Dr Haytham Nawar

“Generative Pictographic Language”

Writing systems are pivotal to the evolution of language and culture, capturing the essence of civilizations. As old scripts vanish, new ones emerge from the amalgamation of different cultural scripts. This project harnesses a machine that blends these scripts to create a new pictographic language. By analyzing similarities in various writing systems, the machine iteratively develops a language that uncovers the latent connections across civilizations.

The aim of this AI-driven initiative is to forge a modern pictographic script that embodies the visual nuances of ancient cultures. Utilizing advanced neural networks, the machine crafts each element of the script, ensuring a synthesis of common traits like stroke style and proportions. This process not only generates a unique language but also serves as a tribute to the historical significance of writing systems in connecting diverse cultures.

By leveraging machine learning and a rich database of vector-based scripts, the project investigates the visual language of past civilizations, aiming to reveal universal symbols and deepen our understanding of cultural interconnectivity. The outputs of this endeavor include 3D objects, engravings, an animated film, and a printed book, showcasing the potential of collaborative creativity between humans and technology.

Biography
Dr Haytham Nawar is an Associate Professor of design and the former Chair of the Department of the Arts at the American University in Cairo. Nawar is also the founding director of Cairotronica, Cairo International Electronic and New Media Arts Festival, Egypt.