DUBAI: Saudi artist Obaid AlSafi has been shortlisted for the Sigg Art Prize organized by Saudi Arabia-based curator Pierre Sigg, with the winner set to be announced on Oct. 10 during a ceremony at Asprey Studio in London. 
The award aims to redefine the boundaries of artistic creation through the integration of Artificial Intelligence and this year’s theme is “Future Desert.”
AlSafi studied computer science but discovered his passion was art. After realizing he could blend the two disciplines together, AlSafi’s work evolved into a hybrid of art, photography and graphic design.
“As an artist who merges digital knowledge with contemporary art, I felt this prize was a perfect fit for my practice,” he told Arab News. 

The creative said his proposal for this prize “challenges the contrast between perception and reality by questioning the concept of emptiness.
“Often perceived as a barren void, the desert, my birthplace, conceals a spiritual richness that far exceeds its arid appearance,” he explained via email. 
“By merging code and creativity, we aim to reveal the latent richness of this ancient landscape, inviting viewers to contemplate a profound question: Is emptiness merely a mirage, masking the boundless depths of existence waiting to be discovered?”
Relying on AI to create art presents many challenges, AlSafi noted. 
“It redefines our understanding of creativity, authorship, and the human experience. It paves the way for a new realm of artistic exploration, where traditional boundaries are fluid, and the concept of art is constantly evolving,” he said. 
More than 300 applicants from 70 countries applied for the prize with only seven shortlisted. The winner will be awarded $10,968.
The seven finalists for the Sigg Art Prize 2024 are Alsafi, Dana-Fiona Armour, Léa Collet, Agnieszka Kurant in collaboration with John Menick, Harrison Pearce, Aaron Scheer, and Sasha Stiles.