The Museum of Modern Art Acquires AI Artwork for Permanent Collection
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City has added “Unsupervised—Machine Hallucinations” to its permanent collection. This generative artwork, created by Turkish digital artist Refik Anadol, utilizes AI to create visual designs inspired by the museum’s archives. Anadol constructed a machine learning model that takes in over 200 years of art from MoMA’s catalog and produces ever-shifting audiovisuals based on those original works. The artwork’s appearance and sound constantly change due to factors such as light, movement, acoustics, and weather. It is currently on display in the MoMA lobby until October 29.
The Controversy Surrounding AI Art
Art created with the help of AI tools has been controversial, with some projects facing backlash. Noted art critic Jerry Saltz described “Unsupervised” as a “glorified lava lamp” and criticized it as a “crowd-pleasing, like-generating mediocrity.” However, the artwork has also captivated viewers and sparked discussions about the role of AI in art creation.
First Generative AI and Tokenized Artwork in MoMA’s Collection
In a tweet, Refik Anadol announced that “Unsupervised” is the first generative AI and tokenized artwork to enter MoMA’s permanent collection. The artwork also features an accompanying NFT collection. Anadol is known for his work in the AI art scene and recently created the largest AI artwork, “Machine Hallucinations—Sphere,” displayed at MSG Sphere in Las Vegas.
Expanding Engagement with Digital Art
MoMA’s acquisition of “Unsupervised” is part of its broader efforts to engage with digital art and blockchain technology. The museum also acquired “3FACE,” an adaptive generative artwork by Ian Cheng that creates visual portraits based on participants’ on-chain wallet data. MoMA aims to incorporate digital art and blockchain into its collections and ethos in the long term. The institution recently introduced “MoMA Postcard,” an interactive art project that explores collaborative art creation on the blockchain.
Hot Take: MoMA Embraces AI Art with “Unsupervised” Acquisition
The Museum of Modern Art’s acquisition of “Unsupervised—Machine Hallucinations” demonstrates its commitment to embracing emerging technologies in art. By adding a generative AI artwork to its permanent collection, MoMA recognizes the significance of AI as a creative tool. Although controversial, the artwork has sparked conversations about the role of AI in artistic expression. With this acquisition, MoMA aims to engage more directly with digital art and blockchain, shaping the future of artistic innovation and exploring transformative change in the world.
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