Creative Dialogues | Episode 2: Anna Ridler & Lex Fefegha | Runway Studios

In this insightful dialogue, Anna Ridler and Lex Fefegha discuss the intricacies and beauty of incorporating machine learning into their art. They emphasize the importance of understanding AI not as a simple tool, but as a complex system that requires thoughtful planning and execution. The artists share their experiences with AI in creating installations and films, highlighting the human element in AI decision-making and the need for craftsmanship in art. They draw parallels between the unpredictability of gardening and the creative process, stressing the value of embracing imperfection. The conversation also touches on the evolution of photography and the potential for AI to diversify and enrich the art world, rather than homogenizing it.

Takeaways

• 🤖 The artist appreciates AI as a complex and beautiful way to understand the world, not merely as a tool or a Photoshop filter.
• 📅 Time is crucial in the world of AI, and the pressure of deadlines can be challenging for artists to create meaningful work.
• 🧐 The artist cares deeply about how the audience perceives and understands the technology behind their work.
• 🖼️ Installation and exhibition are important considerations for the artist, as they influence how the work is received and understood.
• 🌷 The process of creating art with AI involves a series of systems, and the artist values the human element in AI decision-making.
• 🎥 The artist's film aims to visualize dreams, and their use of AI tools can change the audience's perception of the work's quality.
• 👨‍🌾 There are parallels drawn between AI art creation and gardening, where planning and conditions are set, but the outcome can be unpredictable.
• 🎨 The artist emphasizes the importance of craft and skill in AI art, stating that AI is not a magic tool that automatically makes one great.
• 🚫 The artist discourages the pursuit of perfection in AI art, suggesting that it's not the right space for those seeking flawless results.
• 📸 The artist's work 'The D' captures black men in South London estates, inspired by the photographer nsky and the legacy of British hip-hop and black culture.
• 🌿 The artist believes in the future, AI in art will diversify, much like the evolution of photography genres, rather than being a monolithic entity.

Q & A

What does the speaker find appealing about working with machine learning?

The speaker finds working with machine learning appealing because it offers a beautiful and complex way of understanding the world, not just as a tool to be applied to artwork.

How does the speaker view the time frame given to submit work in the context of AI?

The speaker views the two-day time frame to submit work as insufficient, as it does not align with the time required for thoughtful and complex machine learning processes.

What is the speaker's perspective on the importance of the audience's understanding of technology in their work?

The speaker has historically focused on helping the audience understand the capabilities of technology, which has been a significant aspect of their work.

Can you explain the project the speaker was working on in the Netherlands involving a GAN and tulips?

The speaker was working on a project that involved generating a look using a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) by taking 10,000 photographs of tulips in various stages, such as stripping, holding, and photographing them.

Why did the speaker decide to present the tulip dataset as an artwork in its own right?

The speaker realized the importance of presenting the dataset not just as a tool for AI but as an artwork itself, which led to a massive installation that highlights the role of the human in AI decision-making.

How does the speaker describe their approach to creating a film that visualizes their dream?

The speaker wanted to create a film that captures the essence of their dreams. They exhibited the film and included credits at the end to show that it was made with specific tools, which led to a mixed reaction from the audience.

What is the speaker's view on the role of crafting skill in the context of generative AI?

The speaker believes that crafting skill is still important and that generative AI is not a magic tool that automatically makes one great at creating art; one must still be skilled in their craft.

How does the speaker compare the process of using AI in art to gardening?

The speaker compares it to gardening by emphasizing the need for planning, thinking about the ideal outcome, and adjusting conditions. However, they acknowledge that, like in gardening, there will be unexpected outcomes in AI-generated art.

What artwork did the speaker create that captures black men in the South London estate, and what inspired it?

The speaker created an artwork called 'D' that captures black men chilling in the South London estate, inspired by the photographer nsky, who captured early British hip-hop and black culture.

What does the speaker believe is essential for an image to become a piece of art?

The speaker believes that for an image to become a piece of art, it must have meaning and contribute to a legacy or story, which is where the craft comes into the project.

What is the speaker's hope for the future of AI in the context of different types of photography?

The speaker hopes that in the future, AI will not be seen as a homogeneous tool but will be integrated into various types of photography, such as portraiture and documentary, in a way that enhances the medium.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 AI and the Art of Complexity

The speaker discusses their personal experience with AI, emphasizing that it's not just about speeding up processes, but rather appreciating the complex and beautiful way AI helps understand the world. They share an anecdote about receiving an email with a two-day deadline for AI-related work, highlighting the contrast between the AI world's timeline and regular perceptions of time. The speaker's passion lies in viewing AI as a system of interrelated processes. They also express concern about how their work is perceived, focusing on the importance of context in installations and exhibitions. A project in the Netherlands involving generative adversarial networks (GANs) to create a visual representation of tulips is mentioned, where the speaker realized the significance of presenting the AI process as an artwork itself. The speaker also talks about a film they made to visualize their dreams and the importance of acknowledging the tools used in creating art. They conclude by stressing that AI is not a magic solution and that craftsmanship is still vital in the artistic process, comparing it to gardening where one must plan and adjust conditions, accepting that outcomes may not always meet expectations of perfection.

