Concept, Rationale and Reasoning

As part of my overall body of work, I decided to fully augment a large square art book.  This book contains images of the ‘Balance of Power’ mobile along with examples of some of the surface patterns used in its creation. However, most importantly it helps to explain both the rationale and concept behind the piece itself.

At the start of the project I wanted to gather many views from across the arts, about AI generated art.  Over the last few years it has become increasingly evident that people involved in the arts industry have both wittingly and unwittingly been exploited by the big tech giants.  This is not only true for the artists who have had their work taken often without knowledge and consent, but also for the image/data ‘taggers’ at the ‘bottom of the food chain’ who facilitated all of this.

I figured that in the first instance enlisting the help of more well known artists might help encourage voices of others, thus creating a snowball effect. Therefore, in the initial stages I approached some of my favourite more famous artists and invited them to comment on their feelings regarding AI generated art.

I also wrote to a number of high profile galleries and a number of well known and loved artists.  Sadly the galleries were not particularly helpful, with many failing to even acknowledge my request.  However, it was so heartening to get some really positive responses from a variety of high profile artists.  Many of the artists I approached did not respond, but as the old saying goes: ‘the people who are here are the ones who truly matter’.  I feel this is so true.

I am eternally grateful to the following artists who agreed to give me quotes for my project about their feelings regarding AI generated art.  Their willingness to participate helped offset much of the disappointment created by the galleries who failed to respond and/or were generally unhelpful.  The voices of these artists made for the very first voices from the arts industry and are now duly attached to my mobile (with some to my book as well).  As my project continues to evolve, I intend to continue gathering more views from an increasingly diverse industry-wide pool of people and augment their feelings onto my mobile.  I have already begun collecting quotes from my art department work colleagues and when my students’ art exams are over, I will be asking them to contribute as well.

I feel it is especially important for my young art students to have a voice, as they are the ones who will probably be impacted the most as they begin their careers in the art industry.  I suspect their options for work may be narrowed as a direct impact of AI art.  However, for the more creative among them, learning to evolve with AI art might be the best option.  Either way, I feel their input is vital to helping gain a much needed varied perspective regarding AI art.

Eventually all of these voices will be added (via augmented reality) to my mobile, yet they will be hidden just waiting to be discovered.  Initially nobody will know they are there until revealed by augmented reality.  This mirrors the actual reality of many artists of today, whose work continues to be hidden in the works of AI generated art.

The ‘Balance of Power’ – Unity in Bits art piece is a call upon the AI art industry to acknowledge the human stories behind industrialised art and its pixels.

Participating Artists

Many thanks to the following artists who not only took the time to respond to my ‘shout out’, but also who took the time to give meaningful insights into their thoughts about AI art.

David Spriggs – Contemporary Artist

“It is important to understand that this technology already is here and for artists to learn to move forward understanding it. Artists can benefit from using it. However, I do think it will become a crutch and replace many artists true vision. It is also going to change the way we see art. We may never believe an artwork is truly just human again.”

Fabian Oefner – Artist

”I get that question quite often lately, thoughts on AI generated art, especially whether AI generative art makes the person behind the art obsolete. My answer is that of an analogy to cooking: imagine you give the same ingredients and same recipe to an untrained chef and a three star Michelin chef. Which of the two results would you want to try first? The answer is clear. Because even though the untrained chef uses the same ingredients, applies he same techniques, the dish prepared by the Michelin chef has something, that elevates it above the other: the experience, the passion for the craft and the love for cooking are things that the untrained chef cannot mimic. 

Bruce Chivers – Studio Potter

“Useful super intelligent algorithms that cannot be trusted.”

Pawel Szymanski – Painter

“AI art applications can help to expand access to artistic participation by enabling more people to easily create original images, music and videos. This reminds me of the ideas pop art – art for everyone! However, mass produced AI art could simultaneously flood the market with meaningless and emotionless pieces.

My main concerns include questioning the originality, authorship, and potential appropriation given the automated generative nature. Perhaps, AI art is just another tool available, which will definitely transform parts of the arts ecosystem in both positive and negative ways. The best option is for AI and humans to collaborate together to develop new ways of understanding the dynamics of the contemporary world.”