Distorting Reality

Is it just me, or are you getting a little disturbed and uncomfortable with all the AI design posts and images on Facebook and Instagram?

Totally unrealistic humans, your very own AI-generated bestie who will agree with everything you say and do. Fantasy rooms and gardens, holiday destinations that don’t exist. The use of AI for Art and Writing seems a travesty.

Is this a new form of art?

I do appreciate the skill required to imagine, with the depth of thought and perfect construction of the words needed to come up with the prompts to create the imagery. But it just isn’t real, doesn’t look remotely like it, and is absolutely non-achievable in the real world. No artisan can replicate these creations; even if they attempted to, the average person could not afford them. Once again, this puts unattainable images in people’s minds to distort their sense of reality and create unattainable expectations.

There are many AI assist sites such as ChatGPT, Canva and Midjourney that open up a world of prompts to achieve the perfect image but I personally prefer images that are true in comparison to those generated by AI. The cost to replicate such imagery by hand and the workmanship involved is utterly excessive and unattainable. AI is, though, a place of dreams and imagination where, given the proper prompts, one can bring into being anything we desire.

Is it art?

It is not like a sculptor or painter who physically creates with their minds through their hands, exposing their hearts and souls. AI is using an instrument to create what is in the mind, with no limits.

As a tool for inspiration, I guess AI may be handy. Still, it’s a bit of a cheat compared to the pure imagination and ingenuity of someone like Antoni Gaudí, the Spanish architect and designer.

Gauii's Sagrada Família — Gauii’s Sagrada Família

AI can be considered no worse, I guess, than a photograph that is bastardised and overworked in Photoshop to a grainy image no less unrealistic to AI, no more natural. A mutilation of the original image to create what one individual wishes to portray. Each to their own.

As a design tool, it will allow the layperson or home renovator to find the perfect colour scheme for decorating their home and an idea of what their space could look like. But is it the same as engaging someone who can walk through, see and feel the space? Someone who has the talent to evoke emotion in an area and work with texture and light the way a trained and experienced designer does. For now, I think not, and I’m happy and comforted by that.

Although I am uneasy with the direction that AI imagery is heading, this is the future, and I’m interested to see what happens next, as uncomfortable as I am with that.

The technology has gone from distorted faces children make of their parents and friends to singing pets. There is an unnerving element, a lack of control, where one can place individuals into false, compromising and unrealistic situations.

The power of AI manipulation is a dangerous area with very little safety to protect the innocent. The issues surrounding AI, such as privacy, surveillance and copyright, may be considered unethical and a violation of privacy. An area that needs close attention for all our sakes. The topic of machine learning to create Filter Bubbles to channel misinformation is a whole other part of the AI jungle that I will steer clear of for now.

Of course, I have used AI generators to produce images, such as the image on my FB profile, and I will probably experiment even more with this medium in the future. My limited knowledge of the technology means I am only dabbling, but for now, I’ll stick with conventional art and imagery.

I’m interested to hear what others feel about all this AI in our lives, how you use it and where you think it may lead us.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

Kate McBride and the art of feeling – Sculptural Porcelain Ceramics

I first met the amazing Kate McBride in france in 2023 through a village FB group. Offering ceramics classes in Nouvelle-Aquitaine to a group of unique ladies in a little backyard shed in a quaint village. It is amazing what you can find to do in rural France and the wonderful people you meet. Groups for the budding artist, dance therapy and theatre groups, pottery, glass blowing, line dancing, mosaic workshops, all of this within or a stones throw from our little village. The French value homecrafts such as quilt making, crochet, lace making (although much rarer these days), and wood working very highly. The cold winter months are a time for indoor hobbies while one waits for spring to arive.

The classes are dizzily unstructured, as Kate flutters around us insisting we throw our own imaginations into our creations. It is he feel of the cool clay which is so tactile that brings me joy, as well as the company and chatter of the ladies of course. An eclectic mix of French, American, English and the odd Australian.

Part of the allure is the challenge of creating something from this cool, tactile blob. I rarely go in with an idea of what I am going to make, and if I do it often doesn’t work out and I just have to see what the clay wants to do. I am constantly amazed at the talent and ideas that the other ladies have. It is both inspiring and liberating.

My appreciation for Ceramics started in my late teens and I have always loved collecting early Australian pottery and unique modern pieces that I have found along the way.

Having been interested in working with clay for a long time I had the pleasure of attending a class in Australia with the beautiful Annie Durie, before we unfortunately lost her to a long battle with cancer in 2021. Her gentle teachings and nature will be cherished forever and there began my interest in creating with clay. I know, yes one day I will put up pics of a couple of my pieces but for now they are for solely myself to judge. My recent little pieces have been described as ‘surrealist’, not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Gives me a laugh though, and I’m happy just learning and creating.