Art Collector Pulls Focus with Sam Leach

Summary

In this Art Collector Magazine interview, artist Sam Leach discusses his exhibition 'Fully Automatic' at Sullivan and Strom in Sydney. Leach uses machine learning to generate imagery that intersects with art history and contemporary aesthetics. His work explores utopian visions of a post-scarcity society, inspired by 60s architecture and the book 'Fully Automated Luxury Communism'. The process involves curating a dataset of historical and contemporary images, which the algorithm then synthesizes into new compositions. Leach finds the algorithm's output both a framework for his paintings and a source of creative inspiration, leading to a deeper engagement with his art.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The artist Sam Leach discusses his work featured in the 'Fully Automatic' exhibition at Sullivan and Stroom in Sydney.
• 🤖 'Fully Automatic' is an ironic title, reflecting the use of machine learning to generate imagery, which is part of an art historical and contemporary dialogue.
• 🖌️ Sam's practice often draws from art history, contemporary science, and architecture to find aesthetic parallels over time.
• 🔍 Machine learning was employed to automate the process of finding aesthetic parallels in image archives, which Sam then translates into paintings.
• 🛋️ The artwork 'Beshero and Super Studio' combines elements of Super Studio sofas with people absorbed into them, referencing Boucher paintings.
• 📚 The title 'Fully Automatic' is inspired by Aaron Bastani's book 'Fully Automated Luxury Communism', proposing a utopian vision of a post-work society.
• 🎭 Sam is interested in utopian visions of the 60s and 70s, particularly the idea of a luxurious sofa in a post-scarcity society.
• 🤝 There is a conversation between the algorithm's aesthetics and Sam's preferences, with Sam tweaking the algorithm to steer it in certain directions.
• 🖼️ The algorithm produces low-resolution images, requiring interpretation and puzzle-solving to translate into a detailed painting.
• 🎭 The process has not saved time but has allowed Sam to spend more time painting and less on the Photoshop part of his process.
• 🌄 Sam is exploring the possibility of using machine learning to reconcile early colonial Australian landscape paintings with their original scenes, potentially removing colonial filters.

Q & A

What is the title of Sam Leach's exhibition?

The title of Sam Leach's exhibition is 'Fully Automatic'.

What is the irony in the title 'Fully Automatic'?

The irony in the title 'Fully Automatic' is that despite the use of machine learning to generate imagery, the process hasn't saved Sam any time in his artistic process.

What is the significance of the painting 'Beshears and Super Studio'?

The painting 'Beshears and Super Studio' is significant as it is part of Sam Leach's body of work that explores aesthetics across time using machine learning.

How does Sam Leach use machine learning in his art?

Sam Leach uses machine learning to automate the process of finding aesthetic parallels in art history and contemporary imagery, generating a series of images that he then selects and translates into paintings.

What is the inspiration behind Sam Leach's interest in utopian architecture from the 1960s and 70s?

Sam Leach's interest in utopian architecture from the 1960s and 70s is inspired by the book 'Fully Automated Luxury Communism' by Aaron Bastani, which proposes a post-work, post-scarcity society powered by AI and automation.

How does Sam Leach's use of machine learning relate to his previous artistic process?

Sam Leach's use of machine learning allows him to spend less time on the Photoshop part of his process and more time on actual painting, though it also introduces a new challenge of managing databases.

What is the role of the algorithm in Sam Leach's artwork?

The algorithm in Sam Leach's artwork serves as a tool to process and find aesthetic parallels in a dataset of images, producing a series of images that Sam can then select and use as a basis for his paintings.

How does Sam Leach's artwork reflect the aesthetics of the algorithm?

Sam Leach's artwork reflects the aesthetics of the algorithm by incorporating elements that the algorithm identifies as aesthetically similar, often resulting in a blend of historical and contemporary visual elements.

What is the original intention behind Sam Leach's use of machine learning in his art?

The original intention behind Sam Leach's use of machine learning was to predict what his next painting should be, based on the trajectory of his past work, thus reducing the effort in conceptualizing and composing new pieces.

What future projects is Sam Leach considering in relation to his use of machine learning?

Sam Leach is considering projects that explore the latent space between historical and visual culture, particularly in landscape painting, with the aim of reconciling early colonial Australian landscape paintings and reconstructing the original scenes.