Imposter Syndrome:
Fake it till you make it
This exhibition brings together the thoughtful voices of John Reid, Nina Thirion, and Frank Thirion to explore the shifting boundaries between truth and artifice in our digital, environmental, and social landscapes.
​
John Reid’s work boldly addresses environmental concerns with AI-generated posters that critique the glossy promises of modern tourism and expose the underlying impacts of climate change. His images, steeped in decades of experience, carry the weight of both history and urgent contemporary relevance.
​
Nina Thirion offers a heartfelt portrait in Blossom’s 5th Birthday—an AI-assisted photographic image of her beloved dog. Far from being a mere performance, her work celebrates genuine affection and the nuanced ways we present our most cherished connections in public. For Nina, the image is both a personal expression and a sincere conversation with her audience, evoking warmth and shared delight.
​
Frank Thirion’s contributions invite us to reconsider classic forms through a modern lens. His reinterpretation of ancient Greek urns—most notably the Yellow Urn—draws attention to the source material and its profound association with olive oil culture. By placing an image of the original source alongside the transformed work, he creates a dialogue between heritage and innovation, challenging us to see how the reproduction of form by AI can both mimic and redefine authenticity.
​
Together, these works ask: In a world where our images are continually reassembled and reimagined, who is the true imposter? Each piece encourages us to pause—and look again, at how art, technology, and our own perceptions continually reshape one another.
Nina Thirion
​​
This image was originally created for Instagram—one of many playful portraits I take of my dogs, Blossom and Hiro. It’s an expression of joy and affection, styled with care and digitally enhanced to evoke celebration, charm, and a little bit of sparkle. But within the cuteness lies something quieter: a meditation on how we present ourselves and those we love in public spaces.
There is artifice here, but it is tender. The tiara, the tulle, the pink bouquet—they’re costumes, but they carry real feeling. Blossom’s 5th Birthday explores the sweet absurdity of contemporary image-making, where sincerity and performance often blend. I’m interested in how even our most “fake” digital creations can reflect something true: our desire to connect, to delight, and to be seen.
John Reid
From early to mid-Twentieth century, idealised and eye-catching posters were produced to encourage European settlement in Australia.
​
Seven decades later, immigration has again emerged as a prominent issue in Europe, the USA and Australia. The set of six posters and cards, ‘Come over, Mates’, invites immigration to an Australia of 2025.
​
With images generated by artificial intelligence, the posters and cards present fake pictures of a harsh reality.
Frank Thirion
