Blood Paintings by Poppy Koning: The Radical Affirmation of an Artist’s Presence in the Age of AI

Pia Diamandis -

Dutch artist Poppy Koning has been using her diploma in the medical field to draw her own blood with which she creates bold abstract art pieces. This means that every piece becomes an radical assertion of her presence and experiences as an artist. For example, her piece Guts Over Fear was made as a reflection of her 2016 battle against Lyme disease, burnout and anxiety. It is a large piece that spans across two 80 x 80 cm canvases, conveying the intensity of Koning’s emotional, mental and physical landscape during the time. At the end of the day, the piece is a testament of her triumph and her courage to continue to thrive as an artist.

Guts Over Fear by Poppy Koning. Image courtesy of Poppy Koning’s website.

In today’s times, where the prevalent use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) image generators mean that the creation of artworks can no longer require an artist’s presence, Koning’s blood paintings are a valiant and provocative endorsement of human art. They are visual proof of the tour de force that human art is, showing how each piece can contain multitudes of experiences and are, quite literally, the product of a real person’s sweat and blood.

Liquid Love by Poppy Koning. Image courtesy of Poppy Koning’s website.

This is why these pieces can also be a rallying cry for the development of AI technologies that do not come at the expense of human jobs and human life, especially those of artists. Hence, the blood paintings by Poppy Koning are relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Decent Work And Economic Growth, and Reduced Inequalities

My Past by Poppy Koning. Image courtesy of Poppy Koning’s website.

Poppy Koning's blood paintings stand as powerful affirmations of human creativity and resilience in the age of AI-generated art. By using her own blood to create bold, abstract works Koning transforms deeply personal experiences into striking visual narratives, asserting the irreplaceable presence of the human artist. Her art highlights the value of emotional depth, physicality, and individuality that no machine can replicate, serving as a critique of the potential dehumanization in AI-driven industries. 

Find out more about blood paintings and other pieces by Poppy Koning on her website www.poppykoning.com or Instagram @poppykoning.