Pierre Fautrel, Hugo Caselles-Dupré, and Gauthier Vernier are the French artists behind the collective known as Obvious. They gained international recognition for their work in AI-generated art, particularly with their project “Portrait of Edmond de Belamy,” which became the first AI-generated artwork to be auctioned at a major auction house.

Key Aspects of Obvious’ Work:

1. AI and Machine Learning: Obvious uses artificial intelligence, specifically Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), to create their artworks. GANs are a class of machine learning frameworks designed by Ian Goodfellow and his colleagues in 2014, which consist of two neural networks – a generator and a discriminator – that work together to produce realistic images.
2. Exploration of Creativity: The collective’s work explores the boundaries of creativity and authorship in the context of AI. By using algorithms to generate art, they challenge traditional notions of what it means to be an artist and how art is created.
3. Historical and Cultural References: Obvious often incorporates historical and cultural elements into their AI-generated artworks. For example, their Belamy series, including “Portrait of Edmond de Belamy,” references classical portraiture and the history of art, blending traditional aesthetics with cutting-edge technology.
4. Ethics and AI: The collective’s work raises important ethical questions about the use of AI in art, the potential biases in training data, and the implications of AI-generated content on the art market and cultural heritage.
5. Public Engagement and Education: Obvious aims to demystify AI and make it accessible to a broader audience. They engage with the public through exhibitions, talks, and workshops, explaining the processes behind their work and the potential of AI in creative fields.

Notable Projects:

• “Portrait of Edmond de Belamy”: This AI-generated portrait was created using GANs trained on a dataset of historical portraits. The piece was sold at Christie’s auction house in 2018 for $432,500, far exceeding its estimated price and sparking widespread interest and debate about AI art.
• “La Comtesse de Belamy”: Another portrait in the Belamy series, continuing their exploration of AI-generated classical-style portraits. This series further delves into the blending of historical art forms with modern technology.
• “Baron de Belamy”: Part of the same series, this portrait explores similar themes of AI creativity and the reinterpretation of classical art traditions through machine learning algorithms.

Impact and Influence:

Obvious has made a significant impact on the art world by bringing AI-generated art to mainstream attention. Their work challenges traditional boundaries of authorship, creativity, and the definition of art, raising critical discussions about the role of technology in the creative process.

The auction of “Portrait of Edmond de Belamy” marked a milestone in the acceptance and valuation of AI art, influencing both the art market and public perception of AI’s capabilities. By engaging with historical and cultural themes, Obvious connects the past and the future, offering a unique perspective on the evolution of art in the age of technology.

Through their educational efforts and public engagement, Obvious contributes to a broader understanding of AI and its potential applications, inspiring both artists and technologists to explore new frontiers in creative expression.