One reason I have some interest in the AI-creation of images is that it highlights something about art.
Human art draws on our collective human art production, at least what any artist and community has access to. We all learn from and are inspired by what we collectively have produced.
Our collective art production draws on and depends on nature. We are inspired by nature, and nature makes it possible for us to create what we call art, and makes some resonate with us and some resonate less.
Human art is one expression of the universe. It’s a local and temporary expression of the universe. It’s the universe expressing, exploring, and experiencing itself in always new ways. As Carl Sagan said, we are the local eyes, ears, thoughts, and feelings of the universe. We are the universe bringing itself into consciousness.
The real – and really the only – artist is existence.
A FEW MORE WORDS
As usual, there is a lot more to say about this.
Are AI-created images art? I wouldn’t call it art. I prefer to call it AI-generated images.
Is AI really artificial intelligence? I wouldn’t call it that either. I would call it predictive text, predictive image creation, predictive music creation, and so on. It’s statistics that mimic human intelligence.
Why do we enjoy the beauty of nature? Why are we able to create and enjoy art? It’s because we are expressions of the universe. We are the universe locally enjoying the beauty of itself. We are the universe locally and temporarily expressing and enjoying itself.
Reminding ourselves of the bigger picture doesn’t negate anything. Artists still need to have some protection for their work. They deserve to be compensated for the use of their work and to be able to make a good living on it. That benefits us all.
And it is helpful and interesting to remind ourselves of the bigger picture.
The image is created by me and Midjourney, and really existence itself.
INITIAL NOTES
- the real artist is existence
- one reason I have some interest in AI images is that it highlights something (relatively obvious and banal) about art
- human art draw on our collective art production, or at least what any artist and community has access to
- human art is one expression of the universe, of existence
- it’s the universe expressing, exploring, and experiencing itself in always new ways
…..
That doesn’t mean that our discussion on who owns art is not valid and important. Artists should obviously be compensated for the use of their art and be able to make a good living from their art.
But it is helpful and interesting to remind ourselves of the bigger picture.