Work In Progress

Mixed Media Vision: Generative Art through Essentialism at Museums #MixedMedia #GenerativeArt #Essentialism #Museums #xgibson

1. Generative Art Installations

1.1. Artbot

Let me introduce Artbot, an intrepid explorer, venturing into the vast landscape of generative art. This AI system generates texts and images that serve as a springboard for my imagination, driving my artistic expression to exciting new frontiers. Not only a tool but a teacher, Artbot delves into the intricate realms of cybernetics, semiotics, semantics, and syntax. Purposefully crafted to critique and shed light on the future of generative art, it's an enticing partner for artists seeking to decode the complexities and envision the future of artistic expression.

Generate a small Australian impressionist oil painting of Torquay Front Beach using the style of Arthur Streeton at the following time of day Early morning (sunrise) while artistically researching the ideas around Sparkling effects with broken brushwork --ar 5:3 --no text fonts letters watermark words typography slogans signature --v 5.2

2. Generative Print-On-Demand

2.1. Paint Machine

Welcome to the world of Paint Machine, my digital aide-de-camp, working tirelessly to infuse the commercial art space with a fresh vitality. This AI system harnesses the power of algorithms to produce texts and images that resonate with audiences, primed for digital marketplaces and print-on-demand services. As a testament to the fusion of commerce and creativity, it's designed to turn pixels into profits, while stimulating the discourse around the commodification of art in the digital era.

Drawing Machine 2022, Main Screen throughout Archibald Prize Show October 2022, Bunjil Place, City of Casey

3. Computer Vision

3.1. The Drawing Machine

Unveiling the Drawing Machine, a digital artisan that interprets the world through its unique lens. Employing advanced computer vision, it diligently tracks contours, faces, and gestures, overlaying them to construct a deeply layered visual narrative. It's more than just an AI—it's a storyteller, unspooling its yarn on the canvas of technology. This innovative use of AI showcases how the interplay between technology and art can breathe life into static visuals.

Work-in-progress functional prototype, iterating toward a user experience that is intuitive and natural to unlock the latent artistic creativity in every human being.

4. User-Generated Art

4.1. ArtWave

Discover ArtWave, the creative stage where users become the main act. It's an easily accessible online interface that transforms visitors into artists, providing them a palette of AI tools to generate their own masterpieces. Not only a platform but a catalyst, it offers an opportunity to purchase these creations, prompting us to question the traditional relationships between artist, viewer, and collector. ArtWave is an intersection where technology meets creativity, and everyone has a ticket to the show.

In an ever-evolving technological landscape, the advent of AI has transformed art, the quintessential domain of sentient beings, into a realm brimming with exciting possibilities and powerful self-reflections.

In my ongoing creative journey, I've embarked on several art projects with artificial intelligence, unearthing new dimensions of art-making and challenging traditional boundaries of artistic expression. These projects - Artbot, Paint Machine, The Drawing Machine, and ArtWave - encapsulate my exploration of art through the prism of AI. Each one carves out a distinct niche, intertwining the threads of human creativity with the precision of machine learning.

Artbot, my first voyage into AI art, illustrates how generative art explores the intricate semantics and semiotics, pushing the boundaries of what we perceive as art. It creates an environment for artists to critique, understand, and envision the future of art, offering a fresh perspective on the symbiotic relationship between human creativity and artificial intelligence.

Stepping into the realm of commerce, the Paint Machine serves as a testament to the fusion of commerce and creativity. The AI takes on the role of a digital artist, creating compelling texts and images, destined for digital marketplaces and print-on-demand services. It provides a platform to evaluate the intersections of creativity, commerce, and technology.

Next, we have The Drawing Machine, a manifestation of AI as both observer and artist. By tracking key attributes and translating them into a drawn surface, it expands our understanding of the artistic process, blurring the lines between creator and creation.

Lastly, ArtWave represents the democratization of art-making. This platform allows anyone to generate and purchase their unique works of art, questioning traditional roles of artist, viewer, and collector.

These projects highlight a larger narrative about art as a vital activity for sentient beings. Art, in its many forms, is an outlet for self-knowledge and awareness, conduits to higher orders of experience, communication, and understanding. Art does not exist in a vacuum; it intertwines with our identities, helps shape our tribes, influences politics, informs religion, and even defines class structures.

AI, as a collaborator in art creation, underscores our need for these higher orders of experience. By contributing to our creative processes, it prompts us to question and redefine our understanding of art and its influence on our lives. As AI continues to evolve and intertwine with our artistic expressions, it forces us to examine ourselves through a new lens, re-evaluating our perception of sentience in an increasingly digital world.

