AI at Art Basel

2025 Hong Kong Basel is highlighted by AI involved creation. Artists including Mak2, Emma Webster, Miao Ying, Jon Rafman, Frank Wang Yefeng, Alison Nguyen, and Lu Yang blend AI creating with traditional art.

The exhibition of Encounters collects two pieces of outstanding AI artistic installation, including Lu Yang’s DOKU the Creator and Jon Rafman’s Signal Rot. 

“Lu Yang used AI technology to model himself based on his real image and used AI to assist in his painting,” said Allison Cheung Ka-jung, 25, director of Encounters.

Inspired by pop-up stores, the installation transforms the act of purchasing into a game of chance, with artworks created by artist DOKU concealed in “blind boxes”, which sell non-fungible tokens that can be shown on the screen instantly after consumers’ purchasing. 

Jon Rafman’s Signal Rot, exhibiting in Neon Parc, Encounters exhibition, uses AI to generate the virtue band model and the music. 

“It's actually a fictional band that he's created through AI, and there's a number of fictional bands that we created through AI and built kind of online presence or personalities for,” said Madé Spencer-Castle, 31, associate director of Neon Parc, Encounters exhibition.

“Each AI band member has Instagram accounts even though they're completely AI-generated,” he added.

Shao Fengtian's TENC oil painting series in the Madein Gallery, Galleries exhibition, also uses AI technology to assist in drawing lines and colouring. 

“This painting was created by Shao Fengtian by feeding AI the photos he took and then using AI to generate lines and colours,” said La Xueer, 31, the director of Madein Gallery. 

“Artists have always been really at the forefront of new technology and utilising new technology in creative and innovative ways,” said Spencer-Castle.

“Art needs to evolve and change with practice. If you are old-fashioned and keep looking to history for inspiration, it may not be as easy to create new works, and there will be fewer breakthroughs and innovations,” said La.

“As a productivity tool, AI improves the efficiency of art creators. A movie that once required many people can now save time and costs and better present ideas in the most effective way,” said Vannesa Wang, 25, a visitor working in Hong Kong as an interior space designer.

“It has always been controversial to use AI in art creation because there is indeed a problem of directly stealing the painting style of well-known artists, so I don't think everyone would accept such works,” said Wang.

“If AI is used to assist in generating art, I would think that it's not created by the artist. The artwork lacks human emotion,” said Joey Huang, 23, a student from Hong Kong Baptist University.

“I hope there will be regulations to protect the copyright of artists to ensure the use of  AI in art is ethical,” said Ma Kaijun, 21, a student from Hong Kong Baptist University.

Art Basel 2025 will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from Mar. 28 to 30, with a VIP preview from Mar. 26 to Mar. 27.

The standard single-day ticket prices range from HK$400 to HK$730, with a two-day ticket priced at HK$1,180. VIP tickets are HK$4,880, which includes access to previews and public opening days.