Is AI - art?

Marten Kuipers offered up some thought-provoking questions around - is AI - art?... I believe it needs further exploration.

I am 'almost' of the opinion, that the artistry of creatives in the realm of AI, is more the words used to produce the AI renders, than the results generated... but I do not think that excludes the renders from BEING art. Let me explain by asking and considering a few key questions.

• What actually is the definition of an Artist?
• What level of human-hand engagement, creative problem solving, communication, personal expression, etc - makes what one does - 'artistic'?
• Are there quotations from legendary artist on this topic?

A • What actually is the definition of an Artist?

Defining what makes someone an artist or what qualifies as artistic expression can be quite subjective and it varies drastically across both cultures and historical periods. Generally, an Artist is someone engaged in an activity related to creating art, practicing the arts, or demonstrating an art.

Key characteristics of what makes a person an Artist include:

1 • Creativity •

Artists are expected to bring something new or original into existence, whether that’s a physical object (like a painting or sculpture), a performance, or an idea.

2 • Skill & Craft •

There is an expectation of a certain level of skill or mastery in the artist chosen medium.

3 • Personal Expression •

Art involves a personal way of seeing the world or making statements about the human experience.

4 • Communication •

Art conveys emotions, ideas, or narratives to others, aiming to provoke thought, evoke feelings, or bring about social change.

B • What level of human-hand engagement, creative problem solving, communication, personal expression, etc - makes what one does - 'artistic'?

Artistic activities span a broad range, from visual arts, music, and literature to performing arts and beyond. As for what level of human-hand engagement is required, this too can vary. Some view art as requiring direct physical manipulation (like painting or sculpting), while others accept conceptual and digital arts, where the creation process might be mediated through tools or machines.

C • Are there quotations from legendary artist on this topic?

Many legendary artists have commented on the nature of art and the artist's role. Here are a few quotes that reflect their views:

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." - Pablo Picasso

"I don’t believe in art. I believe in artists." - Marcel Duchamp

"I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality." - Frida Kahlo

"If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all." - Michelangelo

"Making your unknown known is the important thing—and keeping the unknown always beyond you." - Georgia O'Keeffe

We are not limited in the defining of art only to painters. Here are some other notable figures from varying fields describing in a word - the artistry of their respective area of study.

Literature -

"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." - Ernest Hemingway

"One must be an inventor to read well. There is then creative reading as well as creative writing." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Music -

"To play without passion is inexcusable!" - Ludwig van Beethoven

"Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart." - Pablo Casals

Film -

"A different language is a different vision of life." - Federico Fellini

"Cinema is a matter of what’s in the frame and what’s out." - Martin Scorsese

Dance -

"Dance is the timeless interpretation of life." - Shah Asad Rizvi

"Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion." - Martha Graham

Theater -

"The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery." - Arthur Miller

Philosophy -

"We have art in order not to die of the truth." - Friedrich Nietzsche

"The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls." - Pablo Picasso

Science -

"Science is like sex: sometimes something useful comes out, but that is not the reason we are doing it." - Richard Feynman

"Art is I; science is we." - Claude Bernard

Photography -

"You don’t take a photograph, you make it." - Ansel Adams

"To photograph is to hold one’s breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality. It’s at that precise moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy." - Henri Cartier-Bresson

"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera." - Dorothea Lange

Culinary Arts -

"Cooking is like painting or writing a song. Just as there are only so many notes or colors, there are only so many flavors—it’s how you combine them that sets you apart." - Julia Child

"A recipe has no soul. You as the cook must bring soul to the recipe." - Thomas Keller

Fashion -

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening." - Coco Chanel

"Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak." - Rachel Zoe

These insights maybe help underscore the diverse perspectives on what it means to be an artist and what constitutes artistic activity. Each artist brings their own understanding and philosophy to their work. Does AI fit under the moniker - of "art"? I think that depends upon the creative, and the things they produce. Many a scribble, splatter of wet paint, carved block of wood and attempt at interpretive dance has filled the eons... but only a notable 'few' have earned status of legacy. Great art and created words that fit under the definition of 'what is art' - do not necessitate exclusion from the art club... but it may very well delineate what stands the test of time.

Love your thoughts on this subject.

Brian Sykes