What’s real and what’s fake? Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking image manipulation to a whole new level. However, the deliberate alteration of photos is not a phenomenon unique to the digital age. Ever since the invention of photography, images have been edited after the fact. The exhibition “Real Now?!” at the Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg in Stuttgart showcases retouching techniques dating back as far as 120 years and draws a connection to so-called deepfakes.
It all began with painstaking craftsmanship: for example, coloring entire scenes or inserting decorative figures. At the beginning of the 20th century, publishers such as Gebrüder Metz in Tübingen and A. Weber & Co. in Stuttgart used these techniques to transform photographs into idealized postcards of cities. The exhibition uses originals and projections to illustrate how the photos were edited.
It all began with painstaking craftsmanship: for example, coloring entire scenes or inserting decorative figures. At the beginning of the 20th century, publishers such as Gebrüder Metz in Tübingen and A. Weber & Co. in Stuttgart used these techniques to transform photographs into idealized postcards of cities. The exhibition uses originals and projections to illustrate how the photos were edited.
In Mitmach-Bereichen können Besucherinnen und Besucher eigene Bildmanipulationen herstellen – mal traditionell auf einer Projektor-Folie, mal KI-generiert. Wer möchte, kann sich selbst in einen Deepfake verwandeln.
Die Präsentation „Echt jetzt?! Fotografien. Retusche. Deepfakes.“ fordert einen kritischen Blick. Denn viele Bilder sind einfach zu schön, um wahr zu sein.
Die Präsentation „Echt jetzt?! Fotografien. Retusche. Deepfakes.“ fordert einen kritischen Blick. Denn viele Bilder sind einfach zu schön, um wahr zu sein.
