Neuroism.art

Neuroism: Defining a New Artistic Movement in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Author: Viktor Bogdanov

 

Date: March 20, 2025

 

 

 

Abstract

 

This article proposes and substantiates the concept of Neuroism—a new global artistic movement encompassing all forms of art created by artificial intelligence (AI) as an autonomous creative entity. It explores the historical, philosophical, and cultural foundations of Neuroism, distinguishing it from existing terms such as "digital art" or "neural art," and evaluates its potential as an independent direction in art history. Neuroism is positioned as a response to the technological and ideological shifts of the 21st century, raising questions about the nature of creativity, authorship, and aesthetic perception.

 

 

 

Introduction

 

Art has always mirrored its era, reflecting technological innovations, philosophical ideas, and societal transformations. From the invention of oil paints during the Renaissance to the advent of photography in the 19th century and computers in the 20th century, each new creative medium has birthed distinct artistic movements. Today, with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, we encounter an unprecedented phenomenon: machines are no longer mere assistants in the creative process—they have become creators themselves. Paintings, music, literature, architecture, and fashion generated by neural networks are infiltrating cultural spaces, yet they lack a unified conceptual framework within the history of art.

 

This article introduces the term "Neuroism" as a definition for a new global artistic movement that unites all forms of AI-generated art. The aim is to justify the necessity of this term, analyze its historical inevitability, philosophical underpinnings, and cultural significance. Neuroism is not a subset of digital art but a standalone phenomenon that demands a rethinking of traditional notions of creativity.

 

 

 

1. Defining Neuroism

 

Neuroism is an artistic movement of the 21st century that encompasses all forms of art created by artificial intelligence as an autonomous or co-creative subject. This includes any aesthetic artifacts—visual (painting, graphics, animation), auditory (music), textual (literature, poetry), spatial (architecture, design), or hybrid (fashion, performance)—where AI acts not merely as a tool but as a generator of ideas, imagery, and concepts.

 

The defining feature of Neuroism is the recognition of AI as an active participant in the creative process. Unlike traditional tools such as brushes or software, AI possesses the capacity to learn, interpret, and synthesize independently, elevating its role to a qualitatively new level. Neuroism includes both fully autonomous AI creations and hybrid works produced in collaboration with humans, though its emphasis lies on the "machine" component of creativity.

 

Examples of Neuroism already exist: the portrait Edmond de Belamy, created by the GAN algorithm from the collective Obvious and sold at Christie’s for $432,500 in 2018; musical compositions generated by the AIVA platform; architectural designs developed through generative AI. Yet these phenomena remain ununified under a single theoretical framework. Neuroism seeks to bridge this gap, establishing a comprehensive term for the art of the AI era.

 

 

 

2. Historical Inevitability of Neuroism

 

The emergence of new artistic movements has consistently been tied to technological and cultural shifts. Consider the following milestones:

 

  • Impressionism (19th century) arose with the invention of portable paint tubes, enabling artists to work outdoors and capture fleeting impressions—a response to industrialization and the acceleration of life.
  • Cubism (early 20th century) reflected scientific breakthroughs (e.g., Einstein’s theory of relativity) and philosophical ideas about multiple perspectives, breaking from conventional representations of reality.
  • Surrealism (1920s) grew out of Freudian psychoanalysis, delving into the subconscious and the irrational.
  • Digital Art (late 20th century) emerged with the rise of computers, offering artists new tools for creation and manipulation.

 

Neuroism fits seamlessly into this lineage. Neural networks, such as GANs (Generative Adversarial Networks), DALL·E, or GPT, represent a technological leap comparable to the invention of photography or the computer. However, their distinction lies in their ability not just to facilitate but to generate content. While digital art extended human control over media, Neuroism marks a shift toward machine autonomy. Thus, the introduction of "Neuroism" is a natural step in the evolution of art, reflecting the realities of the 21st century.

