How AI & Robotics Combat Art Fraud, Inspired by Morrisseau

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The Fight Against Forgery: How Technology is Helping Protect Norval Morrisseau’s Legacy

A Chance Encounter Turns to a Fraught Revelation

In 1993, renowned Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau found himself at a gallery in Vancouver, strolling alongside his longtime friend Cory Dingle. In an unexpected twist, they stumbled upon a painting that stopped them in their tracks. Upon inquiring about the artist behind it, they were shocked to learn that it was touted as a work by Morrisseau himself. The catch? He had never seen the piece, nor had he painted it.

Dingle recalls the moment fondly, stating, “We had a little chuckle and we left… Then, I said, ‘What do you want to do about this?’ He said, ‘You know, you can’t police the world.’” This lighthearted attitude, however, disguised a far more serious problem looming on the horizon.

The Aftermath of An Artistic Legacy

Morrisseau, who passed away in 2007, was a pioneer in the art world, celebrated for his unique pictographic style infused with Indigenous culture. Recognized as the first Indigenous artist to showcase his work in contemporary Canadian galleries, his paintings now command millions in the art market. But the chuckles of that day soon gave way to confounding reality.

Over the years, at least 6,000 counterfeit paintings have surfaced, causing losses to Morrisseau’s estate totaling around $100 million. The scandal has been labeled by law enforcement as the largest art fraud in history, casting a shadow over Morrisseau’s remarkable legacy.

An Urgent Need for Authenticity

Determining the authenticity of artwork is labor-intensive, demanding collaboration from galleries, collectors, and legal systems. The relentless pursuit of justice has made this task daunting, and the need for a more effective solution has never been clearer.

The Emergence of Artificial Intelligence

In response to this ongoing crisis, a new ally has entered the scene: Artificial Intelligence. Faced with an overwhelming number of forgeries, Morrisseau’s estate, managed by Dingle, partnered with tech-savvy professors to create Norval AI, a groundbreaking software designed to analyze artworks and evaluate their authenticity.

Dingle expressed optimism, stating, "Because the fakes were so terrible… we got to a point with our AI that it was so good at picking them out. There was no problem."

The Challenges Remain

Yet, while this high-tech tool is promising, the estate is cognizant that fakes have grown increasingly sophisticated. Court hearings have highlighted new methods that fraudsters use to replicate Morrisseau’s style, making it challenging for the untrained eye to discern fakes from legitimate works.

The Rise of Chloë Ryan: A New Perspective

Enter Chloë Ryan, an engineering student who delighted in creating large-scale abstract paintings. Recognizing the challenges of bringing her unique vision to a broader audience, she began experimenting with technology. This exploration led to the establishment of Acrylic Robotics, a company that uses robotic technology to mimic an artist’s style.

How It Works: Automated Artistry

The process begins when an artist sketches with a stylus on a digital tablet. This data is collected and analyzed by Amazon Web Services software, capturing nuances such as brush strokes, pressure, and speed. Ryan comments, "We like to think of AI as a powerful magnifying glass. It can detect patterns and anomalies that might be invisible to the human eye… so art experts and historians can dig in further."

With this information, the robotic arm of Acrylic Robotics can paint replicas so precise that they are often indistinguishable from the originals.

Testing the Waters with Norval AI

Dingle and Ryan connected in August 2020, eager to determine whether Norval AI could reliably authenticate Morrisseau’s pieces. Since Morrisseau is no longer alive to paint his works, the robot — affectionately dubbed “Dodo” by Dingle — embarked on an intricate task.

Dingle provided high-resolution images of Morrisseau’s paintings to Ryan, who then trained an artist to understand the nuances of Morrisseau’s style before allowing the robot to create its version.

Monitoring Progress: A Back-and-Forth Effort

The partnership has been an ongoing learning experience. Early results were mixed, revealing several inconsistencies typical of robotic painting. For instance, the robot occasionally halted long strokes to reload paint — a mistake that Morrisseau would never have made.

Ryan acknowledged the limitations inherent in her technology. "If you look at one of our works randomly on the street, you wouldn’t be able to say that’s made by a robot… but we can’t yet do all art under the sun because there’s a lot of techniques that we haven’t yet built in," she noted.

Ethics at the Forefront: Protecting Artists’ Rights

With newer iterations of Morrisseau’s pieces yielding around 69% accuracy, Dingle admits he’s cautious about striving for perfection too quickly. "I have kind of been holding back on getting to 100 percent.” His concern resides in the potential for a recreation to be misrepresented as an original Morrisseau work without adequate safeguards.

Ryan shares this sentiment, emphasizing the ethical dilemmas that could arise from misusing this technology. "The worst thing that could happen is that we release this without consultation and this technology is used against artists," she stated.

Rethinking Art Reproductions

Currently, Dingle and Ryan are actively exploring methods to embed markers or features in the recreations that would indicate they are not the originals. This initiative aims to ensure that any reproduction maintains its integrity without infringing on the authenticity of Morrisseau’s legacy.

In an altruistic twist, rather than being a threat, Dingle sees possible reproductions as a way to enrich communities that may never have access to original works. "There are healing institutions and academic institutions that could never afford to buy this painting," he articulated, highlighting the noble intent behind this initiative.

A Forward-Looking Approach

As they continue to refine the technology, both parties remain committed to disseminating high-quality reproductions ethically. They hope that by doing so, they can honor the legacy of Morrisseau while also providing tangible resources to those who value his work deeply.

Conclusion: The Intersection of Art and Technology

The collaboration between art and technology is an evolving narrative in the art world. As Dingle and Ryan navigate the complexities of authenticity and reproduction, they illuminate an innovative path forward. Their efforts not only protect Norval Morrisseau’s legacy but also highlight a burgeoning intersection where AI and artistry can coexist and support one another. The blend of traditional artistry and cutting-edge technology stands as a beacon of hope in an era overshadowed by deception, ensuring that the true values of Indigenous art remain protected and celebrated for generations to come.

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Leah Sirama
Leah Siramahttps://ainewsera.com/
Leah Sirama, a lifelong enthusiast of Artificial Intelligence, has been exploring technology and the digital world since childhood. Known for his creative thinking, he's dedicated to improving AI experiences for everyone, earning respect in the field. His passion, curiosity, and creativity continue to drive progress in AI.