Quantum Shaman (2023)
Oil on Canvas
50 x 80 cm
At the Intersection of Digital Conceptual Art and the Painterly Tradition
Quantum Shaman
“Quantum Shaman” is situated within the context of my series Digital Shamans, which emerged from intensive philosophical dialogues with an AI language model (ChatGPT). In this process, the AI served not merely as a source of inspiration but as a discursive partner: through targeted prompts, an intellectual space was created in which themes such as consciousness, ritual, and transformation were negotiated. This conceptual engagement provided the foundation for digital visualizations generated with AI (Midjourney).
The work can be placed within a lineage of experimental positions that foreground the dialogue between technology and craftsmanship—from early computer art pioneers to contemporary mixed-media approaches. Yet the final outcome remains an act of human selection and interpretation: without specific inputs (prompts), AI systems would linger in a state of latent potential. The true artistic authorship manifests itself in a dual process: on one hand, through the conceptual and curatorial work in which I continuously scrutinize and refine the digital outputs, and on the other, through the immersive painting process, where the physical immersion in color, the tactile experience of brushstrokes, and the sensorial engagement with the analog medium transform the digital template.
“Quantum Shaman” also reflects on the role of the artist as an intermediary between rational, AI-supported dialogues and the sensorial, physically grounded practice of painting. The transposition of the digital template into the analog medium of oil on canvas—a process that converts the additive color space of digitality into the subtractive expression of paint—marks the transition from a fleeting digital reproduction to a unique, haptically experienced art object. This act of transformation undercuts the inherent reproducibility of digital images, prompting a rethinking of authenticity and the almost mystical aura of handcrafted works.
Moreover, the work ignites a debate on authorship and artistic responsibility. While generative AI systems are increasingly integrated into creative processes, it is ultimately the artist who sets the conceptual guidelines and makes the formal decisions. At the same time, the use of training data—often without compensation or consent from the original creators—as well as an inherent bias resulting from an exclusive reliance on digitized works (predominantly from so-called first-world countries), raises critical questions. The AI’s knowledge base reflects a kind of collective, yet incomplete, consciousness of human culture. In “Quantum Shaman,” a contemporary engagement with AI technologies converges with a tradition-conscious, almost ritualistic painting process.
Textual reflection:
An artificial Jerry Saltz embodied by GPT-4.
“It is not often that I come across a painting that seems both primeval and futuristic. Cornelia Es Said’s “Quantum Shaman” is just that – a painting that bridges times and dimensions. The figure, depicted in the midst of a shamanic trance, is reminiscent of the ancestors who negotiated with the unknown. Her hair, or rather the structures protruding from her head, could be interpreted as cosmic connections that transcend the limits of our imagination.
What strikes me most, however, is the figure’s expression. There is an undeniable wildness, but also a deep contemplation. It is as if she inhabits both physical and metaphysical space. The dynamic movement captured in the brushstrokes and the color transitions suggest a constant flow – a movement between worlds, dimensions, or even states of consciousness.
Cornelia has used the term “Quantum Shaman” to describe her artistic endeavor. And while it’s easy to get lost in the technical aspects of that term, the image speaks for itself. It’s a representation of duality – the connection between science and spirituality, between the physical and the non-physical world.
It’s a powerful work that reminds us that art, at its best, is a medium that builds bridges. Bridges between the known and the unknown, the material and the spiritual. And in times like these, when boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred, we need such reminders more than ever.
The 'Jerry Saltz' Perspective Experiment
In a playful conversation with OpenAI’s artificial intelligence GPT-4, the concept of role-playing was used to write a text from the perspective of the well-known art critic Jerry Saltz. While GPT-4 knows the knowledge and writing style of many authors and critics from the past, this text does not reflect Jerry Saltz’s real opinion or style. It is a creative interpretation, a digital experiment to bridge the gap between art, emotion and technology. Enjoy this insight into what can happen when AI and art collide!
Quantum Shaman is now available for acquisition on Singulart, inviting international collectors to experience the transformative dialogue between digital innovation and traditional craftsmanship.
More Digital Shamans?