Carina Nebula Dreamscape

On April 24, 2007, in celebration of the 17th anniversary of the launch and deployment of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, a team of astronomers released one of the largest panoramic images ever taken with Hubble's cameras, a 50-light-year-wide view of the central region of the Carina Nebula where a maelstrom of star birth--and death--is taking place. Over 9 years later in late 2016, with access to a proprietary version of Google’s “Deep Dream” artificial intelligence software modified expressly for my artistic purposes by two brilliant software engineers, Joseph Smarr (Google) and Chris Lamb (NVIDIA), I saw the opportunity to transform this spectacular image into a metaphor for human imagination and ingenuity. My "Carina Nebula Dreamscape" is the final installment in my art series, Dreamscapes 2: From Inner Space to Outer Space, which explores the creative application of artificial intelligence to ultra-high-resolution imagery ranging from microscopic to cosmic scale. In this particular piece, I intentionally chose a “dreaming” style deep in the A.I.’s neural network that would result in animalistic hallucinations only perceptible upon close inspection. In my view, the infusion of a myriad of AI-generated creatures into this Hubble image is quite fitting given that mankind has been imagining creatures in the stars for millennia. When one considers the science and technology that had to first be developed before this image could be created (optics, rocketry, astronomy, semiconductors, computer science, computer graphics, AI, deep learning), it boggles the mind. It is my hope and expectation that when viewers engage with this image, they are not only inspired by the sheer vastness and beauty of our universe, but they also sense the infinite potential of man-machine collaborations in both science and art.

Carina Nebula, Carina the Keel Constellation, Milky Way Galaxy
Underlying imagery courtesy of the Hubble Heritage Project; 29566 x 14321 px
Credit for Hubble Image: NASA, ESA, N. Smith (University of California, Berkeley), and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
Credit for CTIO Image: N. Smith (University of California, Berkeley) and NOAO/AURA/NSF
(Click here to interactively explore entire scene.)
From Dreamscapes 2: From Inner Space to Outer Space
Carina Nebula - Detail #1
From Dreamscapes 2: From Inner Space to Outer Space
Carina Nebula - Detail #2
From Dreamscapes 2: From Inner Space to Outer Space
Carina Nebula - Detail #3
From Dreamscapes 2: From Inner Space to Outer Space
Carina Nebula - Detail #4
From Dreamscapes 2: From Inner Space to Outer Space
Carina Nebula Dreamscape - Light Box Simulation
Available as a unique edition LED-edgelit silicone-edged tension fabric structure (aluminum frame). This light box is 96" high x 192" wide x 4.75” deep and can be free-standing, wall-mounted, or ceiling-suspended. Price: $48,500 (USD; does not include sales tax, shipping, or installation; purchase includes assembly in place and supervision of installation for U.S. purchases only; remote supervision elsewhere). For inquiries, please click the "CONTACT" link above. [Photo simulation shows artist, Daniel Ambrosi (left), and contributing engineer, Joseph Smarr (right)]
Carina Nebula Dreamscape - 40" x 40" Detail #1
Available as a limited edition (5 plus 1 artist proof) LED-edgelit silicone-edged tension fabric structure (aluminum frame). This light box is 40" high x 40" wide x 3.5” deep and is designed for wall mounting with concealed cord. Price: $7,500 (USD; does not include sales tax, shipping, or installation; ships with all required tools and instructions for assembly and includes mounting hardware.). For inquiries, please click the "CONTACT" link above.
Carina Nebula Dreamscape - 40" x 40" Detail #2
Available as a limited edition (5 plus 1 artist proof) LED-edgelit silicone-edged tension fabric structure (aluminum frame). This light box is 40" high x 40" wide x 3.5” deep and is designed for wall mounting with concealed cord. Price: $7,500 (USD; does not include sales tax, shipping, or installation; ships with all required tools and instructions for assembly and includes mounting hardware.). For inquiries, please click the "CONTACT" link above.
Carina Nebula Dreamscape - 40" x 40" Detail #3
Available as a limited edition (5 plus 1 artist proof) LED-edgelit silicone-edged tension fabric structure (aluminum frame). This light box is 40" high x 40" wide x 3.5” deep and is designed for wall mounting with concealed cord. Price: $7,500 (USD; does not include sales tax, shipping, or installation; ships with all required tools and instructions for assembly and includes mounting hardware.). For inquiries, please click the "CONTACT" link above.
Carina Nebula Dreamscape - 40" x 40" Detail #4
Available as a limited edition (5 plus 1 artist proof) LED-edgelit silicone-edged tension fabric structure (aluminum frame). This light box is 40" high x 40" wide x 3.5” deep and is designed for wall mounting with concealed cord. Price: $7,500 (USD; does not include sales tax, shipping, or installation; ships with all required tools and instructions for assembly and includes mounting hardware.). For inquiries, please click the "CONTACT" link above.
Carina Nebula Dreamscape Video Loop
This 30-second, 60 frames per second, HD video loop is available for bidding on SuperRare as a unique edition digital artwork; reserve price: 20.0Ξ

Daniel Ambrosi

Carina Nebula Dreamscape