Japanese Art Icon Takashi Murakami Talks About AI's Effect on NFT Creators

Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami, renowned for his technicolor paintings that blend traditional Japanese art motifs with anime and manga, has embraced new technology in the art world.

He is a legendary name in the NFT space with his pioneer project Murakami.Flowers and recently expressed his concerns about the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on his artistic career.

Murakami on AI

JapanToday reports that during the opening of his latest exhibition at the Gagosian Gallery near Paris, Murakami spoke to AFP about the impending wave of change he foresees due to AI-powered software.

Drawing parallels to the transformative effect of the Apple II computer in the 1980s, which revolutionized the design industry, he acknowledged that AI could pose a threat to technical trades. Still, he believed that it would be unable to stifle human creativity.

Murakami asserted that truly unique and unconventional ideas that even AI cannot generate would gain even more value.

AI Artists to be Left Behind

Murakami acknowledged that this shift might grant more power to tech engineers rather than artists. The ability of engineers to explore unimagined possibilities could result in a power imbalance.

He warned that artists who create familiar and conventional artwork might be left behind.

Strikingly, Murakami confessed to harboring fears of one day being replaced by AI, demonstrating his awareness of the disruptive potential of emerging technologies.

Embracing Latest Tech

Murakami's commitment to embracing technological change is evident in his latest exhibition.

Takashi Murakami is putting on an art exhibit titled "Understanding the New Cognitive Domain" at the Gagosian Gallery in Le Bourget, France, according to NFT Evening.

The exhibit headlining artworks inspired by Japanese traditions like the kabuki also featured a collection of pixelated portraits resembling NFT-style artwork.

JapanToday tells us that some connect historical figures, such as Karl Marx and Adam Smith, to contemporary tech leaders like Vitalik Buterin and Elon Musk.

Although appearing deceptively simple, Murakami's artworks are meticulously hand-painted and lacquered to achieve his renowned "Superflat" aesthetic, erasing all traces of human involvement.

While he aims to bridge the gap between traditional and digital art with his work, Murakami acknowledges that his pixelated drawings can be challenging for longtime collectors to embrace fully.

Nevertheless, he believes pixel art represents a unique facet of Japanese culture, harkening back to the video games of the 1970s.

AI and NFTs

As one of the rare fine artists who successfully ventured into the NFT space, Murakami's insights into the potential impact of AI on the industry are valuable.

In Murakami's view, the crypto world is akin to an unexplored continent, with much potential yet to be realized. He predicts that people will take several more years to fully adapt to and understand the transformative power of cryptocurrencies and NFTs.

While the NFT market has experienced a recent downturn, his observations raise questions about the role AI could play in revitalizing this nascent art form.

Reports tell us that visitors to Murakami's latest exhibit were promised an NFT of a virtual coin adorned with his iconic flower motif.

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