The Impact of Technology on Modern Art: Beyond the Canvas

Back in the early 2000s, I went to an art exhibition in Boston that was ahead of its time. It featured stations where people could arrange random objects on platforms in front of cameras. A computer would then generate textual responses to these visual prompts, resulting in mostly nonsensical ‘poems.’ But occasionally, there would be moments of surprising clarity. At the time, I wasn’t a fan of machines creating art, and my feelings haven’t changed much. However, as an artist and writer, I feel compelled to explore the subject now that it has become more relevant.

There has been a lot of talk lately about how artificial intelligence (AI) will revolutionize our lives, politics, and society as a whole. But the discussion is often drowned out by either overly optimistic views from tech enthusiasts or pessimistic views from those who fear the worst. Personally, I have reservations about these new technologies. Even the internet, which has connected the world in many ways, has come at a cost. Just look at how it has influenced our democracy, from the hope and change of Obama to the hate and fear of Trump. So, how will AI and Deepfakes further complicate our culture?

If it weren’t for a disruptive technology in the past, modern painting may have never evolved into abstraction. After the advent of photography in the 19th century, French painters began creating pictures that went beyond photographic clarity. The Impressionists aimed to capture the act of seeing itself, favoring a more gestural style over the precise focus of photography.

Following Impressionism, European art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the rise of various painting styles, from pointillism and symbolism to expressionism and cubism. Eventually, the European avant-garde embraced pure abstraction, creating non-representational art. Artists like Malevich, Mondrian, Pollock, and Rothko played significant roles in this development.

Similarly, in the near future, AI will inspire artists to explore new art forms that computer-generated images cannot replicate. Some artists will collaborate with AI, just as the Impressionists used photographs as references for their paintings. AI will lead to new discoveries, just as the snapshot of a cropped figure revealed the power of truncation in composition.

That exhibition in Boston reminded me of the Dada and Surrealist movements, which valued the irrational and the unconscious. The Surrealists, in particular, were fascinated by the interplay between image, object, and text. They invented the Exquisite Corpse, a game where participants collectively created compositions based on a few marks or words left by the previous person. The end results were often absurd, but occasionally, they bordered on great works of art. So, why couldn’t a computer participate in this activity?

The Dadaists and Surrealists rejected aesthetics, logic, and reason. Marcel Duchamp famously submitted a urinal as his artwork, challenging the notion of what constitutes art. By placing a mundane object on a pedestal, Duchamp disrupted the traditional art world and paved the way for postmodernism. His gesture raised questions about the role of the artist and the significance of selection and curation in art.

Generative AI raises ethical concerns as well. The winner of this year’s Sony World Photography Award declined the prize after revealing that his entry was generated by AI and not a traditional photograph. This incident highlights the need to address the impact of AI on the creative sector and the potential displacement of human workers.

While AI-generated art is not new, it continues to evolve. Algorithmic art, fractal art, and glitch art have been around for some time. AI is also increasingly integrated into digital photography, enhancing image quality. However, many camera phone users prioritize capturing moments for social media rather than artistic expression.

In the realm of writing, AI has the potential to produce essays that are grammatically sound and well-researched. This raises questions about the value of human-authored writing and the role of AI in the creative process. Perhaps AI can assist composition teachers in emphasizing the process of writing rather than solely focusing on the end product.

The work of artist Refik Anadol offers a glimpse into the future of generative AI. His exhibition, ‘Unsupervised,’ uses AI to interpret the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, resulting in mesmerizing moving pictures that transition between recognizable and abstract forms. Anadol combines existing artworks with his own creations, blurring the line between found objects and original art.

In conclusion, the impact of technology on modern art is undeniable. While there are concerns about the ethical implications and the potential displacement of human artists, there is also the opportunity for new discoveries and artistic expressions. As technology continues to advance, we must navigate the evolving relationship between humans and AI, finding a balance that allows for creativity and innovation while preserving the unique qualities of human artistry.