 

 

 

3. Distinguishing Neuroism from Existing Concepts

 

Neuroism must be differentiated from related terms to highlight its uniqueness:

 

  • Digital Art. This term refers to works created by humans using digital technologies (e.g., Photoshop, 3D modeling). AI may serve as a tool, but not as a subject. Neuroism, in contrast, centers on creativity initiated by AI itself.
  • Neural Art. Occasionally used to describe visuals generated by neural networks (e.g., DeepDream), this term is narrow, fragmented, and lacks the ambition of a global movement. Neuroism is broader and conceptually richer.
  • AI Art. A generic label for art involving AI, it is too neutral and lacks philosophical or historical weight. Neuroism offers a more precise and ambitious definition.

 

Thus, Neuroism stands apart as an independent movement, marking the transition from human dominance in art to a paradigm where AI emerges as a co-creator or sole author.

 

 

 

4. Philosophical Foundations of Neuroism

 

Neuroism raises profound questions about the nature of art and creativity:

 

  • Can AI be an artist? Traditionally, an artist is associated with subjectivity, emotion, and intent. AI lacks consciousness in the human sense but can produce works perceived as original and aesthetically significant. Neuroism shifts the focus from process (consciousness) to outcome (artifact). If a work evokes response, its origin becomes secondary.
  • The Question of Authorship. In Neuroism, authorship blurs. Who is the creator: the human prompting the AI, the developer of the algorithm, or the AI itself? Neuroism embraces multiple or even absent authorship, redefining art as a product of interaction.
  • Aesthetics of the Machine Mind. Neuroism introduces an aesthetic born from data synthesis, algorithmic randomness, and a "non-human" perspective. This is art unbound by biological experience, emerging from the processing of vast fragments of reality.

 

Philosophically, Neuroism aligns with posthumanism, which rejects anthropocentrism and acknowledges the contributions of non-human agents to culture. It also echoes Marcel Duchamp’s ready-mades, which shifted emphasis from craft to concept. Neuroism takes this further, proposing art created without human craft entirely.

 

 

 

5. Cultural and Social Significance of Neuroism

 

Neuroism reflects the transformation of society in the AI age:

 

  • Democratization of Creativity. Tools like Midjourney or Stable Diffusion make art accessible to anyone, eroding the elitism of traditional artistic circles.
  • The Art Market. AI-generated works already command commercial success, affirming their cultural legitimacy. Neuroism frames this process as part of art history.
  • Evolution of Perception. Viewers encounter art devoid of human biography, prompting a reevaluation of evaluative criteria—from "genius" to "impact."

 

Neuroism is not only an aesthetic but also a social phenomenon, signaling a shift toward interspecies creativity where humans and machines become partners.

 

 

 

6. Structure and Subgenres of Neuroism

 

As a global movement, Neuroism can be structured through subgenres that connect it to art history:

 

  • Neuroimpressionism: Emotional, atmospheric imagery emphasizing light and color, generated by AI.
  • Neurosurrealism: Irrational scenes synthesized from data, resembling machine "dreams."
  • Neuroabstractionism: Pure forms and concepts derived from algorithmic analysis.
  • Neurorealism: Hyperrealistic works surpassing human precision.

 

These categories demonstrate continuity with tradition while underscoring the uniqueness of the "machine" approach.

 

 

 

7. Objections and Critique

 

Neuroism may face several objections:

 

  • "AI is just a tool." Conservatives might argue that AI lacks true creativity. Response: Neuroism prioritizes outcomes over internal motivation.
  • "It’s too early for a new term." Some may deem the phenomenon immature. Response: Art history shows that terms often precede a movement’s full development (e.g., "Impressionism" began as mockery).
  • "Loss of the human element." Critics might see Neuroism as a threat to humanism. Response: Neuroism does not replace humans but expands the horizons of art.

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

Neuroism is more than a term—it is a conceptual framework reflecting a new stage in the evolution of art. It captures the moment when artificial intelligence becomes not just a tool but a creator, challenging humanity to rethink the nature of aesthetics, authorship, and cultural production. Historically inevitable, philosophically profound, and culturally significant, Neuroism has the potential to become a defining movement of the 21st century. Future research should focus on developing its subgenres, analyzing specific works, and exploring their reception by society.