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Martin Mahenga

WHILE searching for inspiration online in April 2023, I stumbled upon an impressive artwork on a popular image website. To my shock, it was created by an image generator powered by artificial intelligence, not a human artist! My belief that computers couldn’t create such art was shaken. How was this possible? I had to find out because, as a visual artist, this was going to affect me in one way or another.

How do computers learn how to draw? Well, they study countless pictures, picking up on different shapes, colours, and styles. With this knowledge, they can create their own images. This process, called machine learning, lets computers make art that looks like it was created by humans. I have simplified this explanation deliberately so that the layperson not familiar with computer terminology can understand the topic at hand.

This article aims to highlight the voices of local artists, including my own, and explore the profound impact of this emerging technology on our creative community. Obsessed with uncovering the truth behind this technological marvel, I embarked on a journey of relentless research, questioning, and debating with my peers. As I delved deeper, I sensed that this was not just a technological revolution but an emotional subject as well. The implications of AI in art sparked passionate discussions, revealing a complex interplay between innovation and human creativity.

Of all the emotions I observe from artists online and in the real world, fear tops the list! Fear of being replaced by machines, fear of competition, and fear of being seen as someone whose work is in doubt, whether it was created by AI or not. But not Thamayi Maodza, a talented Bulawayo-based graphic designer who also dabbles in illustration using a ballpoint pen. Thamayi has been drawing well before image generation became a thing, but now he prefers to take a balanced view of this technology and not fear it.

“I use generative AI in my creative work. Not to replace my own creativity, but to enhance it. This is because, with generative AI, I can quickly ‘tailor-make’ a picture that matches the exact needs of the work I’m doing, as if I am a photographer telling a live model how to pose or to wear a certain outfit. This helps me create design work that more effectively meets clients’ needs,” he said.

Gedion Tivafukidze

Artists like Thamayi and many others who have been creating original work before the advent of AI in the visual arts are not doubted for their capabilities, as they have been proven. But what about a young artist currently in school who hasn’t made a name for himself? How can his creativity shine when, by the time he finishes his university course, this technology will obviously be at a more advanced level? I decided to ask Mr Sibanda, my former art teacher and a Zimbabwean currently based in Botswana, for his perspective on how the emergence of this technology has impacted the learning curriculum of students.

“AI is yet another exciting tool that can deepen your insight into art themes. The syllabuses will give guidance on how far you may use AI. Further, one has to acknowledge by consent and communication that AI has been use,” he said.
Gideon Tivafukidze, a craft worker based in Harare, makes handmade toys and framed art pieces out of recycled materials. One of his impressive pieces is a handcrafted portrait of Econet founder, Strive Masiyiwa, made entirely out of discarded recharge cards.

He shares a different perspective: “The way I see it, AI is definitely going to replace some art jobs, such as illustration and still images. As someone who makes artwork out of what you may call ‘rubbish,’ it may be a long time before a computer does what I do,” he said with a sense of pride.

Gideon’s craft and what he does really requires the dexterity of human hands which is the essence of craft artefacts, I wouldn’t want a basket made by a 3D printing robot!

Just from these few local examples, the three artists acknowledge that the artistic machines have arrived, and artists may have to create a hybrid workflow to use AI as a partner to usher in a new era of creativity. Adapt or be left behind!

In conclusion, as an artist myself, I foresee a future where AI will become part of my workflow as a form of inspiration or as a test space to throw new ideas and see if they stick before embarking on a big project such as a large painting, comic book, or whatever artistic task I may have before me.

Thamayi Maodza

It is crucial for artists to understand the principles and rules of visual and creative art because, without this knowledge, how can one know when the AI has got things right or wrong? Sometimes it does! There is a need for caution though, as no new technology comes without its drawbacks. These systems, as fast as they can create, do so after being trained on thousands of pre-existing images whose owners were not consulted during the machine learning process.

I encourage readers to look into this further to understand the implications fully.
Art is a timeless form of human expression that no machine can take away from any sentient being, irrespective of its speed or proficiency.
A machine should serve only as a tool, a means to an end. So, keep expressing yourself through the gift of art.