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The EpilepsiaAI Project

The EpilepsiaAI Project

An AI generated NFT collection by @failoften

Last night I had a seizure,
and my computer made some art in response.


About the Project
About My Epilepsy
Physical Manifestations
Project Outcome
Creative Process
Iteration Examples
Purchasing

AI Output Example

Available Now On:

Foundation


JPG Store

“Bed, Bath, and Beyond” Series

Policy ID: 81b5e336f1e9d0c1069b56d464b2272668f3aaaa898f04cc7ec95fd0


Purchase on:

Foundation
JPG Store

About The Project

Using text-to-image and video computer learning, I am creating a limited series of NFTs about my battle with epilepsy and seizures. Based on phrases, photography, and mixing aesthetic styles, I form a space and mood for the computer to generate an image or video from.

This is my first attempt as an artist to discuss my experiences publicly, but I hope this can inform as well as encourage others in the process.

About My Epilepsy

Everybody’s epilepsy is different. Such as: not all are “grand mal,” not everyone with epilepsy is affected by flashing lights, and no, they don’t know how to cure it. Here are a few things that I experience with my own epilepsy.

During my early teen years I began to experience my first attacks. Not knowing what they were, I found ways to cope by hiding in bathroom stalls and closets, and generally staying away from stressful and very social situations.

While staying at a friend’s house in San Diego during a long project/road trip, I had a 7+ hour long attack that was severe and long enough that I was put in a medically induced coma on ventilator, placing me in the ICU for almost 2 weeks.

At the age of 27 I was then given three separate diagnoses:

  1. Localized, Temporal Lobe Epileptic Seizures
  2. Generalized, Tonic-Clonic Epileptic Seizures
  3. Non-Epileptic Seizures

No direct causation has been found, though some factors such as anxiety and stress are indicating factors, even days in advance.

I have multiple family members that have been diagnosed with different forms of epilepsy, although a chromosomal or genetic link has not been established.


Physical Manifestations

My seizures are almost always nocturnal; they happen late at night or in the early mornings.

They change in duration, but usually happen in “clusters” of 3-10 minutes, lasting around 1 minute each.

If I am already awake, I never lose consciousness.

During a seizure, I am unable to speak or breath, my muscles tighten, my arms straighten, I get an “aura” and blurry vision, and I become very flushed and sweaty with a racing heartbeat.

When they are severe, my muscles spasm in my neck, arms, and it may go on from there to needing to gasp for air or sit/lay down. These clusters may last multiple hours, multiple nights a week.

Because they are at night, I am in and out of sleep, which creates a kind of time vortex where I am unable to make rational thoughts or actions, even though I may be aware I am in need of assistance. Afterwards, I am physically and mentally exhausted.

I have been on more medications than I can remember, and I expect this to continue for the foreseeable future, because with every new neurologist I meet I’m reminded:

“…there really isn’t a lot we know about the brain.”

Project Outcome

It has been an elusive goal of mine to allow someone without seizures, to experience the sensation of one first-hand.

In this open project series, I will be using AI and other computer generated models to create images and videos that strive toward this goal. I will be posting my initial images as well as the continued research that comes out of this area.


The Creative Process

Locating nouns, adjectives, key terms, and other information that had a feeling of what I envisioned.

Continuing to add effects such as abstraction, hyperrealism, and influences from artists such as Goya and Courbet.

Adding VRAY and volumetric lighting and finding best iteration numbers.

Creating rooms and environments

Using personal photography for initial seed image.

Configuring local set-up of video “stories” using PyTorch.

Creating first video and minted on Cardano blockchain.

All tokens on the Tezos blockchain were burned on 1/19/2022.

Verified on JPG Store, February 2022

Verified and available on Foundation, February 2022

Iteration Example

Purchasing


The EpilepsiaAI Project is available for purchase online as NFTs on the Cardano blockchain.


For help on how to set up a wallet and buy a piece please contact me for help.