Creator who inspired Hong Kong art installation walks back criticism of show organisers
- Armenian artist Joann says organisers were inspired by her AI work and not required to replicate her designs exactly after earlier calling pieces ‘very ugly’
The artist who inspired a Hong Kong inflatable installation of her works has walked back criticisms about the event’s organisers, days after she called for the “very ugly” pieces be taken down.
In a statement issued on Monday and shared by “Inflatable Wonders” organiser Central Venue Management (CVM), Armenian artist Joann said she had granted permission for the creation of the installation and that she had not been involved in “any aspect” of its execution.
“The organisers were inspired by my AI work and were not required to replicate my designs exactly,” she said. “I am not involved in this exhibition beyond granting permission for the use of my concept.”
The exhibition features five large-scale inflatable replicas of famous landmarks inspired by works created using artificial intelligence (AI) by Joann, who goes by @joooo.ann on social media.
But the design was mocked online over the weekend, with some users comparing the installations to “gravestones”, prompting Joann to issue a statement saying she had not been sent anything for approval by the organisers and she wanted the “very ugly” pieces taken down.
In Monday’s statement, Joann said turning her AI designs into physical installations involved “significant challenges” and that variations from her original concepts were “to be expected”.
