Image source, Michael Forbes
- Author, Steven McKenzie
- Role, BBC Reporter for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland
A Scottish artist has painted over some of his works in protest against what he sees as the negative impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on art.
Fans of Black Isle-based pop artist Michael Forbes include singer Madonna, Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam and comedian Ricky Gervais.
He said AI was saturating the internet with images and also exploiting the work of artists to create new images without any recognition of the source material.
Forbes, who has “redacted” parts of four paintings so far, said: “Under the black paint are hours of work that I am proud of – in some ways I am absolutely heartbroken.”
Image source, Michael Forbes
The four paintings include a portrait of John Lennon of the Beatles and another depicting American singer Taylor Swift.
Weeks of work were covered in black paint.
Forbes said he was prompted to organize the protest after another artist said she had stopped sharing her art on social media because of AI issues.
He said other artists were giving up their careers because they felt they could no longer compete with computer-generated images.
Image source, Michael Forbes
“I realize what I did was a small mistake,” Forbes said.
“It will have little to no effect other than a cathartic feeling. I am being proactive and trying to do something about it.”
He added: “I don’t want to be an artist so I can paint the best pictures possible and then cover them with black paint.
“I’m disgusted that I’ve been reduced to this.”
Forbes said he embraced the internet from the beginning and it allowed him to reach galleries around the world.
But he said he now only shares parts of his paintings on social media and invites people to see the full, finished works in person at exhibitions.
Born in Dingwall, Forbes was apprenticed to the late pop artist and acclaimed sculptor Gerald Laing, who was a close friend of artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.
Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Laing established a family home at Kinkell Castle on the Black Isle, not far from where Forbes grew up.
Forbes’ work has referenced women’s rights campaigns and featured “mash-ups” of Hollywood glamour icons.
American presidents such as Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln have appeared in some of his paintings.
He also creates posters and other artwork for the Belladrum music festival near Inverness.
