Data, Art, and AI

You’re probably aware that people debate the use of artificial intelligence, or AI, in schools. People who support AI use say that it allows for greater learning and creativity with homework and with writing history and science papers. But what about in art class? If AI creates the “painting,” have you really made a work of art?

New media artists Orkhan Mammadov (OR-khan MAH-ma-dahv) and Refik Anadol (reh-FEEK AHN-ah-dahl) say the answer is yes! Keep reading to find out how they use AI to develop high-tech art.

You’ve probably heard about artificial intelligence, or AI, in schools. Supporters of AI think it helps people learn subjects like history and science. But what about art? If AI creates the “painting,” have you really made an artwork?

Orkhan Mammadov (OR-khan MAH-ma-dahv) and Refik Anadol (reh-FEEK AHN-ah-dahl) are new media artists. They say the answer is yes! Keep reading to find out how they use AI to develop art.

Mammadov is a new media artist from Azerbaijan, a country on the border of Europe and Asia. Carpets play an important role in Azerbaijani culture and are often passed down from one generation to the next. The patterns and colors are like codes that convey stories about traditions, values, and even historical events.

Mammadov explores how we can honor the artistic value of traditional cultural objects, like carpets, in the digital age. To create his 2021 immersive installation Revival of Aesthetics, above, Mammadov used AI to analyze thousands of ancient handwoven Azerbaijani textiles. It studied their weaving style, thread lengths, patterns, and colors.

Then the artist prompted AI to use the data it collected to generate a seemingly endless series of digital carpets. The designs that the AI created are entirely new but are based on Azerbaijan’s long tradition of storytelling.

As viewers stand in the cavernous installation, moving images of digital carpets appear and disappear— sometimes with the threads of one carpet reweaving into a new one. With this work, Mammadov allows visitors who have never seen Azerbaijani carpets to experience their beauty and to gain an understanding of their historic artistry, all while using digitally generated examples.

Mammadov is from Azerbaijan. That’s a country on the border of Europe and Asia. Carpets play an important role in Azerbaijani culture. They are often passed down from one generation to the next. The patterns and colors tell stories about traditions, values, and history.

Mammadov explores how to bring these textiles into the digital age. His installation above is called Revival of Aesthetics. To create it, Mammadov used AI to study thousands of Azerbaijani textiles. It collected data on their weaving style, patterns, colors, and more.

Then the artist prompted AI to generate digital carpets based on the data. These designs reflect Azerbaijan’s textile traditions.

As viewers stand in the installation, they see images of digital carpets. Mammadov’s AI-generated examples allow visitors to experience the carpets’ beauty.

Proponents of digital art argue that the act of choosing data sets for AI to analyze before generating artworks is akin to traditional artists choosing their medium (for example, pastels versus oils). And they say that setting parameters for what the output should be is similar to making decisions about color palettes, perspective, and composition.

What is your take on AI art? Read "Digital Dangers" to keep honing your opinion.

Artists who use AI have to choose the data sets it analyzes. They also need to set the rules for what AI should generate. It’s like making decisions about colors, perspective, and composition.

What’s your take on AI art? Read "Digital Dangers" to keep honing your opinion.