A New Era: For A Cumulative Art

In an era where the boundaries of what is conceivable are constantly being redrawn, we stand on the precipice of a radical transformation. This transformation, though seemingly imperceptible to the untrained eye, is redefining the very essence of our cultural, intellectual, and artistic landscapes. Among the myriad of fields undergoing this seismic shift, art is at the forefront of a revolution.

We posit that art, in its most traditional sense, has always been a solitary affair. An artist's creation was the ultimate culmination of their vision, skills, and emotional landscape, confined within the boundaries of canvas, stone, digital pixels o any medium the artist so chose. Interaction with these works was largely passive, mediated through perception, emulation, and the sensory memories they evoked. While one could admire, critique, or possess these works, the notion of actively building upon them remained a distant, often controversial prospect.

Yet, the winds of change are upon us.

The advent of artificial intelligence and the digital renaissance have ushered in an era where art transcends its erstwhile limitations. No longer are there mere spectators of artistic genius; they are now co-creators, participants in an ongoing dialogue that spans time, space, and medium.

Until today, an artist's work was limited to itself. It was it's own frontier. You could enjoy it, buy it maybe, but not make it yours.

This has changed.

You can find it terrifying, sad or dangerous it remains never the less a, now, undeniable reality.

But this paradigm shift invites a comparison to another field known for its collaborative ethos — scientific research.

Historically, the greatest shifts in understanding and technology have not been siloed within the minds of lone geniuses or copyrighted academic papers, but have flourished through open exchange and collective endeavor. Scientists and researchers build upon the foundations laid by their peers, pushing the boundaries of knowledge ever forward. This principle of cumulative progress, of standing on the shoulders of giants, is what propels humanity towards the future.

Why, then, should art be any different?

The proposal is simple yet revolutionary: to treat art as a foundational element upon which new creations can be built. Just as scientific discoveries are shared, cited, and expanded upon, so too should artistic works serve as the bedrock for further exploration and innovation. This approach not only democratizes creativity but also enriches our cultural tapestry, weaving together threads of past, present, and future into a vibrant mosaic of human expression.

In this new world, the act of creation is both a homage and a springboard. Citing the artists and works that inspire and inform new creations could become a standard practice, fostering an environment of respect, collaboration, and interconnectedness. This is not to dilute the significance of originality but to acknowledge that in the vast expanse of human creativity, we are all both teachers and learners, influencers and influenced.

The most pivotal advancements in AI, including the development of the Transformer model, have been propelled by this ethos of openness and collaboration. These technologies, freely shared with the world, have not only revolutionized our capabilities but have also set the stage for an artistic metamorphosis. Art, in the age of AI, is no longer confined by the limitations of canvas, screens or minds but is an ever-evolving entity, shaped by the collective imagination of our species.

As we stand at the crossroads of this new frontier, we invite you to see art not as a static relic of individual achievement but as a living, breathing canvas upon which we can all leave our mark. The future of art is collaborative, dynamic, and boundless. It is a future where creativity knows no limits, and every work is both an homage to what has come before and a foundation for what is yet to be.

This is not just a vision but a call to action. A call to redefine the essence of artistic creation and to participate in a cultural revolution that blurs the lines between creator and audience, past and present, art and science. Together, we can forge a new legacy of art that is as inclusive as it is innovative, as respectful as it is radical.

The canvas of the future is vast and uncharted. Let us pick up our brushes, digital or otherwise, and paint a future where art is a shared journey, a collective exploration of the human condition. In this new era, every artist, every viewer, every human is both a contributor and a beneficiary of the inexhaustible wellspring of creativity that defines our species.

Welcome to the future of art.

Lili & Vova