When considering my decision to switch studios, I reflected on what I wanted to achieve in my own creative work and academic career. Ultimately, I wanted to challenge my creativity by enrolling in a studio centred around something I had never experienced before: AI in creative practices. I had heard a lot of talk about AI in artistic endeavours, with most conversations expressing general disinterest or judgment. Reflecting on my own opinions and potential prejudices regarding AI, I realized I didn’t share the same sentiments as those who expressed dissatisfaction with its creative use. I have always found art created with technology fascinating, but I wasn’t very familiar with AI-created work until last semester when I watched ‘re_generate’ (Bishop et al. 2024), a short film by students in the ‘TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC DREAMS’ studio. This work captured my attention and piqued my interest in AI art, ultimately leading to my decision to explore something completely foreign to me.
I thought about the importance of emotional and personal intimacy related to creating. For instance, in my own creative and artistic practices, I have often felt a strong sense of pride in what I create and an appreciation of the processes I go through. In my creative practices, and in my general approach to life, I am often impulsive and disorganized. I have learned to appreciate and embrace this as it allows me to have new experiences and create without being constrained by limitations or self-judgment. While I have a great appreciation for disorder and all types of art, whether traditional or technological, I felt a sense of hesitation about using AI in my own creative processes. This hesitation stemmed from a fear of not being able to claim the work as my own and having a sense of pride, as well as the influence of my peers’ disapproval of AI in art. However, with chaos and order existing symbiotically in life and creative processes, embracing the unfamiliar and unexpected use of AI in art creation can be a powerful form of expression (Pearson 2011).
I am eager to experience AI creatively in a way I have never done before. As mentioned by Poltronieri and Vear (2022), the evolution of heterogeneity and hybridity of technological methods, along with various influences outside traditional artistic production, means that we cannot and should not confine the methods adopted in creative pursuits. I believe the same applies to the use of AI. Technological advances have allowed us to create in ways previously unimaginable. For instance, in the new wave era of music—a genre I greatly appreciate—technology played a crucial role. Similarly, CGI has enabled the creation of incredible films with elaborate visuals. My own connection to digital art further highlights the potential of technology in creativity. Understanding how to incorporate AI in creative industries in a way that maintains human connection and intimacy is an important step in utilizing technological advancements to create unique and inspiring art forms, and it is something I am excited to explore.
References
Bishop M, Cook I and Cox E (director) (2024) re_generate [short film], Together in Electric Dreams, Australia. https://www.mediafactory.org.au/2024-together-in-electric-dreams/2024/05/31/re_generate/.
Pearson M (2011) Generative Art: A Practical Guide Using Processing, Manning Publications Co. LLC, Shelter Island, NY, accessed 30 July 2024. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/rmit/detail.action?docID=6642897.
Poltronieri F and Vear C (2022) The Language of Creative AI: Practices, Aesthetics and Structures, 1st ed. Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, n.p., accessed 30 July 2024. https://rmit.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/61RMIT_INST/4t5l5f/cdi_askewsholts_vlebooks_9783031109607.