A Neural Network Rendered Kubrick’s ‘2001’ in the Style of Pablo Picasso

2001: A Picasso Odyssey from Bhautik Joshi on Vimeo.

2001: A Space Odyssey

Bhautik Joshi, a self-described “professional dork” from Iceland has created “2001: A Picasso Odyssey”—a colorful and cacaphonic reimagination of Kubrick’s masterpiece. He posted his short vimeo rendition on Twitter this week.

The video follows astronaut David Bowman as he transitions through the different compartments of his spaceship while his kaleidoscopic world flickers crazily. Bowman travels through space to Jupiter, and the clip ends with the film’s final scene, where he finds himself in a strange room with a mysterious door.

Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey has often confounded viewers searching for an easy explanation; the film doesn’t provide a structured narrative or dramatic cues. Kubrick took a minimalist approach, carefully composing each scene so that the spectator could create meaning using their own imagination.

In an entirely different epoch and medium, Picasso (along with fellow artist George Braque) spearheaded Cubism, an artistic movement that also sought to scramble reality—this time by adding layers and layers of geometric color to the world.

By merging Picasso and Kubrick’s different artistic realities, maybe Joshi wanted to recreate that feeling of venturing into the unknown.