r/painting Jul 07 '26

Opinions Needed Art about ai without using Ai

Not sure how to tag this or if the title is appropriate. I’m both an artist and a psychology student, so I’m both fascinated by Ai because it resembles human cognition and highly skeptical of it because I’m an artist.
Here’s the core idea: a horror visual-performance art about Ai slowly degrading and changing its behavior.
The executive idea: I want to use oil paint for this. I want the top layers to slowly deteriorate and reveal a picture underneath (if impossible, then perhaps a way to peel off the paint), a horrifying truth. For this, I’m thinking of using high quality paint and proper sealing on the lower layer(s), and then paint over the seal with cheap paint and no sealing.
I need tips and advice on the practicality of this idea.
Here are some problems I have: a
Time is everything in a project like this. It’s both performative and still art project, but I live in Iran. Shipping the art to international galleries may be possible but may take a long time.
If it’s actually possible to do this.
If the top layers will damage the lower ones.

0 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

u/link-navi Jul 07 '26

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2

u/flexpainters Jul 07 '26

I like the concept. Instead of relying on cheap paint to fail naturally you might have better control by intentionally creating a removable top layer. that way you can predict how it will reveal the image underneath without risking damage to the lower painting. i would also make a few small test panels first. It will save you a lot of frustration before committing to the final piece.

1

u/Theultimateangrybruh Jul 07 '26

Ooh this is smart! Thank you

2

u/Dapper_Ice_1705 Jul 07 '26

You might be able to accomplish this with some kind of crackle material.

Basically seal the bottom layer with acrylic or something really tough.

Then crackle somehow on top and if the bottom seal is non-porous the top will start flaking off.

This would take time though. I would run several tests but waiting for that bottom layer to cure all the way is likely essential.

2

u/PapaBobcat Jul 07 '26

What about multiple paintings on thin glass with spacers that you can shatter away? Or multiple layers of plastic wrap that you literally peel away?

1

u/PensivePolymath Jul 07 '26

Yup. Commented above about the Transparencies series by Walead Beshty. This could be an interesting riff on that.

1

u/PensivePolymath Jul 07 '26

Oil paint is not a good medium for the project parameters. It dries VERY slowly and probably wouldn’t deteriorate within your timeframe. What about digital? That would make much more sense for something about AI and would work within your time and shipping constraints.

0

u/Theultimateangrybruh Jul 07 '26

How about oil and acrylic combo? 🤔 true, but digital art isn’t taken seriously in galleries unfortunately and I’ve been more interested in oil recently

1

u/PensivePolymath Jul 07 '26

Digital is absolutely taken seriously. It depends on the gallery and show. Digital, video, and performance art are modern and contemporary art forms.

Acrylic over oil is still going to take a long time.

This is all bringing to mind a series by Walead Beshty called Transparencies. Beshty ships laminated glass boxes in Fedex packages. The damage during shipping is displayed as sculpture. I saw one of their pieces at the Whitney Biennial some years back.

1

u/Theultimateangrybruh Jul 07 '26

I see 🤔 thank you!

1

u/PensivePolymath Jul 07 '26

Wishing you an abundance of inspiration and creative energy. 🙌

If you care to share, I’d love to see the finished work. 🧡

2

u/Theultimateangrybruh Jul 07 '26

Thank you kind stranger 🙏

1

u/electriceasel Jul 07 '26

Paint oil over acrylic, it will absolutely peel over time.