The Intersect: Art in Tech and Tech in Art - Cultural Preservation or Digital Gimmick? Technology's Role in Traditional Art Forms

Greetings from Juergen

Hi there,

This week's collection (once again) explores the complex dance between technology and artistic expression. I've gathered stories ranging from social media's influence on art visibility to robot dogs performing traditional lion dances. There's an intriguing look at how AI is reshaping artistic creation through Clemens Maurer's work, and Adobe's careful approach to AI tools that enhance rather than replace the photographer's vision.

I'm particularly struck by the ongoing tension between adaptation and authenticity. From Nathan Beck's examination of sublime moments in art to the technical research on reconstructing brushstrokes algorithmically, each piece raises questions about control, intention, and the future of creative expression. What's the right balance between embracing new tools and maintaining artistic integrity?

Experience "The Intersect" in audio format by subscribing to our companion podcast, where these provocative art-tech discussions come to life through thoughtful conversation.

Film & Video

The Impact of Social Media Algorithms on Art Visibility

Social media algorithms shape the visibility of artists’ work, as explored in this FAD Magazine article. Platforms reward engagement, pushing artists to create content that fits the algorithm’s demands—favoring video over static images, frequent posting, and interaction-heavy content. The challenge? Artists must balance creative integrity with the need to stay seen.

I take issue with one core recommendation: that artists should prioritize video to stay visible. Yes, platforms push reels and time-lapses, but forcing artists to package their work for social media trends feels like a compromise. Does a painter really need to perform for the algorithm?

Social media offers reach, but at what cost? Artists end up creating content instead of art. A carefully composed piece might get buried while a quick process video thrives. The algorithm doesn’t prioritize quality—it prioritizes what keeps users scrolling.

What’s the tipping point between adapting to digital trends and losing creative autonomy?

AI in Visual Arts

Mat Dryhurst Suggests Anti-Ai Art Activists Are Being Naive

Hyperallergic covers the controversy surrounding Christie’s AI art auction, where over 4,000 artists have signed a letter urging its cancellation. The protest raises concerns over AI models trained on copyrighted works without consent, reigniting the debate about intellectual property and automation’s impact on creative labor. Mat Dryhurst, one of the participating artists, argues that demands to dismantle existing AI models are unrealistic, labeling opponents as naïve.

I see echoes of past technological disruptions here. Artists have always had to adapt to new tools—photography, digital painting, now AI. But adaptation doesn’t mean surrender. There’s a difference between integrating new technology and being exploited by it.

"They believe AI models should be opt-in only and retrained from scratch... This simply will not happen, for better or worse."

If AI is inevitable, then the real fight isn’t stopping it—it’s shaping its rules. So, who gets to decide?

Digital Daydreamer: Clemens Maurer’s AI-Enhanced Artistic Vision

Clemens Maurer’s approach to AI in art is featured in Digital Daydreamer: Clemens Maurer’s AI-Enhanced Artistic Vision. A seasoned graphic designer and art director, Maurer uses Midjourney not just for convenience but as a creative tool, letting AI introduce unexpected elements into his work. His background in photography and fine arts informs his process, blending traditional artistic principles with AI-generated imagery.

What stands out to me is how this aligns with the way prompt photography functions. It’s not just about getting an image—it’s about directing it. The art director mindset becomes crucial here. The real challenge isn’t generating an image, but knowing why you want to see it and what you're trying to communicate.

Prompt photography rarely works in one step. It takes countless iterations, adjustments, and hours of guidance to shape an image that either matches your vision or surprises you in an inspiring way. That’s what makes it compelling.

So what happens when AI-generated images don’t just assist but start defining artistic intention?

Gaming

Art You Can Be a Part Of: Designers Discuss Finnish Video Game Alan Wake and the Evolution of Games

Alan Wake 2 isn’t just a game—it’s a layered, interactive work of art. In an article from ThisisFINLAND, Johanna Teelahti explores how Remedy Entertainment blends storytelling, music, live-action film, and even street art into their gaming experiences. Sam Lake, Remedy’s creative director, argues that video games belong in the same artistic space as film and literature, pushing the limits of what interactive storytelling can achieve.

I’ve always believed that art is at its most powerful when it invites participation, and video games take this to another level. Unlike a film, where you passively watch events unfold, a game like Alan Wake 2 lets you step inside the story. You don’t just witness a mystery—you unravel it.

