Send an electric guitar 100 years into the future!
THE SLEEPING BEAUTIES is Jens Ritter’s famous art project reflecting on the delicate balance between the rise of AI in art production and the irreplaceable essence of raw, unfiltered human creativity.
Only six Sleeping Beauties are created each year – each one a handcrafted electric guitar, deactivated and symbolically “put to sleep” for 100 years, standing as a steadfast rock of Human Genuine Creativity in a world rushing toward AI.
After these 100 years, for each Sleeping Beauty a video will be automatically released in which Jens Ritter speaks about the specific electric guitar. Also, each collector acquiring a SLEEPING BEAUTY today has the opportunity to record a personal video message – a time-capsule testimonial to the future and to their descendants – which will also appear after 100 years.
IN AN ERA OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: PRESERVING THE SOUL OF HUMAN CREATIVITY
For millennia, human-made music has been the steadfast companion of our cultural evolution. From the primal beats of drums to the harmonies of flutes and the scratching sounds of turntables, musical expressions have not only evolved alongside us but also shaped the essence of who we are, reflecting the spirit of their times. They stand as mirrors of progress, capturing the soul of each generation. With every turn of time, the soundscape transforms, often sparking generational debates – the elders lamenting the “terrible” music of the youth, its noise, its rebellion. Yet this cycle has always been a testament to the vitality of human creativity.
Now, we stand at the threshold of an unprecedented shift. Artificial intelligence is increasingly taking over the production of popular music, replacing human musicians for economic convenience. Drawing from the vast repository of human-made music, AI mimics genres and styles. Yet what it produces is but a shadow – a mechanical reassembly of authentic human art, diluted into what can only be called “audio decoration.” AI can replicate sound, but it cannot replicate soul. It can mimic, but it cannot dream.
This growing reliance on AI in creative fields compels us to ask: Is this truly the path we want to follow? Creativity is more than a means to an end – it is the heartbeat of human innovation, the foundation of our identity. It connects us to ourselves, to each other, and to something greater. The imperfections in handmade work are the fingerprints of the human spirit, the marks of struggle and triumph that make true creation deeply human.
To abandon the defining journey of pain, perseverance, and triumph in favor of convenience risks eroding the essence of who we are. These experiences are not inconveniences; they are the crucibles in which character is forged and humanity evolves. True music and art have always been catalysts for progress –mediums for emotions, ideas, and the indescribable. They resonate because they are alive.
As artists and creators, we see the grave risk of losing this sacred power to express and connect. Jens Ritter’s art series, The Sleeping Beauties, invites the world to pause and reflect on this pressing issue. These silent art objects, though rooted in music, symbolize all human arts. They represent the irreplaceable bond between creativity and the human spirit – a call to protect what only humanity can bring to life.
If we handover our creative powers to machines, what will remain of the spark that defines us? What will it mean if a pseudo-species assumes the essence of our identity – our ability to imagine, dream, and bring those dreams to life?Machines may take care of our accounting and household chores, but they cannot – and must not – replace the act of creation that gives our existence meaning. Why should only they have the pleasure of creating art and not humans?
Let us not allow the quieting of this timeless gift. Instead, let us cherish and protect the profound beauty of human creation. It is not merely a task – it is the soul of our existence, the mirror through which we see who we truly are, and the torch that lights the way to our future. Let us not trade humanity for ease.Let us safeguard the magic of true human creation for generations to come.
True innovation does not emerge from shortcuts; it is born of relentless pursuit, imagination, and resilience. By allowing machines to take over our creative work, we risk losing not only our artistic heritage but also the spark that makes us human.
The Alcudia Bay sparkle
Ident: #2317
“One of the most marvelous family experiences of my life was diving in the shimmering blue-green waters of the Mediterranean Sea with my wife and children. At last, my boys found them – tiny sparkling shells, clearly made of pure gold!”
The paraiba velvet
Ident: #2308
“I borrowed my first real gemstone from a dealer in Idar-Oberstein, Germany – Mr. Hubert Arnoldi. The stone, a breathtaking Paraiba tourmaline, was valued at a quarter of a million US dollars at that moment. Mr. Arnoldi and I were meeting for thefirst time, so I asked what documentation he needed for an official loan agreement. My ID card? A police clearance? Certified proof of residence? A bank reference to confirm funds? What kind of insurance verification? Mr. Arnoldi handed me a pencil and a sheet of paper and simply asked me to write down my address. And then I walked out, with a quarter of a million dollars in my pocket…”
The Sandokan
Ident: #1812
“When I was a small child, I secretly watched a pirate movie at my grandmother’s house, still naively believing everything on TV was real. I hardly remember the details of Sandokan, but one scene left a lasting impression: A powerful ruler appeared on the screen, draped in a robe of pure gold, glittering and sparkling. This striking vision of beauty and wealth captivated me. Years later, I stumbled upon an old VHS tape of this movie at a flea market, which inspired me to create The Sandokan as a tribute to that vivid childhood memory.”
The Green flora
Ident: #2359
“On my first stay at the original Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City – long before its unfortunate closure – I passed by the iconic lobby clock every day. The atmosphere, with its stunning floral arrangements and grand golden walls and ceilings, left a lasting impression on me: an image of green and gold, timeless and enduring, which I later captured in The Green Flora.”
