New York Weekly

AI Prompt IS Art. MetaCher Solo NYC Exhibit, First to Conceptualize AI Prompts as Art

MetaCher Breaks Artistic Barriers with AI-Powered Prompts, Presenting "Prompt IS Art” in a New York Art Gallery through "/Imagine…"

Prompt IS Art

In the Chelsea of New York City, on April 14, 2023, a groundbreaking exhibition that rethought our notion of art and how it relates to technology was shown to the public for the first time. The exhibit, curated by Silicon Valley-based artist MetaCher, incorporates Artificial Intelligence (AI) prompts into the gallery as an integral part of the artwork. With the rapid advancement of AI technology, the creation of art is no longer restricted to human actions and ideas. The unique nature of this art form presents a challenge to the standard definitions and concepts of art, and MetaCher's work captures the essence of today's world by presenting prompt words as artworks. This groundbreaking concept of "Prompt IS Art" is set to shake up the art world.

In an era of image saturation, it is essential to contemplate the meaning behind images. The works of MetaCher are designed to provoke thinking since they are more than just works of art; they are also statements of thought and observations on many aspects of society and culture.

A century ago, Marcel Duchamp caused a stir in art by introducing a urinal into an exhibition hall. This act challenged the conventional view of art as a visual experience and transformed it into a conceptual expression. Moreover, it opened up new possibilities for artistic interpretation, inviting viewers to contemplate art from different perspectives.

Imagination IS Key

The art series being shown at the exhibition that has been given the title "/Imagine...Prompt IS Key" encourages visitors to speculate about the significance of artificial intelligence, prompts, and the process of creativity. Surprisingly, the inspiration for this exhibition came just ten days before its opening, and the entire curation process was completed within three days. MetaCher expressed her thoughts on the rapid creation of the exhibition, stating, "As soon as the concept of 'prompt is art' came to me, I felt a strong urge to bring it to life through an exhibition. The entire exhibition was conceptualized in just ten days and realized in three. It was a gratifying experience to share this innovative idea with the public through an exhibition."

From Silicon Valley to NFT NYC

MetaCher's innovative use of electronic devices, such as midi controllers, iPads, laptops, cameras, and televisions, in the exhibition highlights her skill in utilizing technology to expand the horizons of art. Furthermore, the incorporation of AI-generated digital video art exemplifies the artist's ability to leverage technology to push artistic boundaries. The digital piece features a linearly generated "/Imagine…" text that subtly shifts in response to ambient sounds in the environment. The screens in the installation all display the exhibition's "/Imagine…" theme, reinforcing the artwork's significance in an alternative form.

The Curation

The exhibition was curated by Qiang Li, a modern visual artist who now resides in both Beijing and New York City and works in both cities. Li rose to fame in the early 1990s with his Tearing Books series, which conveyed the uncertainty and vulnerability of the contemporary era through tearing. His artworks are held as unique collections of illustrious establishments all over the globe, such as the CAFA Art Museum, the National Art Museum of China, and the White Rabbit Gallery in Australia.

Li expressed his excitement about showcasing MetaCher's work, stating, "Just as the art evolved a hundred years ago when Duchamp introduced a urinal into an exhibition, it has progressed beyond being solely a visual experience and has become an expression of concepts and ideas. With this in mind, we are delighted to present the art of MetaCher, a young artist from Silicon Valley whose work reflects a profound thought process behind the omnipotent images of AI."

Donate your Prompts

The unique approach used by MetaCher to let audience members engage in the creative process by submitting their own prompts throughout the show is the defining characteristic that separates this exhibition from others of its kind. MetaCher plans to generate AI-based artworks from these prompts and showcase them in an upcoming exhibition in Tokyo in June. She said, "By involving the audience in creating new artworks, I aim to dismantle the barriers between artist and viewer and cultivate a sense of shared ownership and connection." This is what she hoped to accomplish. In addition,  MetaCher has developed a parallel exhibition in the metaverse in addition to the exhibition that is taking place in the real world. This has the effect of broadening the range of ways in which the artwork may be experienced and offering an alternate route to people unable to visit the show in person. 

Guest Lecture

A guest lecture was organized as a component of the exhibition, and notable individuals such as Wendy, co-founder of NewsBlock, a Web3 media company; Timmy, producer, curator, and AIGC artist; and Ling Jia, one of the renowned artificial intelligence research engineer at Bloomberg, were among those who participated.

When asked about the significance of imagination, MetaCher emphasized that "I stress the importance of '/Imagine…' because the entire exhibition is rooted in my imagination and ideas. Because of this motivation and inspiration, I was able to bring the show to fruition with a strong sense of commitment. I want to emphasize how valuable this initial driving force was, and I believe that I have shown how important it is via the activities that I have taken."

The End As The Beginning

As this exhibition draws to a close, it leaves an indelible mark on the art world, reshaping our perception of the boundaries between humans and AI and the significance of imagination in fostering innovation. MetaCher's groundbreaking exhibition ushers in a new era in art history, demonstrating that the amalgamation of creativity, technology, and collaboration can lead to previously unexplored realms of artistic expression. Following in the footsteps of Marcel Duchamp's groundbreaking urinal, MetaCher's thought-provoking and inclusive show stands as a monument to the ever-evolving power of art, transcending borders and inspiring generations to come.