Context and Origins of Artur: L'Original
L’Original: A vision to democratize art, together and differently.
Misson
Since its creation, L’Original art galleries have pursued an ambitious goal: to make art accessible and transformative by placing it at the heart of our social and environmental concerns. By democratizing art, L’Original aims to highlight the talents of artists while raising ecological awareness in everyone.
Ecological and social commitment
Since its inception, L’Original art galleries have pursued an ambitious goal: to make art both accessible and transformative by placing it at the heart of our social and environmental concerns. By democratizing art, L’Original seeks to showcase the talents of artists while fostering ecological awareness in everyone.
A Timeline of L’Original’s History
Explore the Timeline of L’Original to relive every significant milestone of our journey.
The First Steps of L’Original (2018-2019) :
A Citizen Project taking shape
Birth of a creative community
L’Original began in 2018 with a small team of 15 artists and 5 dedicated volunteers.
Organizing collections of clothes, furniture, and paintings destined to be discarded, transforming the recovered materials into new works of art.
Creation of visual art and upcycling workshops held weekly, allowing the public to learn and express themselves artistically through environmentally friendly techniques.
A space for poetic dialogue and expression
Launch of a weekly poetry club to allow participants to express themselves around artworks, blending artistic creation and personal reflection.
These sessions foster lively and inclusive exchanges about art and strengthen community bonds.
Support and guidance
Under the leadership of Dorian Verdier, an 18-year-old student in economics and marketing at HEC Montréal, L’Original structured itself from the very beginning with a strong social foundation.
With the support of Jason Prince from PME Montréal and the mentorship of Robert Dutton, director of the entrepreneurial hub at HEC Montréal, L’Original gained essential guidance for its growth.
From Initiative to Official Status (2019)
Consolidation and Early Partnerships
Legalization
In 2019, L’Original became a non-profit organization, solidifying its long-term commitment to democratizing art and fostering ecological awareness through creation.
Legalization
Community Expansion
The team grew with 25 artists and 10 volunteers, enabling the expansion of activities and increasing the community impact.
Development of a multilingual website to promote L’Original’s artists internationally, providing a digital platform for Canadian talent.
First Exhibitions and Media Coverage
Thanks to initial media partnerships, L’Original began gaining recognition in the local art scene, sparking interest and enthusiasm among many art enthusiasts.
L’Original started attracting media attention, sharing its values and commitment with a broader audience.
Artur and L'Original
Private Enterprise and Non-Profit Organization: Two Distinct but Complementary Missions
Two paths
one shared commitment to art and community
Artur
Innovation for broad accessibility
By choosing the private business model, Artur aims for rapid growth and technological development to make art accessible on a global scale. The commercial structure allows Artur to continuously invest in innovations and services powered by artificial intelligence, designed to enrich user experiences and broaden the reach of art to as many people as possible.
Access to private funding and technological market resources enables Artur to grow quickly and offer unique creation tools, accessible from anywhere in the world. This model provides essential agility to adapt to the growing demands of an audience seeking artistic co-creation and personalization.
Increased accessibility through AI innovations:
Operating as a private company allows Artur to reduce costs associated with distributing art, particularly online, and to offer artists new platforms for visibility without the constraints of a physical gallery. The mission of artistic democratization focuses on economic accessibility, where artworks become more affordable, and artists gain greater independence.
Objective
By choosing the private business model, Artur aims for rapid growth and technological development to make art accessible on a global scale. The commercial structure allows Artur to continuously invest in innovations and services powered by artificial intelligence, designed to enrich user experiences and broaden the reach of art to as many people as possible.
Why a private company ?
Access to private funding and technological market resources enables Artur to grow quickly and offer unique creation tools, accessible from anywhere in the world. This model provides essential agility to adapt to the growing demands of an audience seeking artistic co-creation and personalization.
Impact
Increased accessibility through AI innovations :
Operating as a private company allows Artur to reduce costs associated with distributing art, particularly online, and to offer artists new platforms for visibility without the constraints of a physical gallery. The mission of artistic democratization focuses on economic accessibility, where artworks become more affordable, and artists gain greater independence.
Two forces united to democratize art
Artur and L'Original embody two complementary approaches to the democratization of art:
Artur exploits technological advancements for large-scale dissemination and accessibility, while L’Original focuses on human connection, sustainability, and local creation. By combining Artur’s agility with L’Original’s community impact, these two entities are building a world where art becomes both a collective good and an accessible field of innovation. Artur thus takes flight as a separate entity starting in 2020.
AI and Art: Between Rivalry and Collaboration
The rapid evolution of technology has placed artificial intelligence (AI) at the heart of the artistic creation process, opening up new opportunities but also raising fundamental questions. For artists, AI serves as both a source of inspiration and an unpredictable competitor, capable of producing works in mere seconds, where years of learning and experience were once required. This duality challenges the very identity of art and its methods of production.
