The robotic arms that have learned to copy an artist’s brush strokes

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Category: Technology/Innovations

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. blur / blɜr / (v.) – to make something difficult to see or notice
    Example:

    He kept blurring the lines between work and fun, which made it hard to focus on his tasks.


  2. stroke / stroʊk / (n.) – the action of applying a tool, such as a pencil or brush, to a surface to create a mark or line
    Example:

    The painter’s delicate brush strokes gave the portrait a soft and realistic look.


  3. curator / kyʊˈreɪ tər / (n.) – a person who manages and organizes a collection of items, usually in a museum, gallery, or similar space
    Example:

    As a curator, Dina spends her days choosing which artworks to display in the gallery.


  4. the smart money is on (someone/something) / ðə smɑrt ˈmʌn i ɪz ɔn / (idiom) – used to say that people who know a lot about a situation are sure that a particular person or thing will succeed, win, or be the best choice
    Example:

    In the basketball game, the smart money is on the team that won the last championship, as they have many skilled players.


  5. speed up / spid ʌp / (phrasal v.) – to make something happen or move more quickly
    Example:

    Many companies use AI to speed up their work processes, making it easier to finish tasks quickly and efficiently.


Article

Read the text below.

As AI continues to evolve, the line between human and machine is blurring in the art world. One artist has taught a robot to copy her brush strokes so they can paint together.


D.O.U.G. is a machine created by Sougwen Chung. The artist has built and programmed this AI system to work alongside them, creating paintings together. Over the years, it has learned to mimic Chung’s brush strokes. It’s an exploration of how humans and machines can collaborate.


Simonida Pavicevic is co-founder and curator of HOFA Gallery (House of Fine Arts) which represents Chung. She says you can’t separate the artist from her machines.


“So Sougwen managed to do something very impressive where she merges the robots with her work. They don’t work separately. […] So it’s a teamwork. […] And she had over ten years of research (into) how to teach them and to teach them to follow her brainwaves, her own ideas, and her own work,” she explains.


For galleries, trying to convince people to purchase a digital artwork can be an uphill battle. Elio D’Anna, co-founder and CEO of HOFA Gallery, says physical objects are the key to getting people to invest in digital art.


“The big challenge with digital art so far has been how do I collect? How can I have it in my house? And with this exhibition, we wanted to focus a lot on that as well, […] growing the awareness of this new medium and showing that it can also be collected in a both physical and digital way,” he explains.


Digital art is still in its early stages, and it’s had a difficult beginning. But experts expect the market to grow.


But what role will AI play in creating art as the technology evolves? The smart money is on it being another tool in the artist’s paintbox.


“In anything creative, there’s always a lot of error, going back and exploring and doing it again and so on. And a lot of this is for sure being replaced by machine learning and by AI systems that are able to help you speed up that process and to achieve to where you want to go,” says D’Anna.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Sougwen Chung has taught a robot to copy her brush strokes so they can paint together. How do you feel about the collaboration between artists and machines in the creative process? Do you believe there are things humans can learn from machines in the process? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • How important do you think it is for artists to embrace new technology in their work (ex. it’s unnecessary, it’s important to keep up with the times)? Do you agree that AI is just another tool for artists? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Today, the challenge for digital art is how it can be collected. Would you like to collect physical art or digital art? Why? How do you think the value of digital art compares to traditional art? Discuss.
  • What factors do you consider when appreciating a piece of art (ex. the time spent creating it, its overall appearance)? How do you think AI-generated art affects people’s appreciation of art in general? Do you consider AI-generated art as actual art? Why or why not? Discuss.