Blending Art and AI

Refik Anadol, a 38-year-old digital artist from Türkiye who currently resides in Los Angeles, has emerged as a prominent figure by combining art and AI. According to the Economist, Anadol’s use of AI technology has allowed him to create visually captivating and innovative artworks that reflect the contemporary zeitgeist.

The artist draws inspiration from diverse sources. For instance, one of his artworks presented at the Venice Architecture Biennale used 70 terabytes of brain scans, allowing AI models to imagine the development of the human brain. Another piece utilised an archive of performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic to simulate dreaming. In a particularly ambitious project, Anadol assimilated over 138,000 images and metadata from MoMA’s collection, along with data about local weather and noise levels, to create stunning abstractions reminiscent of celebrated painter Mark Rothko.

Anadol’s exhibitions have attracted massive audiences, with approximately 2.4 million people visiting his exhibition at MoMA. His artistic style is accessible and visually captivating, drawing viewers into his world of AI-generated wonders. While understanding the underlying process of machine learning may enhance appreciation, it is not necessary to fully engage with and enjoy Anadol’s artworks.

However, like any groundbreaking artist, Anadol faces both admirers and critics. Some view his animations as nothing more than glorified screensavers or lava lamps, lacking substantial meaning. They question the originality of AI-generated art, arguing that it merely recycles existing works. Furthermore, there are concerns that Anadol places too much emphasis on the positive aspects of AI while potentially downplaying its risks. Critics argue that he glosses over the profound implications of AI and the broader societal impact it may have.

Source: The Economist (behind paywall)