"African" masks created using artificial intelligence
Audio 01:19
Masks of the Lega ethnic group (DRC) taken from the private collection of the French gallery owner Robert Vallois, in Paris on October 21, 2020. AFP - JOEL SAGET
Text by: Sébastien Jédor Follow
4 min
When the computer meets tradition.
The young collective of French artists Obvious has embarked on the creation of "African" masks, thanks to artificial intelligence.
A reinterpretation of traditions via an algorithm, and thanks to a Ghanaian sculptor.
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Since leaving business school and engineering school, Gautier Vernier, Pierre Fautrel and Hugo Caselles-Dupré have produced, using artificial intelligence, classic portraits and Japanese prints "in the style of".
For the African masks, they did as usual.
They first fed their computers with thousands of images of existing masks.
Then, the algorithm offered them new designs for new masks, which they selected.
"
The idea,"
explains Hugo Caselles-Dupré, "
was to make a slightly more contemporary interpretation of African masks, therefore something more 'pop' and then to ally with experts in African masks to do something. which has a little more interesting historical value.
"
22 masks designed by artificial intelligence were carved on wood by the Ghanaian artist Abdul Aziz.
"
The impression that one comes from the other
"
"
We wanted to highlight the craftsmanship of mask artisans,"
insists Pierre Fautrel.
And so basically, we managed to find Abdul Aziz by browsing the Internet.
In fact, we spend the time going back and forth between him and us via whatsapp, knowing that we try to give him as much as possible his expertise, because that's what amuses us, while respecting the frameworks that we put it, which is that it must look like, that we are the impression that one comes from the other, etc.
"
Obvious masks are offered for sale to private collectors.
Another project is underway with the Quai Branly museum in Paris to imagine other objects using artificial intelligence.
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