Shizhe Qian’s (CN, 1990) work delves into the interplay between autonomy and connection, questioning human-centric philosophies and rigid structures of logic, language, and categorization. With a background in physics, theatre, philosophy, and art, Shizhe's interdisciplinary approach examines visual representations of the human psyche and the physical realm. In Diffusion, Qian explores memory and technology by merging machine learning, personal history, and photography. Using a diffusion model, Qian trains an AI on family albums and hometown photos, allowing it to erode images with ‘noise’ before reconstructing them based on learned patterns. This process transforms photographs into fluid, reinterpretative data. Guided by Qian’s drawings, the AI generates abstract visuals that merge the past and present. Among these are “giants” - figures from his childhood whose expectations shaped his identity. By weaving them into tapestries, fragmented memories take tangible form. Yet, paradoxically, these traditionally handcrafted objects are now machine-produced. What appears organic is shaped by technology, simultaneously preserving and distorting the past. Through image erosion and reconstruction, Diffusion mirrors the process of reimagining memory, questioning how history is captured and inviting new ways to reshape narratives.