Do you remember when Boris Eldagsen won a Sony World Photography prize with an IA image? And do you remember when the photographer Miles Ally won an AI image prize with a real photo? Well now, the two have teamed up with an exhibition between the photography at the AI.
The unique exhibition takes place for the European month of photography in Berlin, Germany, and could be the first time that an exhibition has opposed the two mediums. It was organized by Eldagsen who says that his inverted history with Arried clearly shows that “photography and promptography can no longer be distinguished to the naked eye”.
Eldagsen invited 18 photographers and 18 artists to represent the two areas which, controversial, sometimes overlap.
“Exhibition is an important step, demonstrating that despite the overlap of photography and promptography, each medium has its own applications and merit,” explains Astray Pétapixel.
“I am fascinated by the diversity of artistic practices and visions which are represented, not only in both disciplines but also in each category. There is a coherent intrigue that guides visitors through various inherent and unique themes with each support, and there is harmony in the juxtaposition in which the works are placed, both spatially and thematically. In the future, photography and proximity cannot always coexist in harmony – we could see cannibalism – but the two mediums will survive by adaptation and because of their complementary nature. »»
Ally says that although he is personally a “big fan of reality”, he is also interested in the other side. “For example, I was attracted to the work of an artist with multiple sclerosis which can express the feeling of his state with the help of AI in a way that photography does not allow it,” he adds.
Half of the exhibition space is dedicated to photography while the other half shows the avant-garde of the AI. Photographic themes include the presence, perception and search for objectivity, while the images of AI evolve around themes as to overcome the laws of nature, become aware of self and conceptual art.
The two disciplines converge in the middle of the space, where The electrician And Flamingo Hang side by side to mark out the transition border between the two worlds.
The two protagonists
In April 2023, the Sony World Photography Awards awarded to Eldagsen for his photo The electrician that he revealed later was generated by the AI and returned the price. It was an important step because it marked the first time that a major photo price crowns an image of AI.
Conversely, it was clear disqualified from an image competition After his real photograph, won in the AI image category. He entered his surreal photo of a flamingo in the AI category of the Color Photography Awards of 1839 that the judges not only placed the third, but he won the prize for the popular vote.
“I wanted to show that nature can still beat the machine and that there is still merit in a real work of real creatives,” Astray told Petapixel at the time.
Rivals: photography vs promptography Works at Photo Edition Berlin until March 31. More information can be found here.
