Weekly Digest 🦾 Judge Rules That AI-Generated Art Cannot Be CopyrightedTLDR: This past Friday, United States District Court Judge Beryl Howell ruled that art created by AI is not able to be protected by copyright law, as part of Thaler v. Perlmutter. Why It Matters: Throughout the decade thus far, Artificial Intelligence has undergone significant innovation that has shaken all sorts of industries. Programs such as ChatGPT and the myriad of AI art generators that continue to pop up have taken the world by storm, presenting various unprecedented cases. Already, art-based awards have been granted to AI-generated works, stirring up controversy from artists and fans alike. Now, a recent court case has taken a stance against the protection of AI-created pieces. “Human authorship is a bedrock requirement”: The new case itself centers around Thaler attempting to copyright an image produced by AI that was rejected by the United States Copyright Office. Its rejection was due to a lack of human authorship, which Judge Howell similarly noted by sharing “human authorship is a bedrock requirement.” Read the full article here.  😱 Orlando Museum of Art Sues Former Director for Staging Fake Basquiat ExhibitionTLDR: The 2022 show held by Aaron De Groft was filled with 25 fake artworks which prompted an investigation by the FBI. Why It Matters: The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) is suing its former director Aaron De Groft for his role in promoting a show filled with fake Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings. 'Heroes and Monsters' opened in February of 2022 and closed in roughly four months time, after the FBI raided OMA’s galleries, finding 25 fake Basquiat artworks. The institution promptly fired De Groft and hired a task force to help alleviate the damage caused to OMA’s reputation, along with investigating any and all parties who assisted in the faux-exhibition. There's a Hero and a Monster, Indeed: Heroes and Monsters' was initially promoted as a show featuring a suite of “lost” works that Basquiat had created in 1982 while out in Los Angeles for a show that was to go on view at Gagosian. At least, that is the story that was being purported by art dealer William Force, along with his accomplice and financial backer, Leo Mangan. As the story goes, the paintings were then sold to a screenwriter named Thad Mumford, who kept them in storage until 2012, which he had to auction off for not being able to meet payments. Force and Mangan spent years trying to galvanize interest from collectors and institutions, even going as far as hiring an art history professor and Basquiat expert to help fabricate their story. Read the full article here.  🛕 ‘KAWS:HOLIDAY’ Arrives at Indonesia’s Ancient Prambanan Temple CompoundTLDR: AllRightsReserved presents the famous KAWS’ largest sculpture to date located in the 9th-century Prambanan temples. Why It Matters: Following recent news confirming that the 'KAWS:Holiday' series making Indonesia its 10th stop, AllRightsReserved and AKG Entertainment have finally unveiled official images of the monumental exhibit lying beside the wondrous 9th-century Prambanan temples. Situated in a UNESCO World Heritage Site: "Nestled in the historic city of Yogyakarta in southern Java, Prambanan is Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple complex and a valuable UNESCO World Heritage Site. With the unveiling of 'KAWS:Holiday,' KAWS offers a refreshing experience for visitors by pairing contemporary art with ancient architecture. Read the full article here.  💅 Nadia Lee Cohen: A Character StudyTLDR: Whether lensing herself or a celebrity subject, Nadia Lee Cohen lets the narrative speak for itself, as she details in a sit down with Hypebeast. Why It Matters: British photographer, filmmaker, performance artist and all-around It-girl, Nadia Lee Cohen, is a starlet of our era. Her palpable, cinematic style, whether conscious or accidental, has become a defining characteristic of the visual vernacular of 2023. Most recently, you may have seen the Interview cover shoot of Lana Del Rey that took the Internet by storm; yes, that was Cohen behind the camera. Or perhaps you wandered into Cohen’s solo show at Jeffrey Deitch in Los Angeles this past summer and fell into the multiverse of the artist’s portraits, videos and installations. A Unique Visual Vocabulary: Cohen’s reference to aesthetics of the past is clear in her visual vocabulary, (she cites influences such as Stanley Kubrick, Nan Goldin and even the famed, fictitious character Tony Soprano) yet somehow, as Cohen astutely puts it, “the past isn’t necessarily the reference, the reference is sort of ‘nowhere.’” Though Cohen specifically points out that it makes her “cringe when people theorize their own work,” she is certainly onto something. Read the full article here.  📷 Through the Lens: Aleksandr Barbarikin Documents Life Experiences Through AbstractionTLDR: The Belarus-born photographer harnesses a distinct style that references French Impressionism while moving through a number of themes. Why It Matters: Aleksandr Babarikin, a 26-year-old software engineer originally from Belarus who now resides in New York, describes his photography as a blend of impressionism and abstract expression. His work encompasses a wide range of themes, combining elements of nostalgia with futuristic visions of dystopian cities. Babarikin believes that photography serves as a means of self-reflection, allowing him to express ideas, emotions, and experiences without conscious thought. Intuitive and Spontaneous: Babarikin’s distorted images evoke a range of emotions and messages. Some reflect personal experiences, while others serve as representations of captivating shapes and colors. He aims to create a space for viewers to immerse themselves in the imagery and derive their own interpretations. Moreover, his approach to finding subjects and scenes for his photographs is intuitive and spontaneous. He roams the streets, observing the unfolding narratives of everyday life. Sometimes, he finds himself captivated by a particular moment, standing still for hours, eagerly anticipating the unexpected. This organic process allows him to capture candid and evocative moments. Read the full article here.
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