ING bank’s “The Next Rembrandt” from J. Walter Thompson, Amsterdam, scored two Grand Prix honors–topping the Cyber and Creative Data competitions–at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
In the campaign a computer is taught to paint like Rembrandt, yielding an impressive 3-D printed portrait. J. Walter Thompson designed a program that processed varied aspects of Rembrandt’s artistry and technique, translating into a computer re-creation of the Dutch master’s work and underscoring ING’s commitment to innovation and its sponsorship of classic art.
“The Next Rembrandt” was one of two Cyber Grand Prix winners, the other being “Justino” for Loterias y Apuestas del Estado from Leo Burnett, Madrid. Both pieces of work were examples of technology, so seamlessly integrated, it has become nearly invisible. Jury president Chloe Gottlieb, SVP, executive creative director, R/GA, said, “With Justino, we see magical storytelling that evolves and builds across social media, while The Next Rembrandt demonstrates how rather than an output, data and code can be the starting point for creativity.”
As for the Creative Data Grand Prix honor, that jury’s president, Tash Whitmey, group CEO Havas, helia, said of “The Next Rembrandt,” “It evoked powerful feelings in each member of the jury, it made us excited and scared in equal measure. It shows that where there is creativity in working with data, you can achieve almost anything.”
Cyber drew 2,886 entries and presented 91 Lions. Click here for a rundown of Cyber Lions winners.
The Creative Data category received 715 entries and awarded 40 Lions. Click here for a rundown of Creative Data Lions winners.
Meanwhile 381 entries were received in Innovation and 9 Lions were awarded. The Grand Prix went to “Google DeepMind AlphaGo” by Google Deepmind London, a project that challenges the potential of artificial intelligence. “Alpha Go,” said Jury president Emad Tahtouh, director, applied technology at Finch, said “‘AlphaGo’ is complicated and advanced, but also beautiful and simplistic in its approach and encapsulates the definition of the Innovation Lion.”
Click here for a rundown of Innovation Lions winners.
And finally, founder and CEO of VICE, Shane Smith, received the Media Person of the Year award, which recognizes a leading personality from the worldwide media industry. Smith transformed Vice into a global multimedia youth brand and recently launched cable TV channel Viceland, alongside filmmaker Spike Jonze.
