Press kit

Press release

Artist embraces AI to reduce dependence on social media

“I paint on people, and then I photograph them.” That is what Paul Roustan has said for decades now. Roustan has done this since 2005. The painting lasts a few hours. The photos and videos have always been the documented work. But these days, Roustan virtually brings this ephemeral art-form back to life.

Roustan watched the creative world shift from simplicity, social media, the creator economy, web3, through AI. Roustan did not resist this evolution. He explored them all, with curiosity and experimentation, culminating in immersive virtual worlds, mixed reality, and volumetric capture. Roustan applied AI optimistically in the process.

Roustan minted his first NFT on OpenSea in March 2021. He says, “I understood the potential immediately, an entirely new avenue to distribute my work, miles ahead of its previous limitations. It was like I waited my entire life for this to exist.”

In Decentraland, Roustan set up a gallery for solo and group exhibitions, release parties, and DJ events. Roustan made wearables there and sold them: jean jackets with his art, virtual glasses, shoes, over 1000 body paintings and a shark headpiece from an existing real life body-painting series that was featured in Metaverse Fashion Week. “I found this to be far more effective, convenient, and efficient than my traditional real life gallery shows.”

The community Roustan nurtured within Decentraland (a decentralized platform) significantly funded the production of his third hardcover art book, Roustan Body Paint volume 3. “Second to only my mailing list, Decentraland, often labeled a 'dead metaverse', garnered more pre-orders than my YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram combined. Building a niche community around your work is a phenomenal way for it to thrive.”

Five years later, Roustan never stopped. “All this time, while it felt like the mainstream abandoned web3, I continued building and learning, and this exploration made it easy for me to implement AI as a tool. It has helped me code things much faster in my virtual worlds.” Roustan favors Hyperfy's open source world building code for browser-based immersive worlds. A sample can be found at this virtual RAD gallery. He says “It demonstrates a selection of my body paint work, avatars, and NFTs.”

Julia's Gift is a chilling volumetric capture of a body-painted model, Julia Nicoletti, who tragically passed away in 2019. Blockbuster Video is a fun nostalgia build, made with heart, found in a VHS tape on the virtual desk at the RAD Gallery office asking you to return the tape.

(note: The virtual worlds work best on desktop using Chrome browser. They work on most Android phones, some iOS, and they work in VR with Quest 3 browsers. Decentraland can be accessed on desktop and also on android/iOS mobile from the play and apple stores.)

Roustan believes acceptance of evolving technology can help artists as it levels the playing field from corporate dependence. “Yes, AI can steal your job, but on the flipside, it can help you build your own business.” For example, he capitalized on the Decentraland's decentralization to display his body paint work which is mature in nature. Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok all have censored his work, and in some cases banned his profile. He says, “You don't own your social media timelines. It can be taken from you without notice. Using AI can help you build your own platforms, websites, storefronts, and more. It's freedom from the dependence and rule of third parties. The sooner an artist realizes this advantage, the sooner they can benefit.”

Instead of rejecting and fearing quickly advancing technology, Roustan embraced it head on, explored the potential, and found several new avenues to help market and benefit his work, cutting out many middlemen along the way. Roustan urges, “I encourage other artists to take control of their paths and ditch the algorithm instead of fearing the unknown.”