Guilty — Not Guilty? A Santa Monica art exhibit demonstrates the impact of tech on our perception of others.

ABOVE:  Vee Speers’ AI generated video animates a photograph of a young shoplifter.

Conceptual artist Vee Speers presents a collection of unfortunate characters from (what appears to be) the 1950s and 1960s who were actually arrested for petty crimes committed in the US and The UK.   These are their official black-and-white mug shots, seen for the first time in an animated format — using video, a unique hand-colorization process, and cutting edge Artificial Intelligence to bring them back to life.

It’s such a compelling experience to hear their stories (created by the artist) and see their personalities pop — while describing their unpleasant day. You can’t help but wonder if they “got a bum rap” or did everything they were charged with. Whatever the case, they’re incredibly mesmerizing.

Speers rewrites their stories with empathy and humor — sort of a way to give the underdog a second chance and a “fresh voice” in another space and time.

“GUILTY NOT GUILTY” –  Gallery XII, Bergamot Arts Center (#B2) 2525 Michigan Ave. Santa Monica CA 90404 Phone: 424-252-9004