AI Paintings Stir Debate among Egyptian Artists

A painting from the "AI and Me" exhibition (Picasso Art Gallery).
A painting from the "AI and Me" exhibition (Picasso Art Gallery).
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AI Paintings Stir Debate among Egyptian Artists

A painting from the "AI and Me" exhibition (Picasso Art Gallery).
A painting from the "AI and Me" exhibition (Picasso Art Gallery).

The “AI and Me...Future Experiences in Arts” exhibition stirred wide debate among artists in Egypt, after Art Professor and Artist Alia Abdulhadi surprised the audience by using the technique instead of the traditional drawing tools in 70 paintings.

The debate on the exhibition, described by critics as the first of its kind in Egypt, went beyond the walls of the Picasso Gallery. On social media, the audience discussed the experience, its artistic “legitimacy”, and its impact on the future of Egyptian creativity. But the dispute was resumed at the gallery late Monday, during an open seminar dubbed “AI in Art .... With or Against”, attended by the exhibition’s curator, artists, critics, and art fans.

Abdulhadi started her experience around a year ago, aiming at exploring this new exciting world with the help of the “Midjourney” app in interior and accessories designs. The artist found that the app can turn anything that she writes into a complete design in 10 seconds, which prompted her to start experimenting with paintings.

“It’s important for an artist to keep up with novelty. Whether we liked artificial intelligence (AI) or not, it is going to enforce itself even in the fields of art and creativity,” Dr. Alia Abdulhadi, former dean of architecture and arts school at Jordan’s Petra University, and vice-president of the Fine Art School at Helwan University, told “Asharq Al-Awsat”.

“The technique is advancing at a remarkable pace, which means we have to keep up with it, and neglecting it won’t help. I felt I must explore this world and experiment with its tools. Art students and aficionados are fond of everything related to modern technology, so it’s time to integrate it in academic curricula,” she explained.

Abdulhadi believes that the paintings reflect her identity, and could be considered as her originals if drawn in real life. “I felt like I was communicating with the machine, like if there was some kind of dialogue. But I had to alter some colors and shapes to get the results that reflect the spirit of my works and my view,” she said.

About the people who slammed her exhibition, she said: “I welcome all opinions because they create new movements and views, and open doors to discuss a cause that cannot be ignored anymore, it’s using AI for art creativity. But I don’t mind repeating the experience in more works.”

During the seminar organized by the gallery on Monday, the debate and heated discussion on the matter resumed, highlighting a sharp contrast between the supporting and opposing views.

Dr. Ashraf Rida, a professor of design at the Fine Arts School in Helwan University, praised Abdulhadi’s courage for experimentation and self-challenge using AI apps to create artworks that reflect her style.

On the other hand, Artist and Critic Izzedine Naguib slammed the experience, and asked: “How could we incorporate AI in visual arts, theater, cinema, and music? Art is the cohort of dreaming and imagination, it’s the result of emotions and uniqueness. AI lacks all this, it’s based on simulation, data storage, and manipulation. When someone signs an AI-based artwork, they are crossing the fine line between creativity and forgery.”

For his part. Dr. Taher Abdulazim described Abdulhadi’s experience as “novel” in Egypt, noting that “the results highlight a daring and exceptional approach.”



Prince William and Kate Mark Wedding Anniversary in Scotland

William and Catherine met while studying at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and married at London's Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. (Reuters)
William and Catherine met while studying at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and married at London's Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. (Reuters)
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Prince William and Kate Mark Wedding Anniversary in Scotland

William and Catherine met while studying at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and married at London's Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. (Reuters)
William and Catherine met while studying at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and married at London's Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. (Reuters)

Prince William and wife Catherine will celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary on the Scottish island of Mull on Tuesday, the latest step on the princess's road to recovery from cancer.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, revealed in January she was "in remission", having announced last March she had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of the disease and was undergoing chemotherapy.

She has since returned to frontline public duties, but with a slimmed-down schedule and shorter engagements.

The couple will spend two days touring the western Scottish islands of Mull and Iona, where they will "celebrate and connect with rural island communities", according to their Kensington Palace office.

They will celebrate their anniversary on Mull, the fourth-largest island in Scotland, which has a population of around 3,000 people and is known for its fishing and farming communities.

William and Catherine met while studying at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and married at London's Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011, in a ceremony watched by tens of millions around the world.

Since then, the royal family has undergone a tumultuous decade in which Queen Elizabeth II died after a record-breaking 70-year reign and William's father, King Charles III, ascended to the throne.

Charles revealed last year he had been diagnosed with cancer, and is still receiving weekly treatment.

William's brother Harry also dropped a bombshell when he announced in 2020 that he was quitting the family. He now lives in the United States with wife Meghan.

All of which drama should be a long way from the tranquility of rural Scotland, where the royal couple will arrive on Tuesday for a two-day trip.

William and Catherine will spend time with members of the local communities "reflecting on the power of social connection and the importance of protecting and championing the natural environment" -- two subjects close to both their hearts, said Kensington Palace.

On arrival, they will visit an artisan market in the Mull town of Tobermory, meeting some of the island's makers and creators before heading to a local croft to learn about sustainable farming and hospitality.

On the second day, the couple will visit an ancient woodland and join a local school group for an outdoor lesson.

They will round the trip off by taking a public ferry to Mull's tiny neighbor Iona, which has a population of around 170 people but receives around 130,000 visitors a year.