The Intersection of Art and AI: Large-scale art installations
Source: Charles Pétillon
Photo : Paul Grover
There is an abundance of digital art pieces that have been generated by AI, but what I find to be particularly noteworthy is the increasing use of these technologies by non-digital artists. Some artists use AI-generated art as a source of inspiration, while others use it as a starting point to create an entirely unique piece.
Displayed below is a fascinating project that was created using the MidJourney application. What makes this project so intriguing, is the person who initiated the request for the program - the esteemed Associate Professor of Architecture, Joshua Vermillion. This is significant because artists are constantly undertaking large-scale projects, and so why shouldn't a professional architect be able to secure funding to construct a real installation in the future?
It is exciting to consider the potential of AI-generated art in the hands of skilled and creative individuals such as Professor Vermillion. As these technologies continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, we can anticipate an even greater integration of AI in the art world.
To illustrate this point, let us take a look at a few other examples of large-scale art created by artists. Typically, these works of art are crafted to challenge our senses and perception, with some pieces designed to provoke thought and others aimed at evoking emotion.
My personal TOP of large-scale art installations that look almost not real:
Atelier Sisu, Balloon installation in London
Atelier Sisu is a Sydney based design studio lead by the artists Renzo B. Larriviere and Zara Pasfield. Their direction of work sits between the fields of art and architecture (art-chitecture), with particular focus in the realm of public art. Their work endeavours to be visuallay engaging and intelectually elegant in nature.
“Museum of the Moon” installation in Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Museum of the Moon is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram. The installation is a fusion of lunar imagery, moonlight and surround sound composition. Each venue where the installation presented also programs their own series lunar inspired events beneath the moon.
“Dappled Light” installation in Pitzhanger Manor&Gallery
Rana Begum’s works explore the perception of light, colour and form and blur the boundaries between sculpture, architecture, design and painting. (@ranabegumstudio)
Henrique Oliveira, Wooden installations
Henrique Oliveira repurposes wood collected from the streets of São Paulo to create immersive, organic structures that often resemble tree roots, veins, or other natural forms.
Oliveira's works are characterized by their intricate layers and textures, which give the impression of organic growth and decay. Henrique Oliveira's art is a stunning example of how discarded materials can be transformed into beautiful, thought-provoking works of art that challenge our perceptions of nature, beauty, and sustainability.
Paul Cocksedge, “Coalescence” (charcoal installation)
Introducing "Coalescence", a mesmerizing new sculpture comprised of thousands of suspended pieces of coal. This thought-provoking artwork aims to challenge our complex relationship with, and reliance upon, fossil fuels. The sculpture made its debut at Liverpool Cathedral at the beginning of 2023 and is scheduled to tour later this year.
Source: Paul Cocksedge
Photo: Mark Cocksedge
Olafur Eliasson, “The Weather Project”
Discover the captivating Weather Project by Olafur Eliasson, which was presented in London's Tate in 2003. Featuring a grand celestial sun and a mirror on the ceiling, visitors were able to witness their tiny black shadows against an orange light backdrop. Suspended in the air was a mist of sweetened water, adding to the ethereal atmosphere.
For Eliasson, the weather - wind, rain, sun - is the only authentic way for urban dwellers to connect with nature. The London installation represents a means to recapture the power of nature for individuals enclosed in modern spaces that disconnect them from the forces they were once subject to.
Jun Ong, “Star” (light installation)
Inspired by the concept of a 'glitch' originally used in space programs to describe an electric current's voltage spike, the abstracted design represents a physical and symbolic manifestation of the idea. The dodecahedron's materiality appears as an error, mysteriously set within a concrete structure.
Charles Pétillon, “Heartbeat” and “Le Doute”
Artist Charles Petillon has been commissioned by Covent Garden (London) to create a breathtaking large-scale installation composed of 100,000 white balloons. The 54-meter-long and 12-meter-wide installation features a soft, continuous pulsating white light, representing the beating of a heart.
Jacob Hashimoto, “THE ECLIPSE AND NEVER COMES TOMORROW”
Jacob Hashimoto's first major public art exhibition on Governors Island, featuring an array of sculptures, paintings, and hanging installations. Through the use of modular components, such as bamboo-and-paper kites, model boats, and astro turf-covered blocks, Hashimoto constructs intricate and immersive worlds.