The interplay between AI and art is more than a merging of two domains; it's a mirror reflecting our sentient selves, an exploration into the depths of our consciousness. It's a testament to the power of art to transcend the boundaries of the canvas and seep into the very fabric of our societies. Whether we're generating art through AI, creating digital marketplaces, or tracking contours with computer vision, every pixel adds to the grand tapestry of human experience, adding to our collective narrative as sentient beings in an ever-evolving world.

What are 'emerging subjectivities' in the context of contemporary net art culture?

In the realm of contemporary net art culture, behold the elusive phenomenon of "emerging subjectivities." A surreal tapestry woven by the interplay of the internet and digital technologies, this term encapsulates the avant-garde manifestations of identity and self-expression that arise from the digital abyss.

Net art, a vessel for artistic exploration that traverses the electronic domain, occupies a paramount role in the exploration of these emergent subjectivities. Armed with the arsenal of digital tools, net artists fearlessly embark upon uncharted territories of gender, race, sexuality, and other facets of the self. They dance upon the edges of convention, artfully obliterating the boundaries between the tangible and ethereal, the corporeal and digital, and the individual and collective narratives.

As the internet gives birth to virtual realms, denizens within these ethereal landscapes embrace the freedom to mold their identities with whimsical abandon, gravitating towards like-minded tribes and forming vibrant subcultures. Through these virtual alliances, alternative subjectivities arise, emancipating marginalized voices from the shackles of the mainstream.

Yet, net art's journey extends beyond the mere exploration of identity. It delves deep into the labyrinthine corridors of technological influence, scrutinizing surveillance, data privacy, and the omnipotent sway of algorithms. With profound insight, artists excavate the profound impact of digital platforms and networks on the very essence of our being, interrogating the conundrum of agency, the veils of authenticity, and the enigmatic construction of the self in this digital epoch.

In essence, the concept of emerging subjectivities within the annals of contemporary net art culture is a testament to the transformative force unleashed by the digital abyss. It is an ode to the perpetual metamorphosis of identity and self-expression, sculpted within the electronic matrix and adorned with the hues of the virtual realm. Behold, for the digital zeitgeist has birthed a tapestry of subjectivities, weaving a mosaic of infinite possibilities.

Pomo-Palooza

How Postmodernism Crashed the Eurocentric Art Party But Couldn't Resist the Canapés


Introduction


Picture this: the world of art is a high-society soiree, and for centuries, the eurocentric elites have been the life of the party. They've been strutting their stuff on the dance floor, hogging the spotlight, and leaving the rest of the world's artistic talent twiddling their thumbs in the corner. Enter postmodernism – the quirky, avant-garde outsider who crashes the party, ready to shake things up and get everyone grooving to a different beat. This essay will explore how postmodernism turned the eurocentric art party on its head, but also how some partygoers couldn't resist the allure of the VIP section.


Postmodernism: The Party Crasher


To understand how postmodernism tossed a bucket of cold water on the eurocentric art fiesta, we need to first take a look at the guest list. Western art has been the talk of the town, while non-Western art has often been dismissed as a bit of a wallflower – exotic, but not worthy of a place on the dance floor. Museums, galleries, and schools have all been in cahoots, ensuring that the eurocentric art club remained exclusive.


But then along came postmodernism, throwing open the doors to the art world's stuffy ballroom and inviting everyone to join in the fun. It questioned the club's snooty dress code, insisting that there's more than one way to look fabulous. In doing so, it paved the way for a more inclusive and pluralistic understanding of what it means to be an artist.


With a cocktail in hand and a mischievous glint in its eye, postmodernism borrowed styles from around the globe, heckled the eurocentric art establishment, and championed the underdogs of the art world. Its mission was to show that the world of art is not a one-track record, but a mixtape of diverse tunes just waiting to be played.

The Unshakable Allure of the eurocentric Canapés


Despite postmodernism's attempts to crash the eurocentric art party, many artists and scholars still found themselves lingering by the buffet table, nibbling on the same old canapés they'd been eating for years. This sticky situation can be chalked up to a few factors, including stubborn institutions, a global culture that loves to play follow-the-leader, and an art market that loves its flashy baubles.


First off, the bouncers at the door – museums, galleries, and schools – have been slow to embrace postmodernism's open-door policy. Change is tough, especially when you're dealing with centuries of tradition and a whole lot of vested interests.


