historic-crypto.eth

@Historic_Crypto ∙ Published October 3, 2023

What’s your background and how did you get into AI art?

My background and interest in art stems from my passion for history and the classics. I’ve always been fascinated by the ancient empires of Greece and Rome. Visiting Athens and Rome as a child, I would wonder what the lives of everyday people were like thousands of years ago. Growing up, I read every book on history that I could get my hands on and even studied the Latin language. My love for history has been a guiding force in my artistic journey and is evident in everything that I do.

In December 2021, I jumped into the Web3 space, immersing myself in NFTs and blockchain, first by trading for profit (well, mostly loss!) then ultimately realizing that digital art is a revolution that I want to be part of. I saw the immense potential that the blockchain holds for the art world, and I wanted to explore how it could be used to merge history with the future of art. Using AI to create art was and is a fun way to explore and re-create history. It’s a way to merge my passion for history and create lasting works of art forever embedded on the blockchain like a set of Egyptian hieroglyphics engraved in stone on an ancient temple.

Do you have a specific project you’re currently working on? What is it?

Currently, I am curating “Strange History” which has evolved from a Foundation World into an art collective with over 140 members. The central idea is to use AI as a “time machine” to recreate historical moments and characters. We started by employing AI tools in a “post-photography” style to generate images of the past that would otherwise be impossible. Of course, we like to add strange twists and storylines to the images.

Since the launch of the Foundation World, we have brought Strange History to SuperRare and Objkt. We are currently working on creating historic AI videos for our Conquest Moment launch on Foundation about which I recently published an article on Joyn. The Strange History concept has been a huge success thanks to the creativity of the artists involved and the concept of using AI to re-imagine the past.

What drives you to create?

Storytelling and the visualization of history is a driving force that I love to experiment with and bring to life through AI art. Historical imagery and themes provide a connection to the past that we don’t often get to experience in our everyday lives. By incorporating historical elements into my work, I am trying to create a sense of nostalgia, spark conversations about current events or dialogue on specific events in history and explore the cyclical nature of time itself.

What is your favourite prompt when creating art?

Recently, I have been using various forms of tintype photography prompts to generate images that evoke a sense of nostalgia and create a visual link to a historical period or person. I like to use this style because tintype is not a common type of camera that anyone can simply use in everyday photography. Using AI to bring back this old-world style adds an extra layer of history to the art.

How do you imagine AI (art) will be impacting society in the near future?

I think AI art will have a significant impact on the art world and grow exponentially. It offers new artistic possibilities and challenges traditional notions of creativity. AI-generated art will become more accessible through digital platforms, allowing for global reach and engagement. I think the availability of AI programs will also breakdown barriers allowing more people to experiment and participate in the digital art ecosystem.

Who is your favorite artist?

When it comes to favorite artists, I have immense admiration for both traditional and AI artists. In the AI realm, I appreciate and admire every artist that has joined Strange History and shared their work. Specifically, I love the work of Roope Rainisto, BLΛC.ai, illustrata, KEZIAI, DocT, Tymothy Longoria, Nuclear Samurai, Le Moon, Vnderworld, Pixlosopher and Rocketgirl.

One traditional artist that has inspired me is Thomas Cole. Specifically, The Course of Empire series (1833 – 1836) which is a brilliant exploration of the cyclical nature of civilizations.

Anything else you would like to share?

Curating Strange History has been an amazing experience. We have built a true community of artists and collectors that are surviving a bear market by having fun and supporting each other. I’m excited to see where Strange History will go during the bull! Through “Strange History” and future projects, I am hoping to challenge myself and other artists to reimagine history in new and exciting ways, but most importantly to enjoy the ride.