MISSION
Explore new horizons in art through a synthesis of contemporary artistic practices and the legacy of Hokusai using artificial intelligence, asking questions about the future of creativity, ethics and the role of the artist in a society on the verge of technological transformation.
CONCEPT
AI HOKUSAI, an ArtTech research project inspired by the methodology proposed in the 19th century by the Japanese artist and art educator Hokusai, invites artists from all over the world, working in various media to experiment with artificial intelligence.
The project takes place online in the form of a residency/laboratory. During 2 months, it will combine an intensive internal program of applied workshops for selected artists, with an open public program that includes discussions and masterclasses.
While the artists explore generative AI tools to create artworks for a final exhibition, the organizers will conduct a research study, by observing and analyzing the process from diverse optics: cultural, technological, anthropological, and philosophical points of view.
The results of this whole work constitute the basis of a research publication. This paper will reunite the experience of artists, invited experts, and organizers’ analysis to contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of artificial intelligence in the context of art, culture, and human heritage.
ART+AI RESIDENCY AND RESEARCH
The AI Hokusai online art residency is a two-month experimental laboratory where selected artists, chosen through an international open call, collaborate and explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and traditional art forms. Participants will engage in hands-on workshops, public discussions, and masterclasses, creating works using AI tools while reflecting on the project's central themes in the context of Hokusai's legacy. The residency will culminate in a virtual exhibition showcasing these AI-driven creations.
WHY HOKUSAI?
Katsushika Hokusai, (1760–1849) was a worldrenowned Japanese artist who sought to bridge Eastern and Western traditions. He created instructional manuals called manga that have inspired contemporary art education through a systematic methodology and approach that algorithmically breaks down complex artistic processes into accessible steps and elements.
Hokusai’s influence extends beyond traditional Japanese art, permeating Western art and pop culture. His innovative use of perspective and composition influenced the Impressionists, with artists like Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh studying his prints.
But his influence does not end there: Some claim that without Hokusai, various artistic disciplines such as modern woodcutting, graphic design, comics, manga, anime and even tattooing would not be the same.
The project organizers are confident that its methodology will make it possible to train neural networks to use the legacy of the great Japanese master as a tool for modern artists.
PROJECT TEAM
Katsushika Hokusai
(葛飾 北斎), 1760–1849, born Tokitaro, is one of the most iconic Japanese artists of the Edo period. He is primarily known for contributing to ukiyoe, a Japanese artistic genre focused on depicting everyday life, nature, and landscapes. Hokusai dedicated his entire life to art, producing an exceptional body of work that has left an indelible mark onthe world.Hokusai’s distinctive style is characterized by his meticulous attention to detail, mastery of lines and composition.
Evgeny Merman
AI Hokusai project curator. A multimedia artist, painter, and art professor based in Tel Aviv. With over 25 years of experience in the arts, including numerous exhibitions, art residencies, teaching, and educational work, Evgeny Merman studied at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) and lived in New York and Hong Kong before relocating to Israel, where he continues to develop his artistic practice. He’s had solo exhibitions inTel Aviv, Jerusalem, Kyiv, MusemLV, Riga and Museum and Center of Contemporary Art, Ticino, Switzerland.In 2019 he won 1st Prize at 33th Kyoto Art Biennale, International Juried Exhibition of Art. Japan.
Vladimir Opredelenov
AI Hokusai project curator. Expert, lecturer and researcher in the field of combining technological innovation, management, social development and the sphere of culture and art. CDO of .ART and founder&CEO of the digital agency tech4.art, specializing in consulting museums, galleries and art business companies, as well as art managers, artists and collectors on the topics of development, digital marketing and the use of all types of technologies.
Anna Shvets
AI Hokusai project curator. An art manager, producer of international art projects, independent curator and art business strategist with hundreds of art projects across the world over the last 20 years. Anna is CEO of TAtchers’ Art Management. She regularly contributes to art and business publications, lectures and conducts research spanning contemporary art theory, interdisciplinarity and the intersection of art and digital technologies.
Partners
The project is also supported by international partners and admirers of his creativity and the pedagogical approach to art.
EXPERTS & SPEAKERS
VIRTUAL EXHIBITION
Individual and group works created during the residency/laboratory will be showcased in a virtual exhibition. The results of AI experiments, including 2D and 3D creations, video and sound art, digital performances, and data art objects, will be presented to a wide international audience in a space accessible from a computer screen, mobile phone, or VR headset. Video interviews with the creators of each work will accompany the walkthrough. Additionally, a digital catalog will provide comprehensive information on the creation process of both the art objects and the exhibition space.
PUBLIC PROGRAM
An Open Discussion and Educational Program will accompany the residency
(October — December 2024).
Leading international experts in the AI for Art segment are invited as speakers for the program.
All topics of the public program, as well as the conclusions and observations made during open discussions and workshops, will be analyzed and included in the final project report.
*The topics are preliminary and will be clarified soon.
PARTNERS
AI Hokusai Open Labs
These series are designed to provide practical tools for artists working in various media who wish to expand their range of techniques and resources. Participants will gain valuable insights and skills to enhance their artistic practices through workshops and instructional sessions.
• Working with digital graphics,
• Moving image AI generation,
• Master classes from resident artists,
• Sound art & music AI generation,
• AI for artistic research and storytelling,
• VR + AI virtual exhibitions & platforms
AI Hokusai Open Discussions
These series invite the general public to explore the role and place of AI, in the creative process. Moderators will bring forward the most provocative topics in the context of AI usage by artists and case studies that have stirred the informational landscape in recent years.
Preliminary topics*
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Will AI Replace Artists?
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The Existence of AI Aesthetics: Myth or Reality?
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Nuances of Selling AI Art
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AI and Linguistic Accessibility
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HR for AI
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AI and Digital Immortality
Hokusai's Legacy Series
The influence of Hokusai on contemporary visual culture is undeniable. His manuals and works in visual arts and poetry continue to educate and inspire even today. This series is prepared in collaboration with art historians and biographers of Hokusai.
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The Great Wave: Analyzing his most Iconic Print,
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Hokusai’s Influence on Western Art and Culture
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The Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji,
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Hokusai’s Contributions to Manga,
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Understanding the Man Behind the Art,
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Hokusai’s Techniques and Innovations
AI Hokusai and exactly.ai challenge
AI Hokusai and exactly.ai are excited to announce the AI Hokusai challenge. The contest aims to merge the rich artistic heritage of Katsushika Hokusai with cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies, creating a platform for artists and AI enthusiasts to explore and expand the boundaries of digital creativity.
Train neural networks on material from the manga series by Katsushika Hokusai. The goal is to develop AI models capable of generating high-quality images in Hokusai’s style across various genres and themes.
Andrés Burbano
Researcher, art educator
and interdisciplinary artist.
ACM SIGGRAPH 2024 Chair
Denis Belkevich
General Partner Fuelarts,
creative Tech investor, art
economist, Art advisor
Maurice Benayoun
New media artist, curator
and art theorist
Eileen Isagon Skyers
Media art curator,
artist, writer
Elizabeth Markevitch
Founder of ikonoTV, TEDx
speaker, AI adopter
Paul Rosero Contreras
Researcher, interdisciplinary
artist, professor Art, Science & Technology
Tonia Samsonova
Founder of Exactly.ai.
Changing the AI rules for
artists
Weidi Zhang
New media artist and
researcher