Combine24: experiencing and making art
Traditionally, art has been based on physical materials and the skill with which they are handled. The role of the artist has been to create, illustrate and tell stories using paint, clay, stone or other concrete media. With digitalization, the form of art making has expanded, and the inclusion of artificial intelligence in the creative process raises the question (Salonen 2023): is a human an artistic actor, even though artificial intelligence is part of creative work? Art can even be produced by algorithms and technology, changing not only the way art is created but also the way it is experienced. The Combine24 competition organized by the National Gallery embodies this shift, where traditional and digital art meet in a new kind of creative process, an interaction between man and machine. The process of generative art English art critic and teacher Harold Osborne (1988) defines generative art as geometric abstraction in which a basic element, such as an artificial intelligence-based algorithm, creates new variations by changing the original initial parameter based on set rules. Unlike traditional art, where the work is static, generative art is constantly changing and real-time. Theorist Matt Pearson (2011) describes generative art as a process that combines logical and cold programming with creative, emotional expression. In this form of art, collaboration between humans and machines, or co-creation (Lundman, Nordström, 2023), opens up new possibilities for creation. At the heart of co-creation is the idea that creativity is not exclusively human-centered, but that machines can be part of the creative process, and this collaboration can expand the boundaries of human imagination. The National Gallery of Finland’s Combine24 competition exploits this concept of co-creation, where algorithms created by artists and artists together create new works, offering viewers the opportunity to participate in the creation, modification and ownership of the work. The competition focuses on generative art, which is more than a single work. The competition instructed artists to use the National Gallery’s historical art collections as raw material and create new art from them based on an algorithm, whereby the final result is generated randomly within the framework of programmed rules. Each result is a unique variant – just like each viewer experience. You may touch! One of the most interesting features of the Combine24 competition is the active role of the viewer. This involvement transforms the traditional passive art experience into an interactive and creative process in which the viewer is a participant. THL also sees the idea of participation expanding from mere presence, participation, to a way of active influence, participation, where people influence and are involved in decision-making (2024). This participatory model represents a broader trend in the cultural sector, where the audience is encouraged to be active actors, whereby creativity is no longer limited to art actors and professionals (Halonen, 2019). The Remix the Archive exhibition, which features the works of Combine24 finalists, is a physical space in Helsinki where visitors can modify the works displayed on screens with their own touch by pressing the Remix button. Viewers are no longer just passive observers, but co-creators of the work. This interactivity makes experiencing art a personal and participatory process, where the viewer can feel part of the creative process. The public also has the opportunity to influence and vote for one of the three winners, which adds more meaning and personality to the participation. Dialogue between art and technology Combine24 combines the National Gallery's historical collections with modern technology in a way that raises questions about authorship. The works are not simply based on the creations of past masters, but generative artworks create a whole new