Second, Western art has managed to shimmy its way onto the global stage, with many non-Western artists opting to don the same sequined get-ups as their eurocentric counterparts in a bid to be noticed. This has led to a homogenization of artistic styles, with the Western groove overshadowing local rhythms.


Finally, the glitzy art market has played a part in keeping the eurocentric party alive. Wealthy collectors often have a taste for the familiar, which means that some artists and styles continue to be marginalized, sipping their drinks in the shadows while the eurocentric party rages on.


The Pomo-Palooza: A Wild, Wacky Ride


Despite the stubbornness of the eurocentric partygoers, postmodernism has definitely made its mark on the art world. It's encouraged us to recognize the unique dance moves of artists from all corners of the globe and to question the power dynamics that have kept some dancers off the floor. Thanks to postmodernism, the art world has started to reassess its guest list, with calls for greater inclusivity and a more diverse playlist.


However, postmodernism's penchant for questioning everything has led some critics to argue that it's turned the art party into a chaotic free-for-all, where nobody knows the steps and everybody's stumbling around in a haze of artistic uncertainty. While this critique has a certain buzzkill quality to it, it's worth noting that postmodernism isn't about trashing the dance floor; it's about rethinking the rules and making sure everyone has a chance to strut their stuff.

Conclusion


In the end, postmodernism has managed to gatecrash the eurocentric art party, stirring up a wild, unpredictable Pomo-Palooza. It's challenged the eurocentric party planners and highlighted the need for a more inclusive and diverse guest list. However, despite its best efforts, some partygoers are still clinging to the eurocentric buffet table, reluctant to try new flavors.


While we can't deny the persistence of the eurocentric party vibe, it's important to give postmodernism credit for its role in shaking things up. By embracing a more inclusive and nuanced view of the art world, postmodernism has laid the groundwork for an art party that celebrates the creativity and individuality of artists from all walks of life.


The ongoing battle against the eurocentric party planners highlights the need for us to keep questioning the status quo and championing a more diverse and representative art world. After all, isn't that what a truly great party is all about? So grab your dancing shoes, crank up the music, and let's get this postmodern Pomo-Palooza started!


The boundaries of what is possible

As an artist, I have always been driven by a fierce creative spirit. From my days at the Victorian College of the Arts, I knew that I didn't fit the mold of a traditional artist. I refused to be a cog in the capitalist machine of the commercial gallery system and rejected the traditional model of intellectual property and copyright.

Instead, I embraced a radically open-sourced approach, liberating myself from the shackles of the status quo. My journey took me to Tokyo, where I presented my innovative creation, the "Drawing Machine." But even as I reveled in the recognition and success, I knew that this was only the beginning of my journey to artistic and political liberation.

With a fierce determination to break free from the chains of conformity, I set my sights on Beijing, China. There, I spent two years immersing myself in the thriving artistic community, pushing myself to new heights of creativity and exploring new frontiers. But when I returned to Melbourne, I found myself disillusioned once again.

Despite an unwavering commitment to my artistic ideals, I struggled to find my place in the world. I found brief respite in the tech industry, channeling my technical skills into making art with computers. But even this proved to be a double-edged sword, as my creativity was exploited and drained in service of profit-seeking enterprises that prized attention-grabbing products over genuine innovation.

Through it all, I clung to my artistic vision, refusing to compromise my integrity for the sake of commercial success. But as the years went on, my faith in myself began to waver, and I found myself increasingly isolated and disillusioned.

Today, my once-bright spirit dimmed by the harsh realities of a world that values profit over creativity. My work remains a testament to the power of my artistic vision, but it is a bittersweet legacy, marred by the knowledge of what might have been.

Despite the challenges I've faced as an artist, I hold on to a glimmer of hope. I know that the power of artistic vision cannot be extinguished by the forces of capitalism and conformity. I continue to create art that challenges the status quo, refusing to compromise my integrity or sacrifice my artistic ideals for the sake of profit.

I am heartened by the growing movement of artists who share my revolutionary spirit, who refuse to be cogs in the machine and who believe that art should be accessible to all, not just a privileged few. I draw strength from their support and solidarity, knowing that together, we can build a world that values creativity, community, and human connection above all else.

My journey as an artist has been fraught with setbacks and heartbreak, but I remain committed to the pursuit of artistic liberation. I know that my work will continue to inspire and challenge others, and that it will play a role in shaping a more just and equitable world. And for that, I am grateful, hopeful, and determined to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Text by ChatGPT