Artist explores Eastern traditions through AI

"The highest good is like water that benefits all things without contention," wrote Laozi, the ancient Chinese philosopher millennia ago.

This philosophical outlook is found in Infinite Dao · Water Town 17, a 2023 painting by the Chinese artist Bai Shui, which depicts a scene of a serene water town as typically found in southern China. The painting also embodies the profound beauty and spiritual depth of Taoism.

The work is among the latest examples of Bai's exploration of how artificial intelligence can serve as a visual language for reinterpreting Eastern cultural traditions and aesthetics. It attracted considerable attention at a charity auction hosted by the China Institute of America to celebrate its 100th anniversary on May 28, in New York.

The painting was acquired by Yue-sai Kan, one of the most influential cultural ambassadors fostering exchanges between China and the United States.