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Ai Makita "Artificial Gods – Man has, as it were, become a kind of prosthetic God."
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Ai Makita
PARCEL is pleased to present the anticipated solo exhibition by Ai Makita, titled ʻArtificial Gods - Man has, as it were, become a kind of prosthetic God.ʼ This exhibition features a collection of surreal abstract paintings born from the symbiosis between technology and humanity.
Makita's works stem from a profound reflection on the impact of technological advancement on society and its ethical implications. Her creative process is particularly influenced by historical incidents, accidents, and the tragedies resulting from the deliberate or inadvertent misuse of technology. While technological advancement often seeks to enhance convenience, its applications can sometimes have serious repercussions on society. In her paintings, Makita depicts engines and mechanical structures as symbolic representations of technology. Despite being meticulously designed by humans, these creations often cause unintended errors that disrupt society, reflecting a subtle critique of our collective vulnerability to such irregularities.
The rapid development of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies presents new challenges in today’s society. While there are debates about the threats of job displacement and the personification of AI itself, Makita, like many other artists, believes that the crucial issue is how we utilize these technologies as tools. Her work introduces new artistic dialogues and critical frameworks that explore the implications of technological evolution.
One of the defining features of Makita’s work since she began depicting machines and engines is her manipulation of perspective. The elements that appear intricately intertwined on the canvas exist primarily on the same layer, removing any sense of depth or visual hierarchy. In her latest series, based on generated images, the compositions guide the viewer’s gaze in a way that is more akin to the flattened perspective found in ukiyo-e, rather than focusing on the chiaroscuro or vanishing points typical of traditional Western painting. The sizes of the elements are exaggerated and distorted, presenting mechanical landscapes that appear more real precisely because their scale defies reality.
In this exhibition, Makita showcases works that employ tools such as Midjourney, DALL-E 2, and ChatGPT, while still drawing on her signature themes of engines, piping, and the stark imagery of inorganic urban landscapes. However, there are unforeseen mistranslations that occur between the AI-generated images and reality. Makita skillfully incorporates these discrepancies, applying her own aesthetic and formal standards to the generated material. Through this process, she delves deeply into the complex relationship between technology, AI, and humanity, ultimately creating her final paintings.
The impact of machine learning for image generation has sparked a transformation comparable to the groundbreaking changes triggered by the invention of the camera obscura. The camera obscura, which could capture scenes as they were, liberated Western painting from its primary goal of realism. Once freed, painting evolved into movements like Impressionism and Abstract Art, where original expression began to take precedence over realism—a development widely recognized today. Machine learning now replaces the human element in producing imagined images with unprecedented speed and volume. As this technology and its uses remain in flux, many artists are currently exploring how to integrate it into their own work. Makita creates machine images that exist solely in the virtual realm, harnessing the power of technology. Viewers are invited to experience a visual journey spanning from two to four dimensions, making them conscious of the boundaries between the artificial and the natural, the living and the non-living. Through her works, Makita offers a new aesthetic dialogue and critical perspective born from the collaboration between artificial intelligence and human creativity. The audience will have the opportunity to witness the moment where technology and human creativity intersect, prompting a deeper reflection on the new possibilities that technology can bring.
Makita's works stem from a profound reflection on the impact of technological advancement on society and its ethical implications. Her creative process is particularly influenced by historical incidents, accidents, and the tragedies resulting from the deliberate or inadvertent misuse of technology. While technological advancement often seeks to enhance convenience, its applications can sometimes have serious repercussions on society. In her paintings, Makita depicts engines and mechanical structures as symbolic representations of technology. Despite being meticulously designed by humans, these creations often cause unintended errors that disrupt society, reflecting a subtle critique of our collective vulnerability to such irregularities.
The rapid development of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies presents new challenges in today’s society. While there are debates about the threats of job displacement and the personification of AI itself, Makita, like many other artists, believes that the crucial issue is how we utilize these technologies as tools. Her work introduces new artistic dialogues and critical frameworks that explore the implications of technological evolution.
One of the defining features of Makita’s work since she began depicting machines and engines is her manipulation of perspective. The elements that appear intricately intertwined on the canvas exist primarily on the same layer, removing any sense of depth or visual hierarchy. In her latest series, based on generated images, the compositions guide the viewer’s gaze in a way that is more akin to the flattened perspective found in ukiyo-e, rather than focusing on the chiaroscuro or vanishing points typical of traditional Western painting. The sizes of the elements are exaggerated and distorted, presenting mechanical landscapes that appear more real precisely because their scale defies reality.
In this exhibition, Makita showcases works that employ tools such as Midjourney, DALL-E 2, and ChatGPT, while still drawing on her signature themes of engines, piping, and the stark imagery of inorganic urban landscapes. However, there are unforeseen mistranslations that occur between the AI-generated images and reality. Makita skillfully incorporates these discrepancies, applying her own aesthetic and formal standards to the generated material. Through this process, she delves deeply into the complex relationship between technology, AI, and humanity, ultimately creating her final paintings.
The impact of machine learning for image generation has sparked a transformation comparable to the groundbreaking changes triggered by the invention of the camera obscura. The camera obscura, which could capture scenes as they were, liberated Western painting from its primary goal of realism. Once freed, painting evolved into movements like Impressionism and Abstract Art, where original expression began to take precedence over realism—a development widely recognized today. Machine learning now replaces the human element in producing imagined images with unprecedented speed and volume. As this technology and its uses remain in flux, many artists are currently exploring how to integrate it into their own work. Makita creates machine images that exist solely in the virtual realm, harnessing the power of technology. Viewers are invited to experience a visual journey spanning from two to four dimensions, making them conscious of the boundaries between the artificial and the natural, the living and the non-living. Through her works, Makita offers a new aesthetic dialogue and critical perspective born from the collaboration between artificial intelligence and human creativity. The audience will have the opportunity to witness the moment where technology and human creativity intersect, prompting a deeper reflection on the new possibilities that technology can bring.
Schedule | Sep 21 (Sat) 2024-Oct 27 (Sun) 2024 Opening Hours Information
Opening Reception Sep 20 (Fri) 2024 18:00 - 21:00 | ||||
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| Fee | Free | ||||
| Website | https://parceltokyo.jp/exhibition/makita_ai/ | ||||
| Venue | Parcel http://parceltokyo.jp/ | ||||
| Location | 1F DDD hotel, 2-2-1 Nihombashi, Bakurocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0002 | ||||
| Access | 1 minute walk from exit C4 at Bakurocho Station on the JR Sobu line, 5 minute walk from the East exit of Asakusa-bashi Station on the JR Chuo Sobu line, 5 minute walk from exit A2 at Asakusa-bashi Station on the Toei Asakusa line. | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it |
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