Walking into Jayaram’s Miami studio, it’s impossible to miss the 40-foot Artbox LED screen that dominates one wall of the space. It’s a unique piece, made exponentially more so by its display of mesmerizing, custom-made digital artwork by Ezequiel Pini, a.k.a Six N. Five, an award-winning Argentinian digital artist and designer based in Barcelona. Over the last decade, Pini has pioneered the use of 3D to create imaginary, dreamlike worlds with his signature clean, modern aesthetic.
His work incorporates different mediums to explore imaginary spaces, moving stories and physical works. In his own words, “I draw inspiration from everything around me: spaces, places, people, and their cultures. However, my greatest source of inspiration is undoubtedly nature and its intricate beauty. Over the years, I’ve tried to combine different disciplines to reinterpret this majesty, from architecture, landscaping to cinematography and different types of artistic mediums.”
His extensive experience working with renowned brands and creators makes him one of the most recognized digital artists of the moment, for his artistic ability and spatial vision of the future. His work includes several installations and current exhibitions around the world. Here, Pini shares more about his creative process, his thoughts on AI and automation’s place in the artistic process, and where he draws inspiration outside of the studio.
JL
Tell us about how your artistic journey started. Did you always know you wanted to pursue it as a career?
EP
My artistic journey began in my early years. I grew up in a modest neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where my parents instilled in me the values of passion, hard work, and love for what I do.
JL
How and when did your specific interest in digital art and CGI start?
EP
During high school, I was fascinated with programming and computers, which led me to participate in digital art contests and design projects.
My interest in digital art and CGI started during high school when I chose to study computer science. I was captivated by everything related to programming and computers and participated in digital art contests and design projects. After finishing high school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in art and design, so I enrolled in the faculty of architecture, design, and urbanism at the University of Buenos Aires in 2003. This decision was influenced by my desire to combine computers and creativity, and to express myself through tools that gave me freedom, with the potential of creating art that felt possible in a physical world, and this opened up a whole new world for me.
JL
Your works are incredibly realistic in many ways, but also incorporate surrealist elements. Are there certain emotions that you hope to evoke in viewers entering these worlds?
EP
I found pleasure in creating and interacting with the tools I like to play with. The possibility of creating my own worlds, which don’t have to necessarily follow the rules of the world we know, is what excites me the most — even more if I can process through my own lenses. In terms of emotions, I aim to evoke a sense of calm, peace, and personal meditation. I often find myself creating worlds and situations that I need or would like to be in at that moment. By modeling a mountain or digitally pruning a tree, I find tranquility, and I hope to transmit these sensations to the viewer while also awakening their curiosity for new artistic practices and techniques. I love the idea of blending reality with surreal elements to make people question what they are seeing, creating a sense of wonder and introspection. And if all this can be transmitted to the viewer and create similar feelings, the circle is complete to me.
JL
Your recent “Artificial Spaces” installation with someform Studio allowed visitors to generate and explore unique architectural environments using generative design and real-time rendering software. What role do you think various automation and AI technology can play in the creative process?
EP
For the Artificial Spaces project, it’s interesting to note that we didn’t use any artificial intelligence. Instead, we manually designed all the architectural possibilities and styles, climates, and environments in 3D. This approach generated a vast array of values and options, which, when combined, create nearly infinite unique spaces.
That said, artificial intelligence is already significantly impacting all disciplines, including art. We are undoubtedly facing a new revolution. AI can enhance our process by providing new inputs, automating repetitive tasks, and improving efficiency and precision. As AI technology advances, it will open up new opportunities for creative expression and experimentation, introducing new types of artists using these tools.
Historically, every new technology has caused uncertainties. For example, photographers were initially seen as a threat to representational painters. Similarly, 3D technology and being commissioned to create “realistic” images was once considered a threat to photographers’ work. From a commercial perspective, we have all managed to coexist. From an artistic perspective, I just see them as tools. AI is now mainstream, but artists have been using it for over a decade to generate new art. Ultimately, these are tools for expression, and we specialize in the ones we like or feel comfortable with.
Personally, I am working on creating my own AI model, using my work from the past decade to optimize and enhance my creative process. I see these new technologies as advantageous tools. However, I believe there should be regulations to address the uncertainties and misuses of AI. Emerging regulations will likely make its use fairer for everyone in the future.
JL
We’re lucky enough to have one of your works displayed in our Miami office. What attracted you to that project, and what was your process when designing for the space?
EP
With Jayaram we share a great passion for everything related to creativity, in all its aspects and disciplines. There is a spirit of curiosity for the new, but also for creation and innovation that are common values, and I could feel from the first moment that we spoke the same language. What motivated me the most was the space or canvas generated for a collaboration in a place like Miami, but also with someone like Snarkitecture, whose work I had been following for a long time because of my proximity and taste for good architecture. There I was able to meet Alex and other fabulous people from his team.
The piece had a very particular horizontal format, and the city of Miami provided some concepts and themes that we wanted to explore in this collaboration. The reflective table acted as a support, allowing the top and bottom to blur, also inspired me to dive underwater to discover another invisible world, while integrating seamlessly into the space.
The water is very beautiful and beautifully integrated into the space. It was important to me that the artwork not only looked beautiful, but also brought a sense of tranquility and inspiration to the office environment.
JL
You’ve collaborated with a wide range of brands, from huge tech companies to jewelry and fashion brands to design studios. Are there certain qualities you look for when exploring potential collaborations?
EP
All these years I have enjoyed developing my ideas and putting energy into my personal pieces, as a form of pleasure and personal need. I believe that time dedicated to what you like, will always lead people to know and call on you. So when I receive a proposal of collaboration with brands, I like if they share a vision and values similar to mine. It is important to me that the collaboration allows me creative freedom and is in line with my artistic concerns. I enjoy when there is a certain openness to experimentation and innovation, to go beyond mere commercial purposes. This is definitely the priority and determining factor for a project, even
if I know how to do the technical development.
JL
Your name (Six N. Five) was inspired by the moments after a workday when you can start to think about your own creative pursuits. Where do you find inspiration outside of the studio?
EP
I find inspiration in the simple pleasures and routines of everyday life. Spending time alone helps me a lot, especially enjoying early morning activities before the day begins. They help clear my mind and spark new ideas. My love for sports, particularly triathlon, provides long times being alone with my mind and in consequence a meditative space where my thoughts can wander freely. Additionally, traveling and experiencing different cultures, landscapes, and architectural styles always fuels my creativity.
I could also say contact with nature — I recently moved out of the city, and it’s my first time living in a house. Being surrounded by greenery and open spaces helps me reset and often sparks new ideas, and it’s something I wanted to incorporate at this stage of my life. I recently realized that growing up and living my whole life in apartments, may have brought this unconscious need to explore a lot with digital nature in the past, incorporating elements of the natural environment into my work. This practice not only fuels my creativity but also provides a sense of balance and peace in my life.
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