This series began as a conversation between two ways of making marks. Ken Kawasaki is a traditional calligrapher from Tokyo, and VTOPYA works with generative AI. The images came out of a back and forth between his hand and the studio's process, with each side answering the other's work.

VTOPYA started with a set of images inspired by calligraphy: black feathered shapes curling across muted grey and sand backgrounds, and quiet figures crouching or standing with bowed heads beneath sculptural headpieces of wings, feathers and ornamental scrolls. Ken responded with his own calligraphy, written by hand, taking in the rhythm and movement of these compositions. The studio then scanned his pieces and brought them back into AI to change the texture of each stroke. Some became liquid chrome, others feathers, striped plumage or glossy gold, while keeping the energy of his original gesture. Finally, VTOPYA layered them into the images…