New Exhibition Highlights AI & Technology's Influence on Contemporary Art

'At first... everything was distorted and it didn't look like much but everyone was excited anyway. And then very rapidly it started becoming more coherent', these are the words artist Von Wolfe used to describe art's AI revolution to Nick Knight in our series AI Means Love In Chinese just last year. Since then, AI's rapid incline has only become steeper, which has prompted Von Wolfe along with two other artists Jonathan Yeo and Henry Hudson to collaborate on the exhibition AI & Technology Influence on Contemporary Art, curated by Virginia Damtsa at 12 Old Burlington Street, posing the question: Is AI and technology a liberating force for creativity, or does it pose risks?

Yesterday, it was announced FKA Twigs has used AI to create a deepfake of herself. In a quote given to the BBC, she explained this was 'to extend my reach and handle my online social media interactions, whilst I continue to focus on my art from the comfort and solace of my studio'. It is unknown whether 'AI Twigs' gave the quote or the performer herself, forcing many people to reckon with the idea that AI isn't something that's 'coming', it's already arrived - a key guiding principle that underpins Von Wolfe's collaborative exhibition.

What unites Von Wolfe with Yeo and Hudson is their shared knowledge in AI being a force for good when it comes to creative expression, however, the exhibition - which will take place at Gabriel Scott - is also quick to pick up on society's wider hesitance, which is where its invitation for 'introspection and dialogue' come into play.

Speaking of his involvement in AI & Technology Influence on Contemporary Art, Von Wolfe told SHOWstudio: 'I’m excited to collaborate with Virginia, Scott, Johnathan, and Henry on this show. It’s crucial to continually explore the boundaries between technology and art, as well as the various mediums. While I appreciate the timeless beauty and skill of traditional painting, I am also eager to delve into both painting and the training and refinement of diffusion models, an art form in its own right. The large-scale light box medium particularly inspires me. I have modernised the somewhat bulky light boxes used by artists like Jeff Wall and Rodney Graham, replacing neon strips with finely tuned tiny LEDs. The sleek, new designs of these boxes sit closer to the wall, enhancing their aesthetic integration. In the near future, these artworks will not only move and speak but also engage in philosophical dialogues with viewers, truly bringing the art among us.'

By combining the work of these three artists, a re-evaluation of art's future takes place, probing the boundaries of technology and its capacity to expand or limit artistic expression, extending to questions of identity, development, authorship, authenticity, originality, reality, and the evolving landscape of creativity in the digital age. We may still be navigating the effects of AI but thanks to this exhibition, we are undoubtedly a step closer to a more collaborative future between man and machine.

AI & Technology Influence on Contemporary Art opens to the public on 1 May and will be on show until 10 September, 2024 at Gabriel Scott, 12 Old Burlington Street, London, W1S 3AH.