top of page

Winners of the «From paper to digital: Training AI models on Hokusai’s Manga» Competition Announced



The highly anticipated results of the "From Paper to Digital" competition have been revealed. The competition, organized by AI Hokusai and Exactly.AI, challenged participants to develop innovative AI models to bridge the gap between Hokusai heritage and contemporary digital art forms. The winning entries represent an interesting experiment in how AI can be applied creatively, providing new tools for artists and illustrators.



1st place — Nancy Oliveri — wins wins £1500




2nd place — FRUITS — wins £1000




3rd place — Aleksander — wins £500




The winning models will be incorporated into our Art + AI residency program as an example of a content-and-technology combination.  

In addition to the top models selected for the residency, we also recognized five original entries. While not selected as winners, these artists impressed us with their vision and approach to combining AI and art. Their works stood out for their potential to inspire new creative dialogues.


We would like to especially acknowledge the author of these four works for their high-quality training: Olga Souvermezoglou




Evgeny Merman

As an artist who primarily study Hokusai's works and also experimented with paraphrasing his legacy I was struck by how artists, together with AI, with the help of their talent and ability to explain something to unknown and almost otherworldly substance created works elegant in style , close to the hedonistic spirit and deeply meaningful philosophy of Hokusai.

But at the same time, in the works of the winners of the competition we selected, I feel there is their personal artistic style and three-dimensional tandem with the neural network and Hokusai.


Vladimir Opredelenov

It was truly fascinating to see how participants trained neural network models to generate images. When done with precision and care, using specific fragments of original artworks, it felt like you could see Hokusai's hand guiding the creators' ideas. This was an incredibly enriching experience, giving us a deeper understanding of how to work with these tools. A huge thanks to the participants, platform creators, and curators for fully embracing the competition and producing their own generative works inspired by Hokusai's legacy.


Anna Shvets

The "From Paper to Digital" AI challenge was interesting to observe: we received over 100 entries, and each applicant offered an original artistic perspective on Hokusai heritage, his visual language and technique. It was an intriguing experiment setting a new benchmark for the creative use of AI. This convergence of art and AI continues to open doors for the development of entirely new art forms, paying honor to great masters of the past. As AI continues to evolve, so too will the creative landscape. We, the team of the AI Hokusai project, aim to research this transformation, examining the boundaries of what is possible when technology and art meet.


Experiments and competitions like these are crucial for exploring AI's potential in shaping a better future. We need to learn how to live with AI and understand how we can collaborate creatively, what we can build together, and the best ways to do so. We are convinced that art is one of the most important aspects of this journey of exploration and understanding. 

Looking ahead, we hope that Katsushika Hokusai will continue to inspire artists in the future. For the most interested and inquisitive, we have created this comprehensive guide and will continue to introduce the international audience to the work of the great Japanese.

272 views

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page