AI & CONTEMPORARY ART

 The exhibition of the outcomes of the STARTS 'Afropean' Intelligence Residency supported by the EU and hosted in Nigeria by Gallery of Code at Institute Francais, Abuja was held on the 26th of June 2026. I was a valued participant at the invitation of the Oscar Ekponimo, Founder Gallery of Code/Inventor Chowberry App. See also dayokusa.blogspot.com/2018/08/artificial-intelligence-ai-africa.html; dayokusa.blogspot.com/2026/02/art-in-age-of-artificial-intelligence,ai.html...Four artistes were featured:

*Peace Olatunji (Nigerian) - Inputs into pixels for AI animation

*Dan Xu (Chinese) - Egungun (Masquerade) as a metaphor

*Emmanuel Ndefo (Nigerian) - Egungun (Masquerade) as a metaphor

*Pierre-Christophe Gam (Camerounian) - The projected Living conditions of Africans in the year 2065

   L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Peace Olatunji, Emmanuel Ndefo & Dan Xu " the exhibition

Dan Xu and Emmanuel Ndefo displayed their work on the Masquerade as a metaphor while synchronising sound with gongs simulated on a computer. It was a sight to behold! Dan was simulating while Emmanuel was dancing (as if he was in a trance) to the rhythm. Peace Olatunji was interested in the inclusion of African elements in prixels that are inputs into computer images so that they more accurately reflect indigenous knowledge. Peace's worry was that images generated for African Mosques and Churches for example, reflected Euro-American counterparts - this is not useful for the African artistes using such prompts...

Pierre-Christophe Gam's focus was Africa in the year 2065 and beyond. Virtual Reality (VR), to which I was exposed, was his medium. While experiencing VR, I saw how Africans are likely to pray, eat, play, live together, etc. by the year 2065. I 'moved' from one room to the other for each of these experiences. Kudos to all the artistes for their unique creativity. I look forward to subsequent exhibitions that depict further development of their various forms of art while commending Gallery of Code and Alliance Francais for providing the platform for such artistic excellence...

Dan Xu explaining the simulation/synchronisation of the Masquerade to the audience. The Masquerade dummy is behind Dan...

R-L: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa listening to Dan Xu synchronising with Emmanuel Ndefo (2nd from right with his hand to his ear) 'dancing' to the beat...

Image from the 'Dark Room' where I saw what Peace Olatunji & I complained about as inaccurate representation of Mosques in Nigeria and indeed Africa because the Pixels fed into the system were Euro-American. It's time for us to have more African Pixel inputs if African artistes are to achieve a level playing field as regards the use of AI...

Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa experiencing Virtual Reality as regards projected life in Africa in the year 2065 and beyond. It was indeed a terrific experience...

Image from the 'Dark Room' where I experienced life in Africa in 2065 and beyond as projected by Pierre-Christophe Gam...