Rooted in Code
Nejc Trampuž
The film is set in the year 2057. In a polluted city, a permaculture garden flourishes on the roof of one of the skyscrapers, and it is looked after by a robot gardener together with an elderly botanist. Suitable for all generations, the film speculates about the degraded state of the environment, nature and ecosystem in the future, but at the same time presents a utopian vision and solutions to the environmental crisis. Add to the equation the question of the impact of artificial intelligence on our society, everyday life and the environment.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the environmental crisis is one of the most important social issues of modern times. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly clear that we need to do something about it – but first we need to know what we can do and what we need to stand up for. Therefore, it is a prerequisite to imagine a utopian version of our society and the world. This is, among other things, the mentality and aesthetics of solarpunk, which is reflected in the film.
Tectonic shifts are also happening in the technological field: we are witnessing the rapid development of UI tools, which in the future will have a strong impact on many areas of our lives, as well as on the art, creative and film industry. How will this technology affect our lives in the future? During the practical execution of the film, the author Nejc Trampuž experimented and tested the capabilities of new generative UI tools, which were used to generate animation and sound elements, as well as to write the story, script and visual design of characters and scenes. In creating the sound, he collaborated with the artist and sound designer Tim Kropivšek, and the actor and interpreter Blaž Šef lent his voice. The film premiered in the Osmo/za gallery.
The content of the film opens up many questions for viewers at the intersection of the mentioned fields: ecology and UI – and it does not necessarily want to answer them, but rather to ask them. How can UI help us solve environmental problems? What about imagining an idealized ecological society? And the dangers of UI? Is society capable of self-reflection and transformation? What will life look like in 2057?