AI Paintings Stir Debate among Egyptian Artists

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.”