reality, where historical elements serve as the basis for modern algorithms. Here, traditional craftsmanship and technological innovation meet. The use of technology also changes the authorship of a work of art. Previously, the artist was solely responsible for the final work, but now the creative process is shared and interactive. The question that arises is: who is the true creator of the work? The programmer of the algorithm, the creator of the original work of art, or the viewer, who actively influences the final result, and without whom a certain variation would not even exist? By combining elements of past art and modern technology, Combine24 provokes reflection on how art is interpreted and who is responsible for the final result. NFTs and new revenue models for art The encounter between art and technology continues even after the art is created. The Combine24 works were built and published on the Highlight.xyz platform, which serves as the technological backbone of the competition in the creation, presentation and commercialization of art. With the platform's tools, artists can combine different data feeds, materials and libraries, such as the National Gallery's CC0-licensed collection data, and create unique works from them. Art lovers can create variations of works in real time and also purchase them as NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), offering a new way to own and monetize digital artworks. Traditionally, owning a work of art is associated with a physical object, but NFTs enable ownership of digital works using blockchain technology. The artist can decide their own revenue logic, for example by pricing each work separately, publishing a limited edition of works, or giving the works away for free to collect, in which case the artist can take advantage of Highlight’s protocol fees. NFT technology also enables artists to earn royalties from subsequent resales. This gives artists a continuous connection to their works and their commercial value, even after the work has already been sold. As part of the future of art Combine24 is a great way to start a conversation about how art from the past and technology from today can meet, create something new, and challenge old ways of thinking about human-machine collaboration. Algorithmic art and NFT technology open up new possibilities for both the creation and ownership of art, while giving the viewer an active role in the life cycle of an artwork. The entries in the competition demonstrate that art is not a passive experience, but an interactive and constantly changing process in which the viewer, artist and technology work together. Combine24 is a window into the art of the future – a world where algorithms and archives of the past merge to create a new kind of interactive, participatory art. More info on COMBINE24 https://combine24.alusta.art Combine24-kilpailun työt Highlight-alustalla Remix the Archive -näyttely The Remix the Archive exhibition will be held in Helsinki from 20 September to 26 October 2024 at Teollisuuskatu 9D in Vallila, opening hours Tuesday-Saturday 12-18. This exhibition offers the opportunity to experience and edit the works from the Combine24 competition and see how the past and the future can meet through art. https://www.hs.fi/menokone/events/140218 Sources Halonen, K. (2019). Nuorten osallistaminen on tunnetta ja toimintaa. Osuma-hanke blogi 9.1.2019. Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu. Lundman, R. & Nordström, P. (2023). Creative geographies in the age of AI. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers: Volume 48, Issue 3. Osborne, H. (1988). The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Art. Oxford University Press. Pearson, M. (2011). Generative Art: A Practical Guide Using Processing. Manning Publications Co. Salonen, P. (2023). Tekoäly rynnii taiteeseen. Taidelehti 3/23 THL. (2023). Osallisuus yhteisöissä ja vaikuttamisen prosesseissa. Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos. Marja Konttinen works as an expert in the LUME project, co-funded by the European Union, which focuses on the latest earning models in the creative industry.
