cathedral
Project Description
"My Own Cathedral" is a deeply reflective project that merges personal introspection with the creative power of artificial intelligence. This project is inspired by the metaphor of cathedral builders—anonymous individuals who devoted their lives to constructing monumental works of art, often without seeing the final result or receiving any recognition. The project uses AI to explore the idea of building one's personal "cathedral"—a metaphor for the life we create through our actions, sacrifices, and unseen efforts.
It is a conference that narrates how Nicole Johnson realized that she was invisible to the people around her, until she finds the answer in a gift a friend gave her: A book about the cathedrals arround Europe.
“You can’t name the names of the people who built the great cathedrals. Over and over again looking at the giant monuments , you scan down to see the names and it says:
“Builder Unknown”, “Unknown”
They coompleted things not knowing that anyone would notice. Theres a story about one of the builders who was carving a tiny bird inside a beam that would be cover over by a roof. And someone came up to him and said:
-“Why are you speding so much time in something no one will ever see”
and the builder said:
-“because God sees”
They trusted God saw everything. They gave their whole lifes for a work they would never see finished, they showed up day after day. Some cathedrals took 100 years to build, thats more than one working man’s lifetime.
Day after day .
And made personal sacrifices for no credit, showing up at a job they would never see finished and their name would never be on. One great writter said : no great cathedrals would ever be build again because so few people are willing to sacrifice to that degree. “
Inspiration and Concept:
The concept stems from a story about Nicole Johnson, who felt invisible until she discovered a book about European cathedrals, gifted to her by a friend. The realization that many of the greatest cathedrals were built by unknown hands, over lifetimes, resonated deeply with her. This idea serves as a powerful metaphor for life: we all contribute to something greater, often without recognition, and the true impact of our work may only be seen long after we are gone.
"My Own Cathedral" is a digital exploration of this metaphor, using AI to create a visual representation of a cathedral that is both complete and in-progress. The AI-generated cathedral symbolizes the ongoing process of life—how each action, like a pixel in a digital image, contributes to the overall picture we are building. The project visually deconstructs the cathedral into pixels, representing the idea that our lives are also "under construction," continuously shaped by our daily actions and decisions.
Process and Elements:
AI-Generated Imagery: The project begins with the creation of a cathedral using AI, based on a detailed description of the envisioned structure. The AI's interpretation mirrors the creator's vision, emphasizing the collaborative potential between human creativity and artificial intelligence.
Pixel Decomposition: The cathedral image is then broken down into pixels, symbolizing the ongoing nature of life's construction. This decomposition reflects the idea that, like the builders of the great cathedrals, our work is never truly finished—it evolves over time.
Logo Creation:
A logo is designed to encapsulate this concept, representing the idea of a cathedral still in the process of being built, a visual metaphor for the journey of life.
Objective:
The objective of "My Own Cathedral" is to inspire introspection and appreciation for the unseen efforts that shape our lives. By blending AI with human creativity, the project seeks to highlight the importance of each small action and how these contribute to the greater whole. It invites viewers to reflect on the "cathedral" they are building through their own lives and to recognize the value of their contributions, whether seen or unseen.
