A FORT REGENT INSPIRED ART EXHIBITION RECREATING THE STRANGE HOLD CHILDHOOD SPACES HAVE ON ADULT MEMORIES

Nostalgia is a word that comes from Greek and means a sentimental yearning for the past. It can evoke feelings of pleasure with occasional notes of sadness. Nostalgia can be triggered by many things, such as music, movies, places, or people. Nostalgia can have positive effects on mood, social connectedness, self-esteem, and meaning in life. This exhibition displays Will’s experience with Nostalgia, recreating his childhood memories and reigniting his past intense attachment to the Fort through the use of an (AI) Artificial Intelligence tool. The unusual composition of the images seen throughout the exhibition are often similar to those seen in dreams or hallucinations allowing viewer’s past memories relating to Will’s exhibition to resurface. Will’s lifetime with autism enables him to create a unique unseen response to the theme of Nostalgia stemming from his obsession with swimming pools, fun fairs and leisure centres.

The images consist of differing childhood activities, the sounds, smells and feelings present have been incorporated into Will’s exhibition allowing viewers a realistic experience of the past Fort Regent. The construction of the image through AI has also added to the dreamy feel of Will’s childhood allowing him to present his memories as best as he can.

I thoroughly enjoyed Will’s exhibition as the images and experience effectively created a sense of Nostalgia from my childhood as I’m sure it did to others. Although Will’s use of AI may be controversial to some as a man widely seen as the godfather of artificial intelligence (AI) quit his job, warning about the growing dangers from developments in the field.