Inklusiivinen tekoäly: Naisten rooli vinoumien poistamisessa
Tekoäly (AI) on saavuttanut merkittäviä edistysaskeleita viime vuosikymmeninä, ja sen sovelluksia käytetään laajasti kulttuurin ja luovan talouden eri aloilla. Tekoäly voi olla hieno apu esimerkiksi ideoinnissa ja ideoiden jalostamisessa. Samalla sen käyttöön liittyy haasteita, joista yksi on sukupuolittuneet vinoumat. Nämä vinoumat voivat vaikuttaa merkittävästi siihen, miten AI-järjestelmät tekevät ideoijalle ehdotuksia ja kuinka ehdotuksissa kohdellaan eri sukupuolia. Tässä blogissa tarkastellaan tekoälyn sukupuolittuneiden vinoumien syitä ja seurauksia sekä keinoja niiden estämiseksi. Sukupuolittunut data voi johtaa sukupuolistereotypioiden vahvistumiseen Sukupuolittuneet vinoumat tekoälyssä johtuvat muun muassa yhteiskunnallisia rakenteita toistavista datan vinoumista. Jo nyt on nähtävissä, että tekoälyä on koulutettu datalla, joka voi itsessään sisältää syrjiviä elementtejä ja toistaa historiallisia sukupuolittuneita vääristymiä, mikäli niitä ei tietoisesti pyritä välttämään. Esimerkiksi jos työpaikkailmoitusten analysointiin käytetään dataa, joka sisältää voittopuolisesti miesten nimiä teknologia-alan työpaikoissa, AI saattaa suosia miehiä, kun siltä pyydetään teknologia-alan kuvauksia. Vääristymät voivat osaltaan johtaa sukupuolten välisen epätasa-arvon vahvistumiseen ja syrjivien käytäntöjen lisääntymiseen eri elämänalueilla. AI toistaa ja sitä kautta vahvistaa yhteiskunnassa vallitsevia ennakkoluuloja ja sukupuolistereotypioita. Tämän blogin pääkuvan on tehnyt LeonardoAI, jolta on pyydetty kuvaa, jossa on moninaisuutta sisältävä ICT-alalla työskentelevä joukko naisia. Tuloksena oli eri etnisiä taustoja symboloiva joukko, jonka keski-ikä viesti, ettei ICT-ala taida olla keski-ikäisen naisen työympäristö. Kuva ilman pyyntöä diversiteetistä johti jokseenkin samanlaiseen nuorehkojen naisten joukkoon, mutta ilman silmälaseja. Pyysin kokeilumielessä CoPilot Designeria piirtämään kuvan suomalaisesta toimitusjohtajasta ja suomalaisesta naispuolisesta toimitusjohtajasta. CoPilot Designerin ehdotukset mies- ja naistoimitusjohtajalle Esimerkin kuvissa on havaittavissa selkeitä sukupuolistereotypioita. Lähtökohtaisesti suomalainen toimitusjohtaja on keski-ikäinen mies. Pyydettäessä tekoälyltä nimenomaan suomalaista naispuolista toimitusjohtajaa se teki samalla melkoisen nuorennusleikkauksen ja kuvasi naisen huoliteltuina, barbimaisena henkilönä. On kuitenkin mahdollista, että muutos on jo käynnissä – tai kenties se on jo tapahtunut. Monissa yhteyksissä on pohdittu, voisiko web3 ja lohkoketjuteknologia tuoda mukanaan naismyönteisempää ICT-alaa. Tässä uudessa internetin vaiheessa sukupuolijakauma ei ehkä olisi yhtä miespainoinen kuin aiemmin. Voisivatko lohkoketjut tuoda mukanaan tasa-arvoa? Lohkoketjuteknologia, joka on tunnettu turvallisuudestaan, hajautetusta luonteestaan ja läpinäkyvyydestään, tarjoaa myös mahdollisuuksia sukupuolittuneiden vinoumien vähentämiseen tekoälyjärjestelmissä. Naisten rooli lohkoketjuissa on erityisen merkittävä, sillä heidän osallistumisensa ja johtajuutensa voivat auttaa varmistamaan, että sukupuolten monimuotoisuus otetaan huomioon teknologian suunnittelussa ja toteutuksessa. Lohkoketjupohjaisen kryptovaluutta bitcoin kehittäjä tai kehittäjät tunnetaan nimellä Satoshi Nakamoto (Malin, 2024). Vaikka Satoshin todellinen henkilöllisyys ja sukupuoli ovat yhä salassa, hänen toimintansa ja tavoitteensa ovat herättäneet huomiota ja inspiroineet erityisesti naisia, jotka ovat perustaneet #SatoshiIsFemale-liikkeen (Joffrion, 2018). Satoshin naisoletukseen liittyvät perusteet ovat mielenkiintoisia: Bitcoinin alkuperäisissä tavoitteissa korostettiin yhteistyötä ja avoimuutta, mikä mahdollistaa