By positioning itself as a creative player, AI is redefining the boundaries of art, but at the cost of a palpable tension between authenticity and automation. The fundamental question remains: can art created by algorithms bear a human touch, or does it remain confined to its automated logic?
AI and art: between rivalry and collaboration
An Inevitable Encounter
The rapid evolution of technology has placed artificial intelligence (AI) at the heart of the artistic creation process, opening up new opportunities but also raising fundamental questions. For artists, AI serves as both a source of inspiration and an unpredictable competitor, capable of producing works in mere seconds, where years of learning and experience were once required. This duality challenges the very identity of art and its methods of production.
A Delicate Balance
By positioning itself as a creative player, AI is redefining the boundaries of art, but at the cost of a palpable tension between authenticity and automation. The fundamental question remains: can art created by algorithms bear a human touch, or does it remain confined to its automated logic?
Authenticity vs Automation
A debate at the heart of creation
The fear of devaluation:
Many artists view AI as a direct threat, fearing that automation will devalue their skills and reduce professional opportunities in an already fragile industry.
AI-generated creations raise the question of artistic authenticity: can these works be considered as profound and meaningful as those crafted by human hands, bearing unique emotions and perspectives?
Defense of Human Art
At L’Original, the artistic approach is rooted in human connection, the intention behind every brushstroke, and the thought driving each project. In this context, AI creations are seen not as substitutes but as tools, reinforcing the idea that AI can complement without replacing.
This stance highlights the richness of human art and celebrates the artist’s experience, emphasizing the importance of preserving the uniqueness of every creation.
Opportunity and Accessibility
AI as a Gateway to the Democratization of Art
More Inclusive and Accessible Art
Despite the controversies, AI offers innovative tools that simplify access to artistic creation for those without formal art training. AI platforms allow anyone to explore their creativity in a fun and affordable way, making art more accessible than ever.
For enthusiasts and beginners, AI becomes a gateway to the artistic world, encouraging them to explore, learn, and share their creative vision without technical barriers.
Expanding Creative Horizons
When used alongside human artistic work, AI can open up new perspectives. By integrating with traditional practices, it offers artists the opportunity to push their own creative boundaries, combining technological unpredictability with human emotion to redefine creation.
For the members of L’Original, this translates into groundbreaking collaborations, where craftsmanship is enhanced by infinite possibilities.
Thus, far from being a simple rivalry, the relationship between traditional art and AI can also be one of enriching collaboration.
By exploring these new frontiers, L'Original embraces the potential of AI while defending the unique value of human art, ensuring a harmonious coexistence between technology and authenticity.
Thus, far from being a simple rivalry, the relationship between traditional art and AI can also be one of enriching collaboration.
By exploring these new frontiers, L'Original embraces the potential of AI while defending the unique value of human art, ensuring a harmonious coexistence between technology and authenticity.
The Vision of Co-Creation
Art as a Collective Experience
Creating together, for unique and personal works
Co-creation is at the heart of Artur and L’Original’s vision. It breaks down the separation between the artist and the public, bringing them together around a shared creative process. This model invites everyone – enthusiasts, curious individuals, novices, and professional artists – to actively contribute to the creation of works that carry a personal message, symbolizing their values and shared memories. Co-creation thus becomes a space where everyone can express and realize what is dear to them, resulting in works that are both intimate and inclusive.
Works that Speak to Everyone
By involving the public in the creation process, each piece takes on a unique meaning, reminding participants of their own values or serving as a touching gift to share. This model breathes new life into decorative art, transforming works into living memories or symbols that find their place in everyday life, in homes, workplaces, or as objects for transmitting cultural and emotional heritage
The Benefits of Co-Creation
Mutual Enrichment for Artists and Participants
Creations that Touch the Heart and Unite
Shared Values
In this co-creation model, art is no longer just an object of contemplation but becomes a vehicle for shared emotion and collective values. Each work arising from this process tells a unique story, shared by those who imagined and created it together. For Artur and L’Original, co-creation thus represents a path toward a more human, inclusive, and meaningful art, where each piece carries within it the memory of shared moments and the values that unite hearts.
Artur: An International Vision
To Transform the World of Gifts and Décor
Replacing Standardized Products with Meaningful Works
Artur embarks on an ambitious mission: to revolutionize the global market for décor and gifts by offering an alternative to standardized products. Where the traditional industry offers mass-produced, storyless objects, Artur invites everyone to choose unique creations, designed with a human touch and a deep artistic dimension. Through a platform accessible to all and powered by artificial intelligence, Artur empowers consumers to offer gifts that carry values and shared memories, transforming every choice into an act of co-creation.
Global Expansion for Accessible and Personalized Art
With this vision, Artur expands far beyond borders, bringing its co-creation model and personalized artworks to the international stage. From North America to Europe and Asia, Artur aims to change the way the world perceives décor and gifts, replacing standard items with meaningful and unique pieces. This approach is part of a desire to innovate while honoring local artistic traditions, building a global and inclusive history of art, where everyone, no matter where they are, can leave a personal mark on the creations that populate their daily lives.