How AI Interprets Paintings by Van Gogh

This is a homage to Vincent van Gogh – but how successful it is, I guess, is entirely up to you.  It’s a visually entrancing piece – a visual poem – that traces his development as an early artist.  As such it is the first in a trilogy of videos planned by Ryta, the founder and creative force behind Creators of Curiosity.  I have included the second part below the first.

Certainly, those commenting on the video seem to love it.  One says: “Absolutely mesmerizing! Van Gogh’s paintings truly come alive, with every brushstroke moving and the violin adding intense emotion. A beautiful, creative tribute to his timeless legacy.”  Another says: “Feels like touching Van Gogh’s soul through brushstrokes and motion. Shadows and light breathing as one - this is more than art, it’s a heartbeat”.

I’m not sure.  Although using AI to do this kind of thing certainly brings remarkable results I am always reminded of  what Jean Baudrillard said about it: “The sad thing about artificial intelligence is that it lacks artifice and therefore intelligence.”  I think the same has to be said here – there is something a little inhuman about many of the people featured in this piece which doesn’t fit comfortably with me.  Also the description - that the AI is "enhancing brushstroke texture, impasto depth, and luminous painterly detail" - enhancing means to make better - and I don't think one can improve on Vincent through algorithms, however sophisticated (even though this is probably as good as it gets, at least for the moment). Having said that, of course, I might not be quite getting the point!  

Take a look for yourself and – as a human – decide for yourself too!

...And here is the second of these visual poems.