The bizarre story of why a much-talked-about creation is being torn down. Plus: Docklands Light Railway extension, giant laser stalks the night sky, and more tales of Android phone theft rejection.
I have to believe that the prompt used included "St Nicholas arriving in the UK by small boat across the channel".
I was initially skeptical about this art, but I'm increasingly loving it if it has provoked a debate about its meaning, migration, and the use of AI in art.
To me art that provokes debate is good art.
Shame that it's being taken down. Hang it in the Tate.
Exactly what I thought - one of those cases where the object of art does not have the artistic value or did not seem to have it, but external circumstances have enriched it to make it important, even vital.
And herein we see the essential flaw of AI 'art': the lack of intent. When image generators are used, and the so-called artist can no longer account for all of the choices that lead to the production of this image, then the existence of any intrinsic meaning is moot. Maybe it's political. Maybe the artist is an idiot. Why anyone would surrender their creative agency to a machine is beyond me.
Lack of intent, perhaps - but in my mind, as AI cannot be held accountable for what it produces, the author (or prompter) must still ultimately stand responsible for whatever they publish with the use of AI.
Much like the way we use AI at work (in software engineering), I'd argue that if you can't explain it - you shouldn't use it!
Surely having a piece of dreadful artwork go viral would have attracted more people to Kingston and the shopping centre, truly one of the marvels of our age.
Something else ruined by angry idiots on Facebook.
I walked past the artwork on Sunday and it's quite striking. We did wonder if it was AI, I am generally not in favour of AI art, but this one I quite liked, it is gloriously chaotic, and everyone appears to have the right number of fingers. I think it's a shame it will get taken down, hopefully it will find a place elsewhere.
What AI does here is turn a prompt for Bruegel partly into one for Hieronymus Bosch and his disjointed nightmarish freaks of the Hell section of the Garden Of Early Delights.
If it's truly made by an "acclaimed AI artist", why isn't his name on it with an explanation of what his artistic process is? Complaining about people assuming it's regular AI - weird behaviour. How on earth would they have known? Marketing is full of uncanny AI slop. Going "oh but this one is different, you should have known" makes zero sense. Occam's razon and all that.
I am curious about the location of the AI work - did they ever have something else on this spot? Maybe this weird moment can help make having a massive picture there 'a thing', keep changing it without providing any context or explanations so people keep talking about it...
Anyone know why someone would want to buy a laser that bright? Assume it’s some kind of manufacturing, space or military use case where it would be encased in something?
I am sure we could find somewhere for it in Acton, having lost our much loved Stik's Big Mother. It is a talking point, which is good and will only be up until Christmas
I have to believe that the prompt used included "St Nicholas arriving in the UK by small boat across the channel".
I was initially skeptical about this art, but I'm increasingly loving it if it has provoked a debate about its meaning, migration, and the use of AI in art.
To me art that provokes debate is good art.
Shame that it's being taken down. Hang it in the Tate.
Exactly what I thought - one of those cases where the object of art does not have the artistic value or did not seem to have it, but external circumstances have enriched it to make it important, even vital.
On the riverside underneath that artwork is a place that hires out small boats. Presumably they’re next in the sights of the angry Karens.
Most of the angry flag shagger types are men, so no need to use a misogynist slur here.
Be that as it may, this vexillologist slur is similarly unwarranted.
And herein we see the essential flaw of AI 'art': the lack of intent. When image generators are used, and the so-called artist can no longer account for all of the choices that lead to the production of this image, then the existence of any intrinsic meaning is moot. Maybe it's political. Maybe the artist is an idiot. Why anyone would surrender their creative agency to a machine is beyond me.
Death of the author, but by AI prompt
Lack of intent, perhaps - but in my mind, as AI cannot be held accountable for what it produces, the author (or prompter) must still ultimately stand responsible for whatever they publish with the use of AI.
Much like the way we use AI at work (in software engineering), I'd argue that if you can't explain it - you shouldn't use it!
Surely having a piece of dreadful artwork go viral would have attracted more people to Kingston and the shopping centre, truly one of the marvels of our age.
Something else ruined by angry idiots on Facebook.
Yeah could have been Kingston's Ecce Hommo. Such a loss.
I walked past the artwork on Sunday and it's quite striking. We did wonder if it was AI, I am generally not in favour of AI art, but this one I quite liked, it is gloriously chaotic, and everyone appears to have the right number of fingers. I think it's a shame it will get taken down, hopefully it will find a place elsewhere.
Looks a bit like Cold War Steve to me - political surely? Even if only in an unnerving dark-vibe-inducing way.
What AI does here is turn a prompt for Bruegel partly into one for Hieronymus Bosch and his disjointed nightmarish freaks of the Hell section of the Garden Of Early Delights.
If it's truly made by an "acclaimed AI artist", why isn't his name on it with an explanation of what his artistic process is? Complaining about people assuming it's regular AI - weird behaviour. How on earth would they have known? Marketing is full of uncanny AI slop. Going "oh but this one is different, you should have known" makes zero sense. Occam's razon and all that.
I am curious about the location of the AI work - did they ever have something else on this spot? Maybe this weird moment can help make having a massive picture there 'a thing', keep changing it without providing any context or explanations so people keep talking about it...
There was advertising there previously.
Anyone know why someone would want to buy a laser that bright? Assume it’s some kind of manufacturing, space or military use case where it would be encased in something?
mob rule shame in them
tidiculous ti give in lije that. what happened to discasdion?
Ok that artwork has definitely trascended now to the category of pure art.
I am sure we could find somewhere for it in Acton, having lost our much loved Stik's Big Mother. It is a talking point, which is good and will only be up until Christmas
Thamesmead badly needs the DLR extension, glad to hear it
I’m writing about this story for my January newsletter and was wondering whether the news about the author being Mat Collishaw was ever confirmed...
Thanks!
I wouldn’t have written it if I didn’t believe the sourcing was good! He didn’t respond to multiple request for comment.
Thanks!
I see BBC London is reporting a very familiar story with no credit to London Centric
BBC News - Gardeners unearth stolen phones left by snatchers
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7vm6p3vjd2o