Post Summary
- An AI conversation arises regarding Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon video contest.
- Damián Gaume wins with an AI-created picture, sparking controversy and overshadowing the event’s purpose.
- Pink Floyd faces backlash for selecting AI art, with criticism directed at a judge for deviating from the band’s artistic values.
- Fans express disapproval of Judge Gerald Scarfe as they advocate for Pink Floyd’s traditional handmade art tradition.
Pink Floyd recently unveiled the finalists of The Dark Side of The Moon video contest, coinciding with the album’s fiftieth anniversary. The competition invited emerging filmmakers to produce music videos for any of the album’s ten tracks, with a panel of judges including Nick Mason, Kyle Alba, Gerald Scarfe, Sarah Smith, Daisy Jacobs, Harry Pearce, Terry Gilliam, Alan Yentob, and Anton Corbijn.
Acknowledging the album’s milestone anniversary and the band’s visual history in videos and live performances, Pink Floyd’s artistic consultant Aubrey ‘Po’ Powell stated, “Given the album’s 50th anniversary and the band’s visual legacy, we believed this was important.” Over 900 submissions were received, making the judges’ selection process arduous. The final ten entries showcased diverse musical styles while honoring the band’s legacy.
While Nick Mason selected ten finalists, a controversy emerged with the winning artwork for “Any Color You Like” by Damián Gaume, who utilized the Stable Diffusion AI program. The announcement of Gaume’s victory and the impending overall winner’s reveal sparked immediate online backlash. Criticism was directed at judge Gerald Scarfe, known for his work on Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick In The Wall,” featuring intricate hand-drawn animations derived from his illustrations, considered a classic.
Numerous comments expressed disappointment, questioning the use of AI-generated art in contrast to Pink Floyd’s ethos. Critiques included sentiments such as, “The use of AI art contradicts the essence of The Dark Side of the Moon and Pink Floyd,” and “Pink Floyd is synonymous with intricately crafted handmade art, not AI-generated content.” Journalist Carolyn Hinds warned of the detrimental impact of AI on the creative industry, labeling it as exploitative and theft disguised as convenient art.
Damián Gaume’s “behind the scenes video” showcased locally sourced AI, aligning with the approach of other successful Pink Floyd videos.
Pink Floyd
