International Artist Day 2023: How artists are using AI art to explore new realms in their work and film

Manoj Omre has fallen in love with Mumbai and that is evident from how he expresses that through his Artificial Intelligence art, more popularly known as AI art, every other day. While he explores a variety of themes including Harry Potter, Avengers, the DC universe and even Navratri and Dussehra, his love for Mumbai is seen in futuristic universes as a dreamland, transport as adventurous rides, and even the infamous monsoon season with fashion and vehicles that could help people navigate the city through heavy rains and floods. They are all hues of red, yellow, pink, blue and green taking the viewer on a whole new journey with every experiment that lands right in the middle of the city.

At a time when Artificial Intelligence and its usage in daily life are booming, artists are making the most of the different tools available for them to lay their hands on. Every year, the world celebrates International Artist Day on October 25. While the term artist has evolved over time, the last one year has seen AI Art come to the forefront like never before as every kind of artist wants to explore the universe and Omre is one of them.

Finding home in Mumbai
Omre says when he started it out, it was all fun and games but with a deeper thought. He explains, "When I started using the AI art platforms and software, the idea was to just explore these tools, and the major reason was just curiosity about whether these tools can really replace designers." This was April 2023, but now there is no stopping him because the 30-year-old city-based designer is not only trying and testing it but also creating art in the process - it is art that can take your breath away. "The best way to use the different software is to combine two worlds - basically a place about where things don't exist at all. It should amuse you or shock you a little - the point of AI for me is that it has to be dreamy or surreal." It is exactly what he did, especially when he brought the relatability factor to it by depicting Mumbai like most Mumbaikars had never seen before.

Interestingly, Omre is originally from Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, but has called Mumbai his home since 2017. Is that why he chose to depict Mumbai? He shares, "Mumbai is close to me because I have grown as a human here, and I know the city too. There are things that I want to relate to Madhya Pradesh and Delhi, but right now I am emotionally and mentally in Mumbai - so those ideas connect with me more." The fact that the Mumbaikar is also a completely different person than who he was when he was in Delhi or Madhya Pradesh makes it even more special and that reflects in his art, which showcases Mumbai beyond the sight-seeing spots too.

Evolution of art
Omre doesn't limit himself to only one particular software while creating the art because his hunger to learn more about the different software is undying. While he uses Midjourney for images, he uses Stable Diffusion for other things just because he wants to see how everything is getting better. He explains, "AI art became popular because of a software called Dali but then Dali declined and Midjourney came along but now again Dali is doing great because it is giving good results."

The artist and designer is using these experiments to better help him at his job, apart from having fun with it. He shares, "For experiments, the platforms are really good because they make you think more. With traditional software, you are a little bound by too many things because you think, ‘I don't have this software, I need to know 3D also to make this' and you also need more time."

However, he believes there is still a long way to go because these softwares are not ready for client work at the moment because they need something specific. He explains, "As an artist, I use these platforms as the starting point because they can't be used as the end result. I use them for the storyboard, colour palette or which direction I want to go in and it saves time for me." Only recently, Omre says he had to work on an artwork showing the product under water. "So, I used the software to imagine the scene and which direction I wanted to go in. It is like a storyboard for the main project, and acts as a design assistant and set up the whole mood and vibe, and then you do the real work."

It is no different for Prishi Jain, who is a Pune-based industrial designer, who has been dabbling with AI art since March 2022. While she has learned the traditional method of pen and paper and works with it, with other early software, the designer has been actively using AI art software in the last six months for her work. She explains, "I have done a lot of things that I wouldn't have done with traditional media like print media, posters, banners, marketing - because there are ideas in your head that you have but you wouldn't have the skills to execute. Every artist has a style, and I have a very technical style to my art, and I went beyond the technical style into a varied domain to get the best of both worlds."