inklusiivisuuden. Lohkoketjuteknologia on yhteisöllisesti ylläpidettyä, ja bitcoinin käyttö on laajentunut myös hyväntekeväisyyteen. Esimerkiksi kryptomiljonääri "Pine" perusti Pineapple Fund -organisaation ja lahjoitti yli 55 miljoonan dollarin arvosta bitcoineja hyväntekeväisyyteen (Rodgers, 2018). On huomionarvoista, että bitcoinin alkuperäinen arvopohja oli merkittävästi erilainen verrattuna nykyiseen, usein huijauksien, ilmaston tuhoamisen ja pikavoittojen sävyttämään kuvaan. Vaikka halu yhdistää bitcoinin alkuperäisiä tavoitteita naisoletettuihin arvoihin ja toimintatapoihin saattaa olla stereotyyppistä, monet naiset kertovat törmäävänsä tähän ajattelutapaan tullessaan alalle. On yleistä, että bisnes ja teknologia yhdistetään miehiseen maailmaan, kun taas hyväntekeväisyys ja yhteisölliset DAO-projektit nähdään naisille sopivampina. Ehkäpä kuitenkin lohkoketjuteknologian parissa on avautunut mahdollisuus muuttaa sukupuolittunutta ajattelua ja saada ainakin hieman sukupuolineutraalimpi ja tasa-arvoisempi ympäristö. Toivottavasti ala houkuttelee myös naisia, jotka voisivat toimia niskaansa langetetun stereotypian sijasta uusien standardien ja käytäntöjen luojina ja sen myötä muokata koko alan kulttuuria. Sukupuolten tasa-arvo teknologiasektorilla: muutosta ilmassa? Tulevaisuutta rakennetaan jo kovaa vauhtia, ja vääristymiin tulisi siksi puuttua nopeasti. Ehkäpä niiden korjaaminen osaltaan antaisi mahdollisuuden luoda inklusiivisempi ja tasa-arvoisempi ICT-ala, jossa sukupuolijakauma on tasapainoisempi ja kaikkien ääni pääsee kuuluviin. Tällä hetkellä naiset muodostavat noin 35 % teknologiasektorin työvoimasta. Kehityssuunta on kuitenkin ollut hyvä, sillä 2000-luvun alussa naisia oli alalla vain 9 %. Euroopassa teknologia-alalla työskenteli vuonna 2023 noin 1,7 miljoonaa naista, mikä edustaa noin viidennestä (19,1 %) ICT-työvoimasta. (women in tech.) Suomessa tilanne on ainakin koulutuksen näkökulmasta parempi, sillä ICT-alan korkeakouluopiskelijoista lähes kolmannes (29,2 % vuonna 2023) on naisia. Suunta on kohti tasapainoisempaa sukupuolijakaumaa, mutta eteneminen on varsin hidasta, sillä vuosittain alalle hakeutuvien naisten määrässä on vain noin 1–2 % nousuja. Edistämällä naisten osallistumista, koulutusta ja vaikutusmahdollisuuksia lohkoketjuprojekteissa voidaan varmistaa, että sukupuolten monimuotoisuus otetaan huomioon ja sukupuolivinoumat vähenevät. Lohkoketjuteknologian tarjoamat läpinäkyvyyden, hajautetun hallinnan ja turvallisuuden ominaisuudet tukevat tätä tavoitetta mahdollistaen oikeudenmukaisemman ja tasa-arvoisemman tekoälyn kehittämisen. Lähteet Collins, K. (2022). How is Blockchain Technology Empowering Women? Blockchain Magazine 28.6.2022. https://blockchainmagazine.net/how-is-blockchain-technology-empowering-women/ Enkovaara, A. (2024). ICT-alan opiskelijoiden ja työllisten määrä kasvussa. FiComin tietopalvelu. https://ficom.fi/ajankohtaista/uutiset/ict-alan-opiskelijoiden-ja-tyollisten-maara-kasvussa/ Joffrion, E.F. (2018). Why This Cryptocurrency Leader Believes Blockchain Is A New Paradigm For Inclusion. Forbes 17.6.2018. https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilyjoffrion/2018/07/17/satoshi-is-female-why-this-cryptocurrency-leader-thinks-so/#4a4d06c04154 Malin, A. (2024). Bitcoinin luojaksi väitetty Satoshi Nakamoto on yhä arvoitus – ja suunnattoman rikas. Suomen kuvalehti 13.2.2024. https://suomenkuvalehti.fi/politiikka-ja-talous/bitcoinin-luojaksi-vaitetty-satoshi-nakamoto-on-yha-arvoitus-ja-suunnattoman-rikas/ Rodgers, N. (2018). Satoshi is Female. Medium 16.3.2018. https://medium.com/mama-hope/satoshi-is-female-b35034104d08 Women in Tech Stats 2024 (2024). Women in Tech Stats 2024. Uncovering Trends and Unseen Data by WomenTech Network. https://www.womentech.net/en-at/women-in-tech-stats Katri Halonen (Metropolian amk) toimii projektipäällikkönä Euroopan unionin osarahoittamasa LUME-hankkeessa, joka keskittyy luovan alan uusin ansaintamalleihin.