05:01

🎨 The Evolution of AI in Art Forms

This paragraph delves into the speaker's thoughts on the evolution of art forms and how AI is transforming them. They mention a shift from traditional photography to more diverse forms like portraiture, documentary, and landscape photography, suggesting that AI will continue to influence these changes. The speaker hopes for a future where AI does not lead to a homogeneous approach to art but rather expands the creative space, allowing for a multitude of expressions and styles. The paragraph ends with a reflection on the importance of storytelling and meaning in art, using the example of a previous artwork that captured black men's lives in South London, inspired by photographer nsky's work on British hip-hop and black culture. The speaker emphasizes the need for art to contribute to existing legacies and convey meaningful stories.

Keywords

💡AI

AI, or Artificial Intelligence, refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn. In the video, AI is central to the discussion as it is used to enhance artwork and provide a new perspective on creative processes. The artist emphasizes that AI is not a magic tool but a complex system that requires skill and understanding to utilize effectively.

💡Machine Learning

Machine Learning is a subset of AI that involves the use of data and algorithms to enable machines to learn from and make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed. In the context of the video, machine learning is portrayed as a beautiful and complex way to understand the world, not merely as a tool to speed up tasks.

💡GAN

GAN stands for Generative Adversarial Network, a type of AI algorithm used in unsupervised learning that involves two neural networks, one that generates new data and one that evaluates it. The artist in the video uses a GAN to generate a look using 10,000 photographs of tulips, emphasizing the creative potential of such technology.

💡Art Installation

An art installation refers to a type of artwork that is created to be displayed in a specific, often three-dimensional space. In the video, the artist discusses creating a massive installation that showcases the process of using AI in art, aiming to make the audience aware of the human element involved in AI decision-making.

💡Craft

Craft in the context of the video refers to the skill, creativity, and technique involved in making art. The artist stresses that while AI can be a powerful tool, the craft of creating meaningful and impactful artwork remains essential. It is about the story and the meaning behind the image, not just the technical execution.

💡Gardening

The artist draws a parallel between the process of creating art with AI and gardening. Both require planning, understanding of conditions, and an acceptance of unpredictability. The analogy highlights the organic and iterative nature of working with AI in art, where the outcome may not always be as expected but still holds value.

💡South London Estate

The term 'South London Estate' refers to a specific geographic and cultural context within the video. The artist discusses an artwork called 'The D' that captures black men in the South London estate, inspired by the photographer nsky. This keyword is significant as it relates to the theme of cultural representation and the artist's intent to contribute to the legacy of black culture.

💡British Hip-Hop

British Hip-Hop is a genre of music and a cultural movement that the artist draws inspiration from. It is mentioned in the context of the photographer nsky's work and the artist's desire to reflect and contribute to the legacy of this cultural phenomenon through their own medium.

💡Documentary Photography

Documentary Photography is a form of photography that records and documents subjects in a way that provides information or raises awareness about social, political, or environmental issues. The artist discusses a shift from traditional photography to various forms, including documentary, as a way to tell stories and give meaning to images.

💡Homogeneous

The term 'homogeneous' in the video refers to the artist's hope that AI in art will not become a monolithic, uniform approach but rather a diverse and expansive field. It signifies the artist's vision for the future where AI is used in various creative and meaningful ways, rather than being a one-size-fits-all solution.

💡AI Decision Making

AI Decision Making is the process by which AI systems use data and algorithms to make choices or predictions. The artist emphasizes the importance of showcasing the human role in this process through their art installations, to highlight that AI is a tool that works in conjunction with human creativity and input.

Highlights

The speaker emphasizes that working with machine learning is a complex and beautiful way to understand the world, rather than simply applying it as an afterthought to artwork.

There is a discussion about the time constraints in the AI world and the pressure to submit work within tight deadlines.

The importance of considering the audience's reception of the artwork and how they understand the technology behind it is highlighted.

The artist reflects on the installation process and exhibition of their work, considering the context in which it is presented.

A project in the Netherlands is mentioned, where the artist used a GAN to generate a look using 10,000 photographs of tulips.

The artist realized the importance of presenting the dataset as an artwork itself, leading to a massive installation.

The human element in AI decision-making is acknowledged, emphasizing the role of the artist in the creative process.

The artist's vision to visualize a dream through film is shared, and the reaction of an audience member is described.

The audience's change in perception upon learning that AI was used in the creation of the film is noted.

The necessity of crafting skill in conjunction with AI is discussed, asserting that AI is not a magic tool that automatically makes one great.

A comparison is made between the process of creating art with AI and gardening, emphasizing the unpredictability and the need for planning.

The artist expresses a preference for imperfection in art, suggesting that those seeking perfection may not find the right space in AI art.

An artwork called 'D' is described, capturing black men in South London estates, inspired by photographer nsky's work on British hip-hop and black culture.

The importance of storytelling and meaning in an image to make it a piece of art is emphasized.

The artist hopes for a future where AI in art is not seen as a monolithic entity but as a diverse and expansive field.

The evolution of photography into various forms such as portraiture and documentary is mentioned, with a hope that AI will follow a similar path.