With the rise of AI technology, some artists feel as though it is yet another obstacle they will have to contend with and others look to it as a useful tool.
At this year’s Complexcon, a festival in Long Beach celebrating the latest in fashion, music and innovation, art was at the forefront.
As fashion has evolved, it has incorporated more artistic elements and a lot of the people who seek out the best in fashion have become just as interested in art.
Complexcon featured artists from all over the country, such as Bloody Dior, hailing from New York.
Originally a streetwear designer, Dior has recently stepped into the art world and had a mini gallery at Complexcon, showing some of his art along with some of his clothing branded Mood Swings.
“These are from Freddie Peacock,” Dior Said, while motioning to the art on the walls. “I let him know what I’m thinking and he paints it.”
The two art pieces hanging behind Dior are two women, one a Playboy bunny with a single large eye and the other, a pop art kind of character with large, vacant eyes, throwing up a peace sign.
When asked about AI, Dior went on to say that he doesn’t see it as a threat to the art community but rather an easier way to get things done, such as graphic design.
“It’s called Mood Swings because that’s me,” Dior said. “My mood changes a lot.”
Swinging was definitely done by Dior who went on to participate in a brawl that went viral on Day 1 of Complexcon.
Both in the brawl and at Complexcon, Dior was joined by his brother, Bloody Osiris who owns a streetwear brand by the name of Murd333r.FM which had its own booth a few spaces down from Mood Swings.
Their brand is based on a certain mouse-like theme park character with a dystopian remix.
Murd333r. FM’s booth featured a carousel, mascots who looked like they’d been blown up and pieced back together contributing to the overall theme of post-apocalyptic youth reclaimed.
“This is art,” said Tank, co-general manager of the brand. “We refuse to utilize AI for something like this. It cuts out the creative process.”
Tank went on to say that while AI may have its applications, true art will ultimately prevail given the way the human element contributes to novelty and authenticity.
While the Bloody brothers remain on opposite sides of the spectrum in regards to the utilization of AI in their creative process, some artists are indifferent to the technology, like Rello from Chicago who feels AI can coexist in the artsphere.
Rello’s art takes on popular characters from pop culture and reimagines them as Black.
“I think it takes a lot of talent to take the AI concept and make something out of it,” Rello said. “All of these things can coexist. I think it’s less about looking at AI as a competitor and more about understanding your personal consumer.”
He went on to say that there will always be a market for those who love handmade art and doesn’t see AI as something that will replace that.
Rello admitted that photography and voice acting are mediums whose creators may suffer as AI introduces the idea of convenience and cost-cutting.