NFT challenges the concert ticket business
The ticket sales for pop rock band Coldplay's Helsinki gigs sparked a lot of discussion and even angry speeches in July 2023 (Partanen, 2023). The ticket sales used dynamic pricing, familiar from airplanes and hotels, in which the price changes according to demand. Dynamic pricing is one of the innovations in the field of performing arts ticket sales made possible by information technology and algorithms. The selling price of Coldplay tickets was not the only issue that sparked discussion. There were not enough concert tickets for everyone, so ticket resale began soon after the actual ticket sales ended. At the same time, concerns arose about the authenticity of the resold tickets, and those who had lost their tickets were warned about possible scammers (Linnake, 2023). Ticket sales seem to be changing, but dynamic pricing may just be the beginning of the next era. A much bigger change is just around the corner: NFT ticket sales. In the world of NFTs, a ticket to a Coldplay concert could have been a numbered NFT ticket purchased directly from an online store, with ownership transferred to the buyer upon purchase. Anyone could verify the authenticity of the ticket on the blockchain by looking at the ticket's history. An NFT ticket would have saved Coldplay fans many moments of excitement and frustration. In this blog, we explore how ticket sales can benefit from blockchain and NFTs. Anatomy of an NFT Ticket The special feature of an NFT ticket is related to the blockchain. The ticket is created by, for example, making a unique ticket identified by a number, which is recorded in a decentralized blockchain. The ticket can be sold, for example, on an online platform, and when making a purchase decision, the buyer can check the authenticity of the ticket by looking at the ticket's history on the blockchain. A ticket can be published as “nontransferable”, meaning it cannot be transferred to a new owner on the blockchain. It is also possible that the transfer is allowed under certain conditions. The original ticket holder can set additional conditions on the NFT ticket for resale. The conditions can include, for example, a royalty to be earned by the original holder on the resold ticket or a maximum allowed price. The information travels with the NFT on the blockchain and thus regulates the potential secondary market for the ticket. (Langston, 2023; Singh, 2023; Tan, 2023; Takyar.) In Metaverse, for example, in connection with concerts, “meet and greet” events are sometimes sold, where ticket holders get to meet the artist they admire in a virtual backroom. These limited VIP tickets are put on the market in a very limited number. The value of the ticket is often sought through an auction mechanism, where the ticket price is set according to supply and demand. If the ticket holder decides to sell the ticket, the original ticket holder also receives a share of the increased ticket sales price in their own virtual wallet. At the same time, the new buyer can always peek at the ticket history on the blockchain and thus ensure that it is not a pirated ticket. From paper ticket to QR code - what about collectibles? Paper concert tickets have their own loyal following. They also come with risks: getting lost, getting damaged in the rain or other misfortune can result in the entire ticket being lost. There is also a lot of counterfeiting of paper tickets. This has been addressed by QR code-based tickets sent to smartphones. The problem with QR codes is that it is difficult for the buyer to know for sure whether they have bought a genuine ticket, or whether they will be disappointed if the ticket turns out to be counterfeit (Takyar). An NFT-based ticket is more difficult to counterfeit. Each ticket is its own NFT managed on the blockchain (Langston, 2023; Singh, 2023; Tan, 2023). It is a unique product that directly contains information about which concert and which seat the ticket entitles its owner to. The ticket owner can show their NFT ticket upon entering the concert venue, and it can be scanned as a QR code or directly as a blockchain link to verify authenticity. Paper concert tickets can be valuable mementos and even collectibles. It is therefore reasonable to ask how the role of a ticket changes if its essence is a QR code that flashes on a smartphone. An NFT ticket can also be a valuable collectible, like a paper ticket, which can offer, in addition to admission, for example, music, an interview with the artist about an upcoming performance, or images of interest to fans. The content is only available in conjunction with the ticket, so exclusive content can increase the commemorative and collectible value of the ticket (Singh, 2023). An NFT ticket can also include products that are available for a limited time, such as a digital tour shirt to wear as an avatar during a concert and a physical version of the same shirt to be sent by mail. The ticket can therefore provide access to various additional services and products. Ticket services already exist There are already several commercial NFT ticket services available. They are distinguished from each other mainly by the different functionalities of the sales platforms, the blockchain used, the NFT standard used and the type of tickets. In addition to tickets, sales platforms can also have a significant number of other digital products related to the artist. For example, Dutch company GUTS tickets offers a blockchain-based ticket management service using the GET protocol it developed. During its existence, the company has sold over 4.2 million tickets for over 19,000 events (NFT ticket explorer 2.8.2023), and each ticket can be viewed on the blockchain. This creates a huge amount of data that can help concert organizers in data-driven potential assessment of ticket prices, sales times and concert occupancy rates. YellowHeart combines community participation with its tickets. Community members only get to see content targeted at them. They can also participate in, for example, ticket pre-sales and private events organized only for club members in the metaverse. The ticket therefore functions as a kind of web3 version of a fan club, uniting fans into a community, the activities of which are activated in YellowHeart's own metaverse, among other things. A somewhat similar club mentality has also been implemented in the field of music festivals, with the participation opportunity for Coachella integrated into the Fortnite game, which included lifetime access to ten auctioned NFT tickets (Disalvo, 2022; Langston, 2023). However, the ticket lost its value after the collapse of the FR cryptocurrency exchange operating in the Bahamas (Disalvo, 2022). The crypto world is still quite poorly regulated, and it has clear risks for users. Many things can go mainstream even with a single event. For example, the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Liverpool was delayed due to ticket counterfeiting. Police had to use tear gas to restore order (Polden, 2022). Michel Cadot, the French government’s Olympic ambassador, even proposed the introduction of blockchain tickets for the 2024 Paris Olympics. This could well be a step towards the normalization of NFT tickets for the event industry. Let's return to the Coldplay concert ticket dilemma mentioned at the beginning of this blog. The leap into the crypto world may seem complicated from a consumer's perspective. Ticket shops have indeed paid a lot of attention to user interfaces. One key step forward for consumers is, for example, the cryptocurrency eEuro, which is directly comparable to the euro. For the future, it is essential to ensure that shopping is also easy and risk-free for consumers in web3 environments. LÄHTEET Adele (2022). Paris 2024 Olympics May Introduce NFT Tickets. NFTevening news 14.6.2022. Disalvo, T. (2022). Coachella’s lifetime pass NFTs made unavailable due to FTX cryptocurrency crash. NME Music News 21.11.2022. Langston, T. (2023). NFT Tickets Are the Future of Live Events. Here’s Why. NFT now 30.3.2023. Linnake, T. (2023). Coldplayn loppuunmyydyt keikat synnyttivät ikävän ilmiön – näin Lippu.fi kommentoi. Iltasanomat 1.8.2023. Partanen, T. (2023). Coldplayn konserttien ennakkomyynnistä tuli uskomaton ryntäys – näin valtava ihmismassa yritti saada lippuja. Iltasanomat 25.7.2023. Polden, J. (2022). UEFA blame "fake tickets" for Champions League chaos as Liverpool demand investigation. Mirror sport news 29.5.2022. Singh, O. (2023). What is NFT ticketing and how does it work? Cointelegraph 14.2.2023. Tan, C. (2023). Seatlab NFT CEO Ryan Kenny Discusses How NFTs are Disrupting the Ticketing Industry. Metaverse post 23.3.2023. Takyar, A. (nn). Ticketing disrupt the ticketing industry? LeewayHertz blogit. KIRJOITTAJA Krista Jäntti on EventuallyXR-yrityksen perustaja ja toimitusjohtaja. Hänen erikoisosaamisalueenaan on metaversumiin ja tekoälyyn liittyvien uusien liiketoimintapalvelujen konseptoiminen sekä käyttäjäkokemusten suunnittelu ja tutkiminen. Krista on toiminut neuvonantajana lukuisissa suomalaisissa yrityksissä, kuten Varjo, Zoan, KONE, Sulava, LähiTapiola ja Nokia. Katri Halonen (Metropolian amk) toimii projektipäällikkönä Euroopan unionin osarahoittamasa LUME-hankkeessa, joka paikantaa web3:n mukana tulevia muutoksia luovien alojen ansaintaan.