Visuality and Cyberculture International Conference (V-Cybercult 2024): AI Artistry Unleashed: Image Generation and Creative Synthesis in the Era of Advanced Neural Networks
Submission Deadline: September 15, 2024
The Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Art (ICMA) and the Faculty of Visual Arts and Design at George Enescu National University of the Arts (UNAGE) are pleased to invite submissions of abstracts, panel proposals, and artistic research contributions for the Visuality and Cyberculture International Conference (V-Cybercult 2024). The theme of this edition is AI Artistry Unleashed: Image Generation and Creative Synthesis in the Era of Advanced Neural Networks.
As advanced neural networks evolve, their capacity to generate and synthesize images grows exponentially and, in return, challenges our deepest-held notions of creativity, authorship, and the very essence of art itself. In this new era, tools such as DALL-E, GauGAN, StyleGAN, Pix2PixHD, Artbreeder, and DeepDream do more than mimic human artistic styles; they forge new paths, creating unprecedented forms of beauty and expression. These AI systems are not mere assistants to human artists but co-creators, provocatively blurring the lines between human and machine, creator and tool. Projects like “The Next Rembrandt” (J. Walter Thompson Amsterdam & Microsoft) and “Portrait of Edmond de Belamy” (Obvious), which became the first AI-generated artwork to be auctioned at Christie’s, exemplify this shift. At the same time, Trevor Paglen’s “The Machine Vision” series and Anna Ridler’s “Mosaic Virus” illustrate how AI can be used to showcase themes of surveillance and data. Memo Akten’s AI Art series and Refik Anadol’s “The Entropy Gardens” demonstrate how neural networks can generate new forms of abstract and immersive art.
Therefore, we ask ourselves: How does the involvement of AI in art creation challenge traditional notions of authorship and originality? In what ways do AI-generated artworks redefine our understanding of creativity? How should we attribute authorship in collaborative projects between human artists and AI systems? What new aesthetic principles are emerging from AI-generated art, and how do they compare to traditional art forms? Besides, deepfake technology, as seen in the portrayals of public figures like Donald Trump and Pope Francis, raises questions about authenticity and the power of AI in the media. What implications does AI-generated art have for the broader cultural landscape and our conception of visual culture? How do different cultures perceive and integrate AI-generated art, and what cultural biases might exist in AI art creation?
Also of note: UCSB’s George Legrady (Distinguished Professor of Digital Media) has been asked to speak at the conference.
For more information about the conference topic and how to submit a proposal, visit the call for papers.