German artist Boris Eldagsen became known worldwide last year when he submitted a photograph generated by artificial intelligence (AI) in a competition… which he won. The Press spoke to him on the sidelines of a conference on AI organized Thursday by C2 Montreal.
It was April 2023. Boris Eldagsen had already been working for a year on artistic photographs created using a generative artificial intelligence program. “My partner had been diagnosed with cancer and it was the only way I could find to continue to be creative, working day in and day out from a hospital room. »
He decided to submit one to the Sony World Photography Awards. Against all expectations, his black and white photograph representing two women in a discreet embrace – strangely named The Electrician – won the prize in the “Creativity” category.
The German artist says he informed the organizers that his photo had been generated by AI before receiving his prize.
My goal was to provoke a debate. I didn’t want to receive the prize. I asked the organizers to do a roundtable to talk about AI, but they did not respond and they made no mention of AI in their communications to the media. So I showed up at the ceremony in London, refused the prize and explained my approach.
Boris Eldagsen, German photographer
“How many of you knew or suspected that the image was generated by artificial intelligence? he asked in his speech, addressing the competition judges. AI images and photography should not compete against each other in a competition like this. I submitted my photo like a mischievous little monkey to find out if photography competitions were ready for AI images. They are not. »
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PHOTO BORIS ELDAGSEN, PROVIDED BY HANGAR 7826
The Electrician2022, an AI-generated work
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PHOTO BORIS ELDAGSEN, PROVIDED BY HANGAR 7826
Me, Me, Me, 2024; like The Electricianthe work was created with AI.
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PHOTO BORIS ELDAGSEN, PROVIDED BY HANGAR 7826
The Family Unconscious2024. The work was also created with AI.
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The organizers were obviously furious. “They turned off my microphone!” » In the world of photography, we spoke of a “coup”. But everyone was happy: photographers who abhor AI welcomed the gesture of Boris Eldagsen, who sought to raise awareness of the occult presence of AI in photos; and artists working with AI were also happy that the issue was finally being debated publicly.
Since last year, the visual artist has increased the number of conferences, public discussions and debates on the subject, particularly on the still nebulous question of copyright. “The photographic community needs to express itself on these issues,” he insists, “and the courts must be seized of these questions so that we can rule on the intellectual property and copyright of photographs generated by photography. ‘AI. »
A plea for transparency
Furthermore, Boris Eldagsen does not perceive AI as a threat. “It’s there and it’s moving faster than the music,” he believes. He instead pleads for transparency.
It is absolutely necessary to be able to distinguish photographs that have been manipulated from others, especially for the news media. We need to think about a labeling system.
Boris Eldagsen, German photographer
An initiative that the TikTok platform has also started to test.
As for his own artistic practice, the 53-year-old Berlin artist believes that AI gives him enormous freedom.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION, THE PRESS
Conference in which Boris Eldagsen (second from the right) took part, organized as part of C2 Montréal
“With traditional photography, I had to take into account the light, the temperature, the location, but with AI, everything comes from my imagination, that’s what’s fascinating. In the process, we specify in writing our preferences for light, colors, composition, actions, etc. But to make these details, you need to have good knowledge of photography and art history, which is an advantage when you are in your fifties. Paradoxically, most people aged 50 and over are often allergic to technology…”
This whole story obviously changed his life. For the better, Boris Eldagsen is now seen as a pioneer in the use of AI in photography.
Prints of his photography The Electrician, which he sold for around 900 euros before submitting it to the Sony World Photography Awards competition, now sells for 20,000 euros (around $30,000 CAN). “I couldn’t have predicted this,” he defends himself. However, Boris Eldagsen is not trying to make it a cash cow. He only has 10 prints of his photography, after that he won’t print any more. In any case, he is working on several other photographic pieces.
“I work with the human psyche, the unconscious, surrealism, symbolism,” he explains, when asked to describe his work. My photographs could never exist in real life, they are abstract objects. I also like to play with titles, as I did with The Electrician, they are like riddles. » It is argued that he is therefore a bit like the Salvador Dalí of photography. He replies that he prefers the comparison with Magritte.
Around ten of his works are also exhibited at the Hangar 7826 gallery until May 26, while five of them will be hung at the International Biennale of Digital Art (BIAN), which will take place at L’Arsenal Art contemporary – from May 31 to July 21 – and whose theme is illusion. “We need to increase the opportunities to discuss this subject,” believes Boris Eldagsen, “so I am delighted to see my work exhibited here. »
Visit the C2 Montreal website