Prior to this week's lecture, I never considered the intersection of robotics and art, which is interesting considering it is all around us, especially in 2023. In short, as mentioned in Professor Vesna's lecture, robots and art share more similarities than one might primarily observe. Both robotics and art create advancement in society, but both also connect with humans and grow as technology develops [Vesna]. Over the past few years in schools across the world, students are being rewarded for how well they are able to use robotics in an artistic manner. For example, every year an organization called "Robot Art" judges students across the world every year for their robotics-birthed artwork, and can receive prizes up to $40,000. The winner of the 2018 cash prize for Robot Art, user CloudPainter created their artwork through "deep learning neural networks, multiple AI algorithms, and feedback loops at all levels" [RoboArt].
The understanding of robots has also helped push pop culture to new heights. For example, the Disney Pixar film "Big Hero 6" stars a young kid and his sidekick healthcare robot, Baymax, as they navigate conflict. Baymax was not only realized from scratch in the mind of the creators but through real-life developments today. Director of "Big Hero 6," Don Hall, has confirmed that while making the film, robots and their role in pop culture was considered, and the inflatable vinyl arm that Baymax possesses, was being researched in soft robotics at the time [MacQuarrie].
Despite the positive developments that robotics has had with the art world, there are negatives, as well, especially concerning AI (Artificial Intelligence). AI, a direct descendant between art and robotics, seems to be present in headlines every day as we come to learn more about robotic potential. Recently, it has been found that AI art may take inspiration from non-AI-generated art without giving proper due to the artists. In turn, these artists are being put out of work due to the theft of their artwork by AI without commission [Kalebich]. This is not only seen in visual artworks but in music, as well. Recently there has been circulation of a musical track that sounds as if it was performed by Drake and The Weeknd, both are incredibly regarded artists that continuously dominate music charts. However, the song was not performed by them at all, but by AI. Voice replication creates fear among music artists, as this situation serves as proof that perhaps audiences no longer need music artists as long as AI can replicate their sound. Interestingly, even though the issue concerning voice replication in AI is recent, this has been predicted by professionals for years. Douglas Davis in 1995 claimed: "This means that any video, audio, or photographic work of art can be endlessly reproduced without degradation, always the same, always perfect. The same is true for handmade images or words that can be scanned- that is, converted to digital bits."
AI used to create songs using popular artists’ voices, GMA, https://youtu.be/yNhVVL_NZLI
Works Cited
Davis, Douglas. “The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction (An Evolving Thesis: 1991-1995).” Leonardo, vol. 28, no. 5, 1995, pp. 381–86. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1576221. Accessed 22 Apr. 2023.
Kalebich, Kirsten. “The Dangers of AI Art.” Study Breaks Magazine, 2 January 2023, https://studybreaks.com/tvfilm/the-dangers-of-ai-art/. Accessed 21 April 2023.
MacQuarrie, Jim. “The Technology of Big Hero 6.” GeekDad, 1 October 2014, https://geekdad.com/2014/10/technology-big-hero-6/. Accessed 21 April 2023.
RobotArt. “2018 Winners | Robotart.” The Robotic Art Competition, RobotArt, 2018, https://robotart.org/2018-winners/. Accessed 21 April 2023.
Vesna, Victoria. "Lectures Part 1." DESMA 9, 11 April 2022, UCLA, Bruinwalk, Unit 3.
You did a really good job at connecting art and robotics. The arts and robotics competition you wrote about sounds very interesting to me, as I hadn't heard of it. I thought it was interesting how you especially talked about robots being seen as something positive like in the "Big Hero 6" movie. I think it is important to mention that a lot of people fear robots rather than see them as something positive.
Allowing outer space and art to interact opens a world for humans to create art about a world of the unknown [IAAA]. Considering that a select few people have experienced space first-hand, the receiving audience of these works also appreciates something of the unknown. This, in my opinion, makes space-centered art so special, because it is our way of expressing appreciation and fascination with something that we likely won't ever be able to experience. An example of this fascination is the popular Van Gogh work "Starry Night" in which the sky, and therefore space, was used to exemplify his deteriorating mental health at the time [Van Gogh]. David A. Hardy - Jupiter from Europa It is not only the idea of space that is involved with art but the science of this other world that is being investigated, as well. For example, Arthur Woods created a space art intervention called the "Cosmic Dancer" Sculpture, which serves as the first three-dimensional artwork conceived
You did a really good job at connecting art and robotics. The arts and robotics competition you wrote about sounds very interesting to me, as I hadn't heard of it. I thought it was interesting how you especially talked about robots being seen as something positive like in the "Big Hero 6" movie. I think it is important to mention that a lot of people fear robots rather than see them as something positive.
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