Belfast Exposed recently faced criticism for hosting an exhibition featuring AI-generated art, raising questions about the role of galleries in showcasing controversial work and the ethics behind using scraped data to train generative AI.
The gallery defended its decision, arguing that it aims to provoke debate. However, artists like Chloe Austin and Brendan Harkin argue that AI-generated works have no place on photography gallery walls due to the lack of permission and payment for the data used in training these models.
Interestingly, not every AI show causes such controversy. Exhibitions by Refik Anadol, Serpentine South and Haus of Thrills have managed to avoid backlash by using different approaches. However, Johnny Sheridan’s work remains a contentious issue as it was created with general-purpose generative AI software trained on uncredited internet artwork.
The debate highlights the tension between galleries needing to present challenging art and artists’ concerns about the ethics behind AI tools. Both sides have valid points but they appear at right angles to each other, leaving no easy resolution.
