Artist Feature: Ygor Marotta, Projection Artist, Animator, Musician, Entrepreneur

Ygor Marotta is a visionary artist and animator behind the magic of VJ Suave, Microdosys, and Passaro. His journey from the vibrant streets of São Paulo to the global stage has been marked by a beautiful blend of street art, animation, and now, cutting-edge AI technology. We’ll delve into Ygor’s journey as an artist, his innovative integration of AI into his workflow, and the exciting projects he has in the pipeline.

Early Journey and Notable Projects

Ygor Marotta’s journey began in 2009 with street art graffiti in São Paulo, Brazil. One of his early tags, "Mais Amor Por Favor" ("More Love Please"), gained widespread popularity and became a well-known phrase throughout the streets of Brazil.

Later he started a collaboration with an Argentine artist, leading to the creation of VJ Suave. Together, they ventured into animations and projections, producing short movies with frame-by-frame animations projected onto the streets.

In 2012, Ygor and his partner introduced the Suaveciclo, a projector tricycle that brought their animations to various festivals around the world. They traveled to over 25 countries, participating in new media art, animation, and street art festivals. One of their notable works includes the Enchanted Forest VR Game and the ongoing immersive room exhibit Birds of Northeast at the Museum of Image & Sound of Fortaleza.

Ygor also ventured into music production with the project Passaro, a collaborative effort involving a team of three. They released two albums online, with one of them also available on vinyl.

Integration of AI into Artistic Workflow

Ygor's exploration into AI began in 2021 when he started experimenting with various tools, the first one being piTTy. Through various use-case of AI, he launched an art project Microdosys, where he utilized AI to create magical art inspired by the jungle using tools like Deform, Stable Diffusion, and ComfyUI.

Ygor also combines AI-generated animations with other software like Resolume Arena to create video-mapping and experimental compositions, enhancing the visual dynamics of live performances.

The Future of AI Art Projects

Ygor envisions many further enhancements in AI tools, such as the ability to generate PNGs with transparency and create GIFs with transparent backgrounds. Additionally, he hopes for improved loop animation capabilities and the development of an AI character builder that can create animations without the need for frame-by-frame drawing.

In October, he will participate in an art residency in Taiwan, where he will collaborate with Renata Chebel to create an interactive installation featuring a virtual character that speaks in poetic phrases and interacts with visitors. This character will generate images and video loops, with the aesthetics developed using Eden. They aim to collaborate with Eden to integrate these AI-generated elements seamlessly into the installation. We’re all very excited for this new endeavor!