ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts

IMAGE AESTHETICS EVALUATION THROUGH AI ALGORITHMS

Pournima Pande — 2026-01-15

The evaluation of image aesthetics through automation has become a significant research issue because of the fact that social media, photography and creative industries are expanding at a very fast rate compared to digital imagery. Contrary to typical vision exercises, aesthetic evaluation is multi-dimensional, subjective by nature, and perceptual, semantic, and emotional. In this paper, the analysis of image aesthetics evaluation based on artificial intelligence algorithms is carried out in detail, starting with the traditional methods of the evaluation based on the handwritten feature and concluding with the advanced deep learning ones. We compare convolutional and vision convolutional neural networks, as well as hybrid networks, and point out their advantages in the local visual quality of modeling and the global compositional structure. In order to overcome the inconsistency in the human judgment, the research focuses on subjectivity-sensitive learning, using the distribution-based annotation and the model of the pairwise preferences. An aesthetic scoring system based on the combination of regression, probabilistic distribution learning and ranking objectives is addressed in terms of implementation on the system level. Through experimental analysis and discussion, it has been shown that hybrid models are stronger, easier to interpret and closer to human perception. The results prove the relevance of holistic learning of features, uncertainty modeling, and explainable decision-making to reliable and human-congruent aesthetic evaluation systems.

EXPLORING DEEP LEARNING FOR AUTONOMOUS KINETIC ART: FROM ALGORITHMS TO MECHANICAL EXPRESSION

Shirish Jaysing Navale — 2026-01-10

Autonomous kinetic art is a new interdisciplinary field at the edge of artificial intelligence, robotics, and practice of art, where the movement has become a primary form of artistic expression. Conventional kinetic art objects depend mainly on deterministic processes or a rule-based approach, restricting them to adapting, learning and reacting in any meaningful way to dynamic conditions. The paper discusses how deep learning can be used to empower autonomous kinetic art systems with adaptive, expressive and context-aware mechanical behavior. It suggests a detailed conceptualization of kinetic art as a cyber-physical system that involves multimodal perception and learning-based artistic intelligence, generation of movement and actuation of machinery in a closed-loop structure. Different types of neural network models, convolutional, recurrent and transformer-based are studied in terms of their functions in spatial perception, temporal coherence, and long-range expressive consistency. Motion planning and adaptive control systems are based on learning to convert the abstract neural representations into realizable and expressive motion in the real world taking mechanical and safety limits into account. Experimental assessment uses both quantitative performance metrics and qualitative artistic evaluation using quantitative data (table and plot based) to confirm the smoothness of motion, responsiveness, stability, and energy efficiency of various interaction cases. The case studies of autonomous kinetic installations also illustrate that the system can support its continuous functioning, the development of behaviors and the increase in the level of audience interest. The conclusions state that deep learning has allowed transforming the paradigm of kinetic art of pre-programmed motion into adaptive, learning-driven mechanic expression, which has altered the definition of artistic authorship and pushed the limits of computational creativity and embodied artificial intelligence.

VISUAL NARRATIVES IN ADVERTISING WOMEN-CENTRIC GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND THEIR IMPACT ON RURAL WOMEN

Deepak Prasad — 2026-01-10

The schemes that are women-focused are crucial in promoting the gender equality and social inclusion and economic empowerment, especially to the women who are in the rural areas. Nevertheless, the success of these schemes is not only based on the way they are designed but relies also on their efficiency in the communication to the beneficiaries. In this regard, the visual narratives applied to government advertisement can be viewed as the critical link between the purpose of the policy and the grassroots initiatives. This paper explores the importance of the visual narratives in the advertisement of women-based government programs and assesses how it affects the awareness, perception and behavioral intention of rural women. The research design will be that of a mixed method study, that is, a quantitative content analysis of a sample of government advertisements and a survey-based measurement of the impact of the same to the rural women. The analysis of visual narratives has been done on the dimensions that include narrative structure, women-representation, symbolism, emotional appeal, and consistency of the message. In order to measure narrative strength, a Visual Narrative Effectiveness Index (VNEI) was created. The impact assessment involved the testing of the effect of these visual strategies on levels of awareness, trust, perceived relevance and perceptions of intention to participate in government schemes. The results show that transformation-based storytelling, empowered but culturally based portrayal of rural women, emotional appeals, especially hope and security, characterize government ads. The score of VNEI was high, which means narrative effectiveness on all dimensions. Empirical findings also indicate that visual narratives substantially enhance awareness and positive perception in rural women particularly those with low levels of formal education and high dependency on media of visual literacy. Although visual advertising is extremely persuasive to behavioral intention, procedural and socio-cultural barriers mediate actual participation, which shows an intention action gap. The research is relevant to the literature on visual communication, gender-based advertising and communication of public policy due to the ability to quantify a scheme of evaluating visual narratives. In real world terms, it can provide policy makers and communication companies with practical insights on how to create culturally sensitive, emotionally sensitive, and inclusive advertising campaigns to strengthen the effectiveness of women-based government programs in rural areas.

VISUAL POLITICS IN THE DIGITAL AGE: SOCIAL MEDIA AS A TOOL FOR POLITICAL IMAGE BUILDING

Anshul Garg — 2026-01-10

The rise of social media platforms has essentially reoriented the role of political communication by imposing such a heavy focus on the visual content as a tool of building and supporting the political images. This study will look at how these political players, such as individual politicians, political parties and electoral campaigns, utilize the visual communication techniques available in the social media to shape, sell, and reinforce their images. Within the frame of the review of key case studies, such as the 2008 and 2012 Barack Obama campaigns, the strategic use of social media in the Narendra Modi campaign in India and the current state of affairs in the 2024 electoral campaigns, this paper will examine the theoretical basis of visual political communication, the practical tactics of modern-day political leaders, and the ethical aspects of image-making in the digital environment. The paper will utilize Framing Theory, Agenda Setting Theory, and Visual Communication Theory in order to relate findings against the available academic literature. Findings have shown that visual content such as professionally created imagery, videos, memes, and emotionally engaging graphics can have a vast impact on how the general population views political leaders and can determine the electoral process. Nevertheless, this visual-based politics has significant issues of misinformation, control of the mass consciousness, and corrosion of faith in democratic components. The research paper concludes that although the visual social media strategies have proven to be a fundamental instrument of political discourse in the 21 st century, effective ethical guidelines and media literacy programs are very important aspects of preserving democratic integrity in the digital era.

DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF A MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR ONLINE VISUAL ART EDUCATION PLATFORMS

Shreyas Dingankar — 2025-12-28

During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, online visual art education has grown, but most platforms