Equivalence: An analysis of artists' roles with Image Generative AI from Conceptual Art perspective through an interactive installation design practice
Yixuan Li, Dan C. Baciu, Marcos Novak, George Legrady
TL;DR
This paper investigates how creativity is redefined at the intersection of Conceptual Art and Generative AI, proposing a 5P creativity framework to analyze artist–AI collaboration. It introduces Equivalence, an interactive installation that converts spoken language into evolving visuals through NLP and diffusion-based image synthesis, illustrating how language structure informs visual outcomes. The study argues that artists’ ideas drive the AI realization and that holistic evaluation should consider the full creative process rather than the final image alone. By linking Conceptual Art principles with AI-enabled production, the work highlights a synergistic role for humans and machines in contemporary art practice with practical implications for design and interpretation of AI-assisted artworks.
Abstract
Over the past year, the emergence of advanced text-to-image Generative AI models has significantly impacted the art world, challenging traditional notions of creativity and the role of artists. This study explores how artists interact with these technologies, using a 5P model (Purpose, People, Process, Product, and Press) based on Rhodes' creativity framework to compare the artistic processes behind Conceptual Art and Image Generative AI. To exemplify this framework, a practical case study titled "Equivalence", a multi-screen interactive installation that converts users' speech input into continuously evolving paintings developed based on Stable Diffusion and NLP algorithms, was developed. Through comprehensive analysis and the case study, this work aims to broaden our understanding of artists' roles and foster a deeper appreciation for the creative aspects inherent in artwork created with Image Generative AI.