To those who wish to create a beautiful portrait of their own, but don’t have the necessary drawing skills in making one, the Self-Portrait Machine is a device you need to take a look at.

The Self-Portrait Machine, created by Jen Hui Liao, is a device that digitally takes a picture of the user, then transforms it into a drawing with the help of the user himself. The user’s wrist is tied to the machine, and it is still his/her hands which will draw the portrait as the machine will just be guiding the hands of the individual. It is basically a man-machine relationship that generates a self-portrait made through controlled movement. After a picture has been taken, the user needs to cooperate with the machine in drawing the masterpiece. The portrait, is still self-drawn but it is from an external viewpoint and using controlled movement with limited possibilities. In other words, the representation is seen from the machine’s perspective as lines and strokes are limited to what the machine allows.

This certain man-machine relationship is represented by many products surrounding us. Jen Hui Liao noticed this and was inspired by the concept into creating the Self-Portrait device. This project, according to him, aims to explore the cooperative processes between a human and a machine. His final objective is to create a machine which will allow people to generate their self-identity from an external point of view. It is actually more than just creating a portrait of your own.

Well you can have more depth and look at it that way, or you can simply think of it as your means to draw a wonderful portrait of yours. If your art teacher can’t train those hands of yours into making the right strokes and lines, maybe it is time to give the machines a try.

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