KUSH / A.I Diallo weaves her passion for analogue photography and exploration of Afrofuturist aesthetics with the emerging force of AI. She showcases a set of AI-generated images portraying vast landscapes reminiscent of parts of Africa she visited, infused with spiritual insight. Diallo takes viewers into an imagined world informed by her experiences, inspired by the Kush civilization in ancient Egypt and the book “The African Origin of Civilization” by Cheickh Anta Diop. Through her experimentation with various media, Diallo developed a unique AI design process, creating striking images of reimagined pasts.Through Diallo’s work, Afrofuturism and AI challenge the persistent narrative and bias of a bleak future by presenting infinite ways of imagining freedom. The machine, rather than a harbinger of doom, becomes a mirror reflecting visions of prosperity and possibility. As “Space Is the Place” resonates, the question arises: Why can’t we imagine a place for us to thrive right here?She stressed that if something exists in the mind, all we need are the tools to bring our visions of the future, informed by the realities and mysteries of the past, to life. Afrofuturism stands as a powerful counter-narrative to the prevailing dystopian views of the future, inviting us to reimagine a world where technology, culture, and humanity coalesce in harmony.Diallo’s Kush Collection serves as a tangible example of this vision. Afrofuturism has never solely been an artistic movement but a guiding philosophy that encourages us to co-author the story of our future. While AI is often deemed dystopian, there is ample proof of the synergy between human and machine. The tools we have at our disposal allow us to transcend traditional boundaries and create in ways we simply couldn’t before. Everything we can imagine is now within our reach, and people no longer have to wait to bring their ideas to life—the tool has been given to us.by Aklil Molosi
Delphine Diallo
Delphine Diallo is a Brooklyn-based French and Senegalese visual artist and photographer.