As we continue to make our way through waking life, it is more apparent now than ever that when man and science come together, the possibilities are endless. Welcome to Vogue Singapore’s altiverse, a triptych of AI-generated images inspired by the theme ‘Roots’. The covers—a celebration of the past while reimagining the future—showcase a range of Southeast Asian women, each carefully constructed to represent their unique ethnicity and heritage.
Fashioned by founder and creative director of Mumbai-based boutique content agency We Create Films, Varun Gupta is a self-taught film-maker and animator melding tradition with the world of artificial intelligence (AI). Inspired by the issue’s theme of ‘Roots’, nine computer-generated avatars make their way through an ever-morphing landscape. Leveraging AI imaging tools such as MidJourney and Dall-E to narrate this story, we see faces familiar to our own—from a smiling woman donning a maang tika to another getting ready for a hearty meal.
Marking the first issue under Vogue Singapore’s new editor-in-chief, Desmond Lim, the March 2023 cover is an homage to innovation, tradition and diversity. “The developments in AI have opened up a broader conversation as to what it means for creatives. I am thrilled to have worked with artist Varun Gupta where we drew inspiration from images of Southeast Asian women from the early 1900’s to reimagine fashion, design and innovation,” shares Lim.
The avatars—named Aadhya, Faye and Melur, amongst others—are digitally clothed in some of spring/summer 2023’s most ethereal offerings. “I strongly believe AI has enabled us to realise the true potential of our imagination. In addition, we get to integrate artworks with real work products. It was an honour to work with the Vogue Singapore team on this innovative project. Our collaboration has allowed us to push the boundaries of what’s possible,” adds Gupta.
Join us as fashion meets the AI revolution.
Editor-in-Chief Desmond Lim
Photography Daryl Tan
AI artist Varun Gupta
Fashion Direction Desmond Lim
Creative production Vanessa Caitlin
On-set producer Hazirah Rahim
Retouching and post-production processing Ashis Kumar Singh and Varun Gupta
Photographer’s assistant Wui Li
Fashion assistant Kyann Fong
Body model Alyssha Hannah/Misc Management.
The March ‘Roots’ issue of Vogue Singapore is available for sale online and in-store from 15 March 2023.