It is a stark contrast from when she first started out more than one and a half years ago. She explains, "When AI art was at its very early stage in March 2022, I just started getting onto Discord to see what the hype was about Midjourney. It started with, ‘let's just play around with this new tool'. Since I am generally a very explorative person, I was just playing around with it and seeing the multiple possibilities I can get into with AI." In the process, she has learned how it could be good for her especially with the need for a faster turnaround time for even the creative field with strict deadlines. "When you do things traditionally, it takes a lot of time and the turnaround time with AI is a lot less. So, when I used the platforms the way they were supposed to be used, I realised how easy the entire process becomes because your visualisation is the most important aspect of art. It just helps you visualise things quickly and get the things out on paper really quick, and that is what was the driving force for me to continue using AI," she adds.

In fact, the Pune designer takes it a step further by not just stopping at just creating the render on AI, but then goes back to her traditional methods to figure out the dimensions. "Since I am in industrial design, I make a lot of products and furniture. So, I reverse engineer the visuals and that helps me while designing," she explains. While she has used it for her work and some other fun projects, more recently, she worked on some AI artwork for India's Independence Day on August 15 about India's economy over the last 200 years. "It was very research-driven, and then compiled by me with the help of AI," she informs.

Film forward
When it comes to reels, this writer came across Priyanku Sarmah's reel a little over three months ago in Mumbai but through the lens of Anime, and it was surreal. Hailing from northeast India, Sarmah, undoubtedly being a lover of anime had created many recognisable parts of Mumbai like a typical movie that showed Bandra Worli Sea link, the Mumbai local trains and other signature aspects that are synonymous with the city. It did not take long for the reel to get viral and today it has over 3.5 million views. "I have always loved anime and that is why I decided to give it a try with Midjourney, when I was just playing around with it." It was loved and shared by every anime and Mumbai lover because they had never imagined the vibrant city in soft hues of orange, light blues, pinks and greens - making you want to look at it over and over again.

Interestingly, while that went viral, Sarmah was also the person behind the viral reel of Nalanda, where he asked an AI software what the district in Bihar looked like in 1150 CE. Now at over 1.9 million, it transports you in a different timeline straight out of a video game. Over time, he has explored different themes like what the Revolt of 1857 looked like too. "I have a lot of interest in ancient history and that is why I keep exploring themes around it. I want to do more of it in the future," he adds. It is not just reels, Sarmah even plays around with art and has even explored different personalities including Sachin Tendulkar and Shah Rukh Khan in a Raja Ravi Varma-style paintings, alien planets, and even Ganesh Chaturthi, which also has a very colourful reel that celebrates the spirit of the festival in India.

Interestingly, Sarmah is a filmmaker, who has been trying to get funding for a short film that he plans to make. However, with little success till now, the AI art universe and response to his reels has encouraged him differently. He shares, "I have been trying to get funding for a short film I am working on but haven't been successful. Now, I have decided to make it with the help of AI."

AI and the job market
Ask him if this will change the way people have been to films, and he has an affirmative answer. "Artificial Intelligence will only help more artists and filmmakers in the future in different ways." The fact that they will not necessarily have to depend on funding for their films is a bright prospect in the future, and Sarmah is already working in that direction. More recently, we have even seen the opening credits of a Marvel movie taking the help of AI to create a unique scene.

Even Omre and Prishi agree with Sarmah. While Omre says it depends on the person using it and the agenda behind it, he adds, "I see these tools as an extension of my existing skills. I think we have to use it as a tool and not as ‘Ab yahi karega mera sab kuch' and I am going to sit back." On the other hand, Prishi highlights, "There is this notion that everybody believes AI is going to replace their job. I just feel AI-powered artists are going to replace them." When one talks about technology and art, has she seen more women take it up? The Punekar unfortunately says, she hasn't come across many women who have been exploring AI art. Prishi explains, "I feel technology is male-centric and a lot of people are curious but they do not do anything about that curiosity. I feel like that barrier needs to break for you to go and try out different things. The more you do it, the more fun it is."

Apart from working on his short film, Sarmah has seen more scope with Artificial Intelligence. "I am starting an AI empowered artist collaborative and have grouped together with a few artists to form a one-of-a-kind AI Studio, called SamurAi. We are trying to break into the creative industry by being an AI studio, specifically in the advertising industry as of now," he concludes.