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Salimbeni, Guido (2025) Decoding AI art: from motivation to manifestation. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

This thesis explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) art into artistic practices from an HCI and practice-led perspective. It centres on understanding the 'why' behind AI art practice, moving beyond technical implementations to explore the underlying stated motivations and conceptual goals driving artists to engage with AI technologies.

The research employs methods primarily from Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and practice-led research, drawing on theoretical analysis and critical reflection.

The thesis makes three primary contributions to HCI and practice-led research on AI art practice. First, it presents the 'Five Tropes of AI Art', a flexible framework for analysing AI artworks based on observable practices and stated artistic motivations, offering a lens for HCI researchers and curators in related fields.

Second, it offers a practice-led case study of the 'Cat Royale' project, providing insights into the practical challenges of creating AI artwork. Third, it proposes a set of guidelines for AI art practice analysis, integrating theoretical understanding with practical experience from the case study. These guidelines, which include the Five Tropes framework, offer additional analytical lenses for navigating the complex landscape of AI art creation and presentation.

A key finding of this research is the critical importance of clear stated or inferred artistic motivation and effective framing in creating impactful AI art. It challenges the notion that AI art is solely about technological implementation, instead emphasising the human context of its creation and interpretation. This thesis constructs a series of analytical lenses focused on the observed motivations, tensions, and challenges that emerge during the development process of AI artwork. It examines how these factors can impact initial artistic goals, often requiring adaptations and compromises in response to AI's implications. By starting with the fundamental question of 'why' AI is used in art practice, the research provides a framework for understanding how artistic observed motivations evolve and are reflected in the framing of AI artworks.

While touching upon concepts relevant to the Humanities, the thesis's primary contribution lies within HCI and the understanding of contemporary AI art practices and their creation.

Primarily aimed at researchers within HCI and curators working with AI art practice, this thesis provides a framework for analysing and interpreting AI artworks. While artists may find the insights informative, the intention is not to prescribe rules for artistic practice but to offer analytical tools for understanding this evolving field.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors:	Benford, Steve Martindale, Sarah Reeves, Stuart
Keywords:	Human Computer Interaction, HCI, AI Art, Artificial Intelligence Art, Practice-Led Research, AI Art practice
Subjects:	N Fine Arts > N Visual arts (General). For photography, see TR Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA 75 Electronic computers. Computer science
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Science > School of Computer Science
Item ID:	81162
Depositing User:	Salimbeni, Guido
Date Deposited:	30 Jul 2025 04:40
Last Modified:	30 Jul 2025 04:40
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/81162

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