A covering based on an AI generated track
Obvious collaborated with Alpine to create the A110 Sastruga, an AI-generated art car using GANs trained on Alpine’s racing history. Obvious trained Generative Adversarial Networks to create a new racing track, one that represents the perfect race for Alpine.
Based on all the images of the racing tracks, and using the racing results of Alpine, they weighted the model in order to lead the model to a creation specific to Alpine.
Sculpted by mountain air flows
Using this racing track, Obvious worked in collaboration with the researchers at Alpine to model the air friction on the car during a fictive race around the AI generated Alpine track.
They used the output to create a design, taking inspiration from a phenomenon called Sastruga, which is the pattern created by the erosion caused by the wind on snow.
Creating the Alpine Mountain
Obvious then decided to make a flat visualization of the design, and to turn it into a topographic map, consequently modeling a mountain out of the friction measured on the car. This sculpture was exhibited at Art Paris, where the car was unveiled for the first time.
Within the mountain, the shape of the car can be distinguished, bringing together the identity of Alpine and its most iconic product.
Hidden details and references
Hidden within the design is a reference to Damasio's work "La Horde du Contrevent", a SF book in which a group of people travel against the wind to find its origin. The car is also signed with the mathematical formula of GANs, Obvious' signature.
The car and a 3D printed representation of the mountain created by the friction of the wind were presented at Art Paris, along with an explanation of the process and the steps performeto reach the final design.
A series of digital works
For the creation of the series of digital artworks, Obvious sought to delve deeper into the concept initially developed for the covering of the A110 Sastruga. They applied the same creation steps with different weights specific to the different countries in which Alpine evolves.
To create the visual elements for the artworks, they employed text-to-image algorithms, inputting prompts based on an iconic mountain and a specific type of light unique to each country. These AI-generated images also served as the basis for defining color palettes applied to the car’s covering.