“Finding a hidden clue or catching on to information that could have just gone sailing by makes people feel special. Video games manage to do that in a way that film, television and books can't really replicate.” — Molly Maloney, Remedy Entertainment

How do we define art in an era where the audience isn’t just observing but co-creating the experience?

Dance

Robot Dogs Dressed Up as Lion Dance “performers,” Moving in Sync and Taking the Spotlight

Boston Dynamics-style robot dogs, dressed in traditional lion dance costumes, are now performing synchronized routines, as reported by South China Morning Post. These robotic performances are capturing attention, blending technological precision with cultural heritage. The question is: does this enhance tradition or merely mimic it?

There’s something familiar about this—a grounded version of the drone light shows we see at major events. The engineering behind the choreography is impressive, but does it carry the same cultural significance as a real lion dance? Or is it simply spectacle for spectacle’s sake?

Watching these robotic lions, I can’t help but wonder—are we preserving heritage or replacing it with something shinier? Some might argue that even if the soul of the tradition shifts, keeping it in public memory matters. Others might see it as novelty without substance.

Are we witnessing evolution, or just an expensive gimmick dressed in nostalgia?

Creator Platforms and Tools

Adobe Lightroom and Camera Raw Are Getting Two New AI Editing Features

Adobe is rolling out new AI-powered tools in Lightroom and Camera Raw to simplify repetitive editing tasks, as reported by Digital Trends. The two standout features are Adaptive Profiles, which intelligently adjusts tones and colors on a per-image basis, and Distraction Removal, which eliminates unwanted elements like reflections or photobombers. Adobe’s approach continues to center on refining workflows rather than generating entirely new content.

I appreciate Adobe’s measured approach to AI in photography. Unlike other platforms that aggressively push generative AI, Adobe has focused on making small but meaningful enhancements that keep the photographer in control. Color grading, exposure tweaks, and cleanup tasks are now smarter, but they don’t override creative intent.

It’s interesting to see AI handling distractions, but there’s a fine line between helpful automation and losing artistic control. What qualifies as a “distraction”? That’s a decision I’d rather not leave entirely to an algorithm.

How much do we trust AI to make aesthetic choices for us?

Exhibitions & Events

Arresting Reality

Nathan Beck’s Arresting Reality explores how art, nature, and design create moments of the sublime—those experiences that overwhelm and expand our perception. From the towering presence of a Rothko painting to the immersive scale of Olafur Eliasson’s The Weather Project, Beck connects these encounters to the vastness of nature, music, and even the quiet details of daily life.

Technology can enhance these moments, but it should never replace them. The danger lies in automation flattening our sense of wonder, reducing creativity to predictable outputs. Aesthetic experiences—whether standing before a massive canvas or savoring the texture of a well-crafted object—are essential for deepening our empathy and connection to the world.

"The output of generative AI continues to improve, but what is beauty to an algorithm? What is taste?"

Are we letting technology inspire us—or just making it easier to avoid real engagement?

Digital Archiving and Art Preservation

Sketch & Paint: Stroke-By-Stroke Evolution of Visual Artworks

"Sketch & Paint: Stroke-by-Stroke Evolution of Visual Artworks," a recent study by Vikram Jamwal on arXiv, explores how algorithms can reconstruct the sequence of brushstrokes in a digital artwork. By converting pixel images into vector-based parametric curves, the researchers attempt to infer how a piece was created, revealing hidden layers of the artistic process.

This kind of research fascinates me because it hints at how AI might be used for authentication and provenance. We've covered how AI outperforms auction houses in verifying artworks, and this is another step in that direction. If an algorithm can reverse-engineer the strokes behind a painting, it could provide deeper insights into an artist’s technique—or even flag inconsistencies in forgeries.

The article is a bit too technical for me, but I appreciate the concept of an algorithm that can retroactively figure out how a piece of art was created. Imagining a machine recreating the steps of a master painter is both eerie and exciting.

If AI can reconstruct brushstrokes, how long before it can generate convincing fakes that even experts struggle to detect?

The Last Word

Thanks for joining me in exploring these intersections where technology and art collide. Your thoughtful engagement with these ideas helps shape the ongoing conversation about our creative future. I'm curious about your experiences with these evolving tools and technologies – which ones enhance your creative process, and which feel like compromises? Drop me a line if you'd like to share your perspective.

All the best, Juergen