Is artificial intelligence a powerful new tool for creativity or an existential threat? In a new exhibition, a San Francisco gallery tackles this question: “Artificial Imagination” features eight artists who used A.I. The pieces on display were created using image generators.
The artists’ techniques differ: some fed their A.I. Others used the tool’s recommendations to create illustrations or sculptures based on their selection of phrases. The exhibition will be on display at bitforms’ West Coast gallery until the end of the year. From self-creating robots to image-generation tools that mimic history’s greatest painters, A.I. is rapidly permeating creative spaces—and raising many questions. Is it a medium or a method, a tool or a technique?
The DALL-E 2 image generator, which was a popular tool among the artists in this exhibition, is already quite simple to use. The user enters a phrase, such as “a group of teddy bears in ancient Egypt, as a crayon drawing,” and the tool generates images.
Some of the artists on display were open about the phrases they used to create their works, while others were more reserved. Alexander Reben, who has two sculptures and a digital painting in the exhibition, refused to reveal his prompt language, referring to it as his “secret sauce,” according to SF Gate. He did, however, reveal what the A.I. He was given instructions on how to make his sculptures by tool. The complete instructions are displayed next to his work.
