Tender and Artmatr Present a Fresh Perspective on AI-Generated Art in Upcoming Exhibition
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In Red Hook, Brooklyn, AI-generated art is being brought to life in a unique, and tangible form. On Oct. 26, a leader in the AI and generative art movement, Tender and Artmatr, will showcase “Reflections,” an exhibition that promises to rewrite the narrative around AI and generative art.
The innovative interplay between AI’s data-driven processes and traditional art forms serves as the foundation of the “Reflections” exhibition. Adam Berninger, founder of Tender and curator was drawn by Artmatr’s innovative technology. The collaboration began early in the year, aiming to seamlessly blend AI-generated art into the tangible ambiance of a gallery setting.The curated artists, each distinct in their styles, predominantly focus on portraiture, a timeless genre in oil painting.
Berninger shared with nft now how he believes, “this genre, coupled with the infusion of AI, is a way of humanizing a technical medium, having AI create these pieces, and have them still mean something to us as creators, collectors, and the everyday person. I believe this was all a natural fit for why portraiture , why these artists, why oil paintings and how they all come together.”
Blending old with the new
Generative art, an approach where artists use algorithmic processes, including AI-generated art, has been steadily rising in popularity over the past few years. The challenge? Transitioning these intricate, digital creations into a tactile, tangible format. Enter Artmatr with its cutting-edge technology, allowing digital artworks to manifest as authentic oil paintings. Their method involves a proprietary robotic system that applies white oil paint, creating texture and movement and subsequently layering colored oil paint with the precision of the original digital file.
The outcome is impressive — a seamless blend of digital vibrancy and the timelessness of oil painting, a notably different output from the more common format of bringing digital art to life through prints.
“There’s so much opportunity for these artists to present their work in new, exciting ways, outside of the screen. That’s not a simple print or something like that,” shared Berninger.
The Exhibition: “Reflections”
Curated by Berninger, “Reflections” features nine trailblazing artists in the generative art medium: Ira Greenberg, Kirill Semenovich, Danielle King, Jenni Pasanen, Str4ngeThing, Francien Krieg, ClownVamp, Chelsea Jones, and Lily Illo.
These artists, each with their distinct style, present 136 original artworks, fusing AI and generative coding techniques.
“Reflections is asking them to consider identity, the way that they even see themselves coming through in their work in their artwork.” shared Berninger.
The theme revolves around introspection and the artist’s perspective from within a hall of mirrors. It delves deep into how AI, with its vast computational capacity, intersects with the artist’s personal reflections. The artworks echo a ‘shared anonymity,’ spotlighting identity, cultural undertones, and “the raw emotion of our shared humanity.”
Tender is a platform or entity that started as a curation layer for generative art across platforms. It aims to make generative art more accessible to both existing and new collectors. They also collaborate with artists to release new works, aiming to push the boundaries of generative art and bring it to a wider audience.
Changing the narrative
Berninger emphasized the importance behind the exhibition for Tender and its alignment for what they stand for. While AI-generated art has been featured in prominent galleries and institutions and interest in the sector continues to grow, there still seems to be some hesitancy or skepticism from traditional institutions regarding generative art. The term “AI” sometimes acts as a barrier, causing some to focus more on the technology behind the art rather than the art itself.
Through “Reflections” the strategy is “to present the work as art first and explain the AI component afterward.” The goal being to initiate compelling dialogues with traditional collectors, galleries, and art institutions, elevating the stature of generative and AI art.
“Whether it’s code or AI, understanding that there’s a real craft to it still.”
Adam berninger
“I think that’s the most important thing. Is to be able to just present the work as art, giving the artists space to talk about them and their approach, and then their technique and how they use technology. Whether it’s code or AI, understanding that there’s a real craft to it still. There’s no there’s a difference in level of effort and everything,” shared Berninger.
“I almost never say the word NFTs or AI, at least not in the beginning. I usually start with talking about systems design, systematic art, computational art, and the history behind it.” He shared when it comes to actually having formal conversation with major institutions or galleries, many times avoiding the technical “jargon” can help in broadening the acceptance for the medium itself. Berninger adds, “Having physicals is such a critical part…that makes it comfortable for those audiences to see what we’re doing, and better onboard them when it comes to owning the “digital collectible, without needing to understand crypto or wallets, etc.”
Alongside the exhibition, starting from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, the pieces will be auctioned as NFTs. Winning bids on the NFT art provide the bidder with the digital NFT and the associated physical oil painting, with no additional cost.
In collaboration with IYK, a startup that integrates NFC chips into products, helping consumers authenticate genuine product ownership, will assist in implementing an advanced verification process. Each painting will feature an embedded chip. Upon delivery, buyers can tap this chip to receive an additional NFT in their digital wallet, proving the physical painting’s authenticity. This system ensures that if the NFT is ever resold, the subsequent owner can seamlessly verify and transfer ownership of both the digital and physical assets.
Notably, each artwork’s framing varies based on the artist’s preferences. Some are unframed, while others are stretched canvas, but all meticulously mirror traditional paintings.
Artmatr and Tender’s ‘Reflections’ ignites a fresh perspective around AI and generative art that spans outside of the digital art realm. Allowing for a conversation to begin with the art and then end with the underlying tech behind it.
For those eager to delve into this unique experience, the exhibition is set to open on Oct. 26, from 6 to 9 p.m., with a dedicated press preview at 5 p.m.
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