Art

Artists Worry over AI-created Artworks

Published

2 years ago

January 23, 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are using imaging information from paintings and photographs to create new images in the same style. DALL-E, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion are among the AI tools that can create images that copy the styles of real artists.

A user can ask the system to produce an image, such as “a cat in the style of Van Gogh,” and the AI tool will quickly do so.

That makes living artists worry that their works will be copied without their permission. Two new legal actions, or lawsuits, have been brought against the AI companies creating the images.

Getty Images has brought one of the lawsuits. The American company is based in Seattle, Washington. It owns the rights to millions of pictures and other images.

Getty is accusing London-based company Stability AI of violating Getty’s copyright. Copyright protects works of authorship, including images and artworks. The owner can sell the work or permit others to use it.

Three working artists also took legal action this year against Stability AI, and the companies Midjourney and DeviantArt. The artists say the companies’ AI images unfairly “compete in the marketplace with the original images.”

Visitors view artist Refik Anadol's "Unsupervised" exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in New York. The new AI-generated installation is meant to be a thought-provoking interpretation of the New York City museum's prestigious collection. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) — Visitors view artist Refik Anadol’s “Unsupervised” exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in New York. The new AI-generated installation is meant to be a thought-provoking interpretation of the New York City museum’s prestigious collection. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Midjourney CEO David Holz recently spoke to The Associated Press about the issue.

“Can a person look at somebody else’s picture and learn from it and make a similar picture?” he asked, adding “it’s allowed for people and if it wasn’t, then it would destroy the whole professional art industry.”

Real versus fake images

The lawsuits come at a time when there is growing concern about new AI tools. These include systems that create readable text, music, computer code, and images. Some experts worry that AI technology could get too good, including engineer Wael Abd-Almageed.

“Once we lose this capability of telling what’s real and what’s fake, everything will suddenly become fake because you lose confidence of anything and everything,” he said. Abd-Almageed teaches electrical and computer engineering at the University of Southern California.

However, some artists welcome the AI systems as new tools for creativity.

FILE - Artist Refik Anadol poses in front of his work inside the Davos Congress Center in Davos, Switzerland Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. A new AI-generated installation — called “Unsupervised” —- by Anadol at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, is meant to be a thought-provoking interpretation of the New York City museum's prestigious collection. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File) — FILE – Artist Refik Anadol poses in front of his work inside the Davos Congress Center in Davos, Switzerland Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. A new AI-generated installation — called “Unsupervised” —- by Anadol at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, is meant to be a thought-provoking interpretation of the New York City museum’s prestigious collection. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

There is a lot of room for fear, but “what else can we do with them?” asked artist Refik Anadol, who uses AI to create.

In New York City, Anadol’s work “Unsupervised” is on show at the city’s world-famous Museum of Modern Art. The large installation represents the many artworks at the museum through a constantly changing image based on AI.

But Anadol hopes future uses of AI will permit artists to choose whether their art be included in new creations.

“I totally hear and agree that certain artists or creators are very uncomfortable about their work being used,” he said.

I’m Andrew Smith.

Matt O’Brien and Arijeta Lajka wrote this story for The Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

style -n. the form or design common to a particular artist or period or group of people

authorship -n. the origin of, especially the creator of, original creative works

transformative -adj. characterized by change from one thing or state into another thing or state

allow -v. permit

text -n. printed words

code -n. the set of instructions that make a computer program work

capability -n. the ability to do something

fake -adj. not genuine

confidence -n. the belief or feeling of that one will achieve a desired result

installation -n. a display of art for public viewing

uncomfortable -adj. somewhat worried or in physical discomfort

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Art

A misspelled memorial to the Brontë sisters gets its dots back at last

Published

4 weeks ago

September 26, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON (AP) — With a few daubs of a paintbrush, the Brontë sisters have got their dots back.

More than eight decades after it was installed, a memorial to the three 19th-century sibling novelists in London’s Westminster Abbey was amended Thursday to restore the diaereses – the two dots over the e in their surname.

The dots — which indicate that the name is pronounced “brontay” rather than “bront” — were omitted when the stone tablet commemorating Charlotte, Emily and Anne was erected in the abbey’s Poets’ Corner in October 1939, just after the outbreak of World War II.

They were restored after Brontë historian Sharon Wright, editor of the Brontë Society Gazette, raised the issue with Dean of Westminster David Hoyle. The abbey asked its stonemason to tap in the dots and its conservator to paint them.

“There’s no paper record for anyone complaining about this or mentioning this, so I just wanted to put it right, really,” Wright said. “These three Yorkshire women deserve their place here, but they also deserve to have their name spelled correctly.”

It’s believed the writers’ Irish father Patrick changed the spelling of his surname from Brunty or Prunty when he went to university in England.

Raised on the wild Yorkshire moors, all three sisters died before they were 40, leaving enduring novels including Charlotte’s “Jane Eyre,” Emily’s “Wuthering Heights” and Anne’s “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.”

Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Society, welcomed the restoration.

“As the Brontës and their work are loved and respected all over the world, it’s entirely appropriate that their name is spelled correctly on their memorial,” she said.

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Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork

Published

1 month ago

September 13, 2024

Harry Miller

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.

Alleged Fraud Scheme

Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.

Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.

Massive Seizure of Artworks

In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.

Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.

Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed

In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.

Court Proceedings Ongoing

The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.

Impact on the Local Art Community

The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.

For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.

As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.

While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.

Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.

As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.