Design; Disruption; Divergence

Curated by Jennifer Anyan

Exhibition overview

Recent rapid development in the field of AI has created a ground swell of interest from artists and designers in the potential opportunities, as well as speculation about the implications for creative practice and outputs. With a view to exploring this, AUB and BUV invited artists and designers across a diverse range of disciplines to produce outcomes that use generative AI in their production.

In tandem with the gallery exhibition the artists and designers are asked to reflect on how the use of generative AI is impacting their work under the themes of Design, Disruption and Divergence.

Generative AI in art and design practice

Generative AI refers to a branch of artificial intelligence that focuses on creating new content or designs by learning from existing datasets. This innovative approach uses algorithms and machine learning techniques to produce images, music, text, and other forms of creative expression. Generative AI analyses patterns and structures in the training data, allowing it to generate original outputs that can be both surprising and insightful.

Within the context of art and design, generative AI presents a unique opportunity to explore new creative avenues. It encourages artists to step beyond conventional practices, embracing a collaborative partnership between human creativity and machine intelligence. As artists work with generative algorithms, they often confront the idea of "misinterpretation," a phenomenon where the AI's outputs may diverge from the artist's original intent, leading to unexpected results that can inspire new directions in their work.

By incorporating generative AI, artists can engage in a dynamic process of trial and error, often referred to as "iterative design," where they refine their ideas based on the AI's feedback. This process can provoke questions about authenticity and the nature of creativity, challenging traditional notions of authorship and artistic intent. The dialogue surrounding generative AI and its applications in art and design is at the forefront of contemporary creative practices, inviting a deeper examination of how technology can disrupt and enhance artistic expression.