and struggles. AI feels like an extension of myself at this point. It has brought me opportunities that I used to only dream of, and for that I am incredibly grateful.
  

• You work in photography, illustration, painting, animation and now even fashion, what are your plans for the future？
  
  I plan to continue exploring, to continue pushing boundaries and reaching new people. My ambition is to fuse the different mediums I work with into large scale, immersive worlds and experiences that inspire a global audience. I plan to stand as a testament to all that is possible and shine that light of possibility as far and wide as I can.