On Art and AI with Angelo Dalli

Can artificial intelligence (AI) ever create art without human involvement? What is the future of AI in art? ARTZ ID speaks to computer scientist and art collector Angelo Dalli about the future of art with AI and his mission within this exciting field.

Angelo Dalli and Tiffany Pisani For an Exhibition in Paris featuring Mark Mallia's work

Tell us about your background and your most significant achievements to date.

My background is that of a computer scientist. I’ve been studying computer science for over 25 years now, and over 20 of them have been in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), since way back when AI wasn’t such a hot topic. I’ve been doing many things with AI and also computers and IT, such as setting up companies…in fact I set up more than 9 start-ups and I’ve also gone into investments over time. I did more than 45 different investments and ended up working on projects with the European Business Agent Network and also other investors. That’s how I got to know how the business works.

Over the years, I’ve achieved many different things that I’m proud of, including taking a number of start-ups to a successful exit, involvement in mergers and acquisitions, and also taking a number of companies to an IPO stage. I’ve also been nominated for and won ‘Malta’s Entrepreneur of the Year’ twice – in 2014 and last year, 2019.

On the artistic side, I’ve been instrumental in creating humans and AI collaborative art, in which humans collaborate with AI to create new types of art. This culminated in the creation of the ‘UMA System’, which stands for ‘Universal Machine Artist, and UMA has created a painting together with Mark Mallia, a known artist in Malta, which actually made one of the top records for a living auction price in Malta during the Malta AI and Blockchain Summit of 2018. Since then we’ve taken it to new heights and made an exhibition in Paris which showcased the work that we are doing to a wider international audience. We’ll be continuing doing more and more innovation in that area.

Artificial intelligence and art is quite a particular combination. What is your interest in art as an AI expert?

AI and art is a very particular and specific combination. It comes from my belief that innovation and creativity go hand in hand. You cannot have innovation without creativity, you cannot have true creativity without innovation. I believe that the merging of the two fields will lead to spectacular results. In fact, as we have experienced from the creation of our first few paintings, some of which sold with record prices, the public has generally well-received this new style of art. I don’t think AI is going to replace artists, but it’s rather a tool to assist them creatively by being able to learn their style and then giving them ideas and inspiration. Depending on what you teach it, it will be able to be a very intelligent artist assistant. I really look forward to the process of having humans and AI collaborate.

Angelo Dalli AI and art
Art vs AI? Angelo Dalli (left) and Mark Mallia (right) who together created and perfected the UMA system.

Can AI create art on its own without human involvement? This could be something that possibly happens in the future. We’ll see how that creative spark is translated by a machine. Can a machine ever create something, or not? That is still a big question, and I feel that before AI gains a deep understanding of the real world, it may be able to create something that is aesthetically pleasing and beautiful, but I don’t think there’ll be the same feel as when an artist is making a statement. However, I do envisage that AI in the future will learn more about how to process emotions, how to understand the world a little bit more, and that will open up a whole new world of possibilities.

What about Angelo as an art collector? When did you start collecting art, why, and what type of work can one expect to find in your art collection?

I’ve been collecting art since I was a little kid. I was lucky that one of my first paintings was by Victor Pasmore, which set me up for appreciating a more abstract and fluid style. I have collected over 400 artworks – paintings and sculptures by European, North American and South American artists. Some of them are really dear to me. I also have different Japanese woodblock prints which serve as a contrast and background that helps me in my daily work while creating the future. The past serves as a mirror and guide and contrast to futuristic work.

Angelo Dalli 111Art
111Art Gallery focuses on modern and digital art.

You are also a gallery owner. What is your mission as a gallerist?

At our gallery in Malta, 111Art Gallery,  based in Gzira and near Ta’ Xbiex, we hold a variety of exhibitions and events including open weekends and ‘meet the artist’ events, during which we discuss and look at various exhibitions and artworks on a regular basis. We also have a strong online presence. 

111 Art is on ARTZ ID. Follow the gallery to stay in the know about initiatives surrounding modern and digital art in Malta.

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