Ilkka Olander, also known as ”Olio Imaginarium”, is a generative artist exploring imagination. At the core of his work is the concept of a media library, which is used in various ways to create immersive audiovisual worlds, diverse narratives, videos and music/audio experiments. At the very least, each of his works can be seen as a themed exhibition, presenting an array of media centered around a specific subject and distinctive style.
Drawing from an ever-expanding array of influences, Olio Imaginarium mixes everything from historical fine art movements to scifi visions, baroque maximalism to modern minimalism, abstract expressionism to photorealism. He loves surreal, unexpected outcomes and often seeks a certain playful tone in his artwork.
Beyond mapping distinctive visual styles, his work addresses themes of environment, culture and identity, blending aesthetic exploration with social commentary. While extensively leveraging the cutting-edge AI technologies, he emphasizes that meaningful art requires creative craftsmanship, thoughtful concepts, and the irreplaceable touch of human agency.
Artwork
Case AI / 404: Reality Redefined
What happens when classic film noir meets Matrix-style simulation theory — and follows a white rabbit straight out of Alice in Wonderland? ”Case A-I / 404” is a genre-twisting short film exploring designed realities and what lies beyond black and white.
AI-Kiihdyttämö 52: Enemmän on enemmän
Haaste näyttää, miten mainoskonsepteja voidaan skaalata nollasta sataan tekoälyn avulla. Idea oli nopealla aikataululla luoda mainossarja, jossa on tuore mutta tunnistettava mainos vuoden jokaisen viikolle.
Machine of Creation
AI driven short film presents a universe designed with beauty as its operating system: life, ecosystems, and even raw physics and materials sculpted for visual allure.
Tall Tales – The Giraffe With Big Ideas
In this playful and surreal short film, a giraffe becomes a metaphor for the modern artist—someone who dares to see further, yet is pushed aside by a world obsessed with speed, profit, and entertainment.
Robolove & All That Remains
FLUX Groove returns with a double dose of retro-futurist storytelling—two music videos exploring love and memory in the age of machines. ”Robolove” pokes fun at our growing obsession with tech and the curious ways we fall for it. ”All That Remains” imagines humanity’s last message captured on a faded cassette, drifting across galaxies.
Echo Chamber & Plastic Parade
Who says dance music can’t make you think? With Echo Chamber and Plastic Parade, FLUX Groove delivers two dancefloor bangers that serve as sharp, tongue-in-cheek commentaries on the digital age.
Chasing the Horizon
Music driven short film based on drone-like AI-footage takes viewers through breathtaking environments. At its core, the film reflects on the human desire to seek the unknown, posing a deeper question: is the horizon we pursue external, or is it a reflection of something within us?
Earth 2.0 – Regenesis
What if AI could reconstruct Earth, crafting every intricate detail, pixel by pixel? “Earth 2.0 – Regenesis” imagines this very possibility. What happens if we collectively decide that simulations are more worth living than real life?
One Hundred – A Short Film
Celebrating a century of Surrealism (1924–2024), the short film ”One Hundred” takes viewers on a surreal and visually haunting journey through a labyrinth of interconnected dreamlike worlds.
Futuro Noir
Futuro Noir embraces the dramatic black-and-white aesthetic of film noir and takes it to a sci-fi setting. The artwork consists of over 50 cinematic scenes and a parody film trailer, highlighting the limitations of AI-generated videos.
Petite Planets
Welcome to “Petite Planets”, a collection of tiny universes encapsulated within orbs, presented in surreal, twisted cutaway views. Immerse yourself in a spectrum of ecosystems and geographies, journeying through worlds sculpted by sand, forged in fire, frozen in ice, and flourishing with life.
Eco Warriors: Celebrating Diversity
Eco Warriors champion the twin causes of ecological sustainability and gender diversity. Armed not with traditional weapons, but with striking eco-fashion and organic natural patterns, they stand as icons of a gentle yet resolute philosophy: grow in your own way, true to yourself, and let others flourish as well.
About
Ilkka Olander, also known as ”Olio Imaginarium”, explores imagination through generative art. It is a project of endless research – recombining historical styles and inventing new ones. Drawing from a vast palette of influences, he mashes up anything from renaissance fine art to raw street graffiti, organic brushwork to digital pixel manipulation, futuristic scifi visions to vintage nostalgia. He seeks to establish visual dialogue between contrasting elements, creating a playground of delightful juxtapositions.
Olio Imaginarium thrives on the element of surprise, persistently defying categorization and refusing to be defined by earlier work or expectations. He strives to ignite the imagination by embracing the unexpected, always searching for happy accidents that have the potential to challenge conventions.
Media library
At the core of his work lies the concept of a media library. At its most fundamental level, this means that his works always consist of a collection of images rather than a single image. This approach aims to construct something more intricate and immersive than what a solitary image could convey. However, media libraries can encompass much more than just images. They can incorporate music, sound, video, and narrative elements, as seen in the piece ”Layers of Memory” (2012). This artwork generates millions of story variations by layering creatively the diverse elements in the media library. Olio Imaginarium explores potential of the media library as a creative medium, and a narrative and generative tool. To delve deeper into the subject of media libraries in generative artwork, refer to his thesis ”Layers of Memory” (in finnish).
Naming
In Finnish, ”Olio” translates to ”a being,” hence ”Olio Imaginarium” can be interpreted as ”a being that imagines.” In Latin, ”Olio” refers to ”oil,” a smooth liquid that facilitates the flow of imagination. Oil cannot be contained; it perpetually flows, lending a seamless quality to every interaction and permeating into hard-to-reach spaces. Thus, it serves as a perfect metaphor for creative exploration.
The music featured in most of his works is composed by his cinematic filmscore project, ”Orchestra Impossible.” It’s worth noting his initials ”O” and ”I” are present in both names.
Background
Ilkka Olander is a generative artist based in Helsinki, Finland. He has long career as a graphic designer, web designer, photographer and music producer. His artwork draws from his extensive experience at the intersection of visuals and music.
To streamline his workflow, he incorporates artificial intelligence alongside traditional methods like photography and image processing to create the imagery for his artworks. It is important for him, though, that AI remains just one tool in his arsenal, and all the artwork is designed and crafted by hand to a significant degree.
Contact
Are you interested in Olio Imaginarium or need artwork for your project? Call 050-5748041 or send email [email protected]