From paper to digital: training ai models on Hokusai's manga

exactly.ai and AIHokusai are excited to announce the AI Hokusai challenge. The contest aims to merge the rich artistic heritage of Katsushika Hokusai with cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies, creating a platform for artists and AI enthusiasts to explore and expand the boundaries of digital creativity.

Train neural networks on material from the manga series by Katsushika Hokusai. The goal is to develop AI models capable of generating high-quality images in Hokusai’s style across various genres and themes.

Participate in challenge

Participants are invited to leverage AI technology to create digital illustrations that capture the essence of Hokusai’s manga series. By analyzing and processing a selection of images from Hokusai’s manuals, the challenge is to train AI models that can generate new images that are stylistically consistent with Hokusai’s original works.

Why Hokusai?

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) was a world-renowned Japanese artist and educator who sought to bridge Eastern and Western traditions. He created instructional manuals called manga that went on to inspire contemporary art education through a systematic methodology and approach that algorithmically breaks down complex artistic processesinto accessible steps and elements. Hokusai’s impact extends beyond traditional Japanese art. His innovative use of perspective and composition influenced Impressionists such as Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. Without Hokusai, disciplines such as modern woodcutting, graphic design, comics, manga, anime and even tattooing would not be the same. We are confident that training neural networks on the legacy of this great Japanese master can create a new, inspirational tool for contemporary artists.

We are confident that training neural networks on the legacy of this great Japanese master can create a new, inspirational tool for contemporary artists.

The winning models will become part of the AIHokusai project:

• to be used during its online residency and research
• showcased in a virtual exhibition (January 2025)
• included in the AI Hokusai ArtTech Report - a research paper exploring the intersection of AI and traditional art forms

How to participate

Step 1. Press "Enter the competition" button on this page

Step 2. Find images. To find images for your dataset, you can use this comprehensive guide by AI Hokusai ArtTech Research project.

Step 3. Select images. Select approximately 10-20 images for each genre (e.g. birds, flowers, landscapes, Mount Fuji, cityscapes, female or male figures, spirits, samurai, etc.). If direct downloads are not possible, use screenshots to ensure the highest resolution.

Step 4. Train model. Upload each of the selected images to create your own AI model. Train the AI to replicate Hokusai’s style as closely as possible to generate new images based on the chosen themes. You can submit as many models (not less than 10) and images as you like The user needs to upload at least 10 images in one style. Then, briefly describe each of them and start the training process. After the model is trained, the user must write a prompt to generate images in this style. For a full explanation of the process, see this blog article.

Step 5. Submit the AI-generated images.

Expected outcome

AI-generated images should be virtually indistinguishable from Hokusai’s original works in terms of style, composition, and artistic quality.

Evaluation criteria

Faithfulness to Hokusai’s style. The AI-generated images must closely reflect the distinct characteristics of Hokusai's original works. This includes maintaining the unique style, composition, and artistic quality that are representative of his artistry. Participants should strive for a high degree of faithfulness to the nuances in brushwork, use of color, balance of elements, and the overall aesthetic Hokusai is renowned for. The generated artworks should evoke the same visual and emotional impact as Hokusai's originals, ensuring the output feels like an authentic extension of his artistic legacy.

How to submit to the open call

1. Generate images with your model
2. When you like an image, press the “Competition” button on the top right corner of your screen
3. Choose frame with an image and press "Submit artwork"
4. You will see on a screen all images that you have submitted

Jury

Evgeny Merman

A multimedia artist (born in Kyiv, Ukraine) lives and works in Tel Aviv. After studying at the SVA (School of Visual Arts) and living in New York and Hong Kong, Evgeny moved to Israel, where he continued his artistic career. He’s had solo exhibitions inTel Aviv, Jerusalem, Kyiv, MusemLV, Riga and Museum and Center of Contemporary Art, Ticino, Switzerland. In 2019 he won 1st Prize at 33th Kyoto Art Biennale.

Vladimir Opredelenov

Expert, lecturer and researcher in the field of combining technological innovation, management, social development and the sphere of culture and art. CDO of .ART and founder&CEO of the digital agency tech4.art, specializing in consulting museums, galleries and art business companies, as well as art managers, artists and collectors on the topics of development, digital marketing and the use of all types of technologies.

Anna Shvets

Art manager, producer, independent curator and art business strategist with hundreds of international projects over the last 20 years. Anna is CEO of TAtchers’ Art Management. She regularly contributes to art and business publications, lectures and conducts research spanning contemporary art theory, interdisciplinarity and the intersection of art and digital technologies.

Organizers

exactly.ai is an ethical AI platform that helps professional illustrators and commercial artists free up more time for their creative practice, promote their work, and protect their intellectual property

AI Hokusai is an ArtTech research project inspired by the methodology of the Japanese artist and educator Hokusai, which will be explored and reinterpreted by contemporary artists using AI tools

Deadline is on 25 September, 2024, 23:59 utc

This is your opportunity to inspire and be inspired. Good luck, we look forward to your submissions! Join us to be part of a collaborative movement that puts creators first.