The sky had an intensely cobalt hue.
“A very clear day means you’re going to have a great day in air traffic control,” said Michael McCormick, overseeing all air traffic in the northeastern United States that morning.
At 8:46, the first hijacked plane struck the north face of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. All passengers on board were killed instantly.
Passenger Lauren Grandcolas called her husband Jack from the second hijacked plane. Her voice was calm, reassuring him that everything was fine, repeatedly expressing her love, and finally saying goodbye. She then tried to call another number, but the call did not connect.
“First of all, I wanted to say that I love you... and... I will miss you very much... and, please, tell Mom and Dad that I love them too,” said Linda Gronlund in a call with her sister.
There were many such calls. However, no photographs survived.
sound: Kacper Jamielucha @pienie_0
BLACK BOX is a multidisciplinary artistic investigation using generative artificial intelligence to create photographic images depicting the interiors of the hijacked airplanes on September 11, 2001. These images, while visually reminiscent of documentary photography, do not claim authenticity.
The project addresses a striking absence within one of the most documented events of the 21st century. Despite thousands of photographs, videos, and phone calls, no visual record from inside the planes exists.
The AI prompts were inspired by real audio recordings from the flights, including passengers’ descriptions of events and personal communications. AI is employed critically as both a research and interpretive tool. It reconstructs experiences while highlighting the ethical and epistemological risks of generative technologies in shaping memory, perception, and understanding. Positioned at a critical moment in image culture, the work underscores the need to rethink visual ethics, representation, and the role of images in shaping collective awareness.
The project’s timeless character resonates with contemporary news worldwide. In an era dominated by uncertainty, misinformation, and information warfare, society experiences reality through fragmented reports and conflicting narratives.
BLACK BOX prompts reflection on how we witness, trust, and remember events when photographs, data, and voices are filtered, manipulated, or contested, highlighting the fragility of perception and our need to engage with the stories behind the images.
at "Amnesies" in AOKZ Gallery, Łódź, Spinoff Łódź Fotofestiwal
at "Amnesies" in AOKZ Gallery, Łódź, Spinoff Łódź Fotofestiwal
at "Amnesies" in AOKZ Gallery, Łódź, Spinoff Łódź Fotofestiwal
projection mapping
projection mapping setup
