What becomes of art when the tools of its creation are reimagined? Orchestrated by Orkhan Mammadov, 'Derivatives' emerges as an experiment, radically redefining what art can be in the digital era. This venture pushes the envelope, manifesting as a vanguard exploration into the vast potentials unlocked by digital technologies, challenging traditional notions of artistry and authorship. At the forefront are works conjured by Genie, an AI programmed to interpret the aesthetic principles of nine pioneering digital artists, including, Alienqueen, Defaced, Jake Fried, Grant Yun, OSF, Dangiuz, Timpers, Lucrece and XCOPY, embodying the project’s foundation in deeply personal relationships and an ongoing collaborative ethos.

Across the domain of art, derivatives occupy an elusive niche, ubiquitously serving as tributes to illustrious artists and their work, yet also bearing the stigma of opportunistic ventures that may exploit the original creator’s intellectual property. This project poses a further question: Imagine a scenario where derivatives originate directly from the artists’ own creative impetus, emerging as outcomes of a synergistic endeavor with the most sophisticated technological imitators. Would a discerning public retreat from such creations, or embrace them as extensions of the artist’s explorative narrative?

By reimagining the very essence of derivatives, this project heralds a paradigm shift in artistic collaboration and exchange. It intertwines artists with their audiences through direct feedback, amplifying creative relevance and expanding participation in cultural dialogue without the need for expensive tools or formal training. Within the global interdisciplinary art scene, it fundamentally challenges entrenched norms of authorship and ownership, evolving the medium and democratizing access to art. In doing so, this initiative draws us into a collective co-creation process that reshapes aesthetic values and forges a more inclusive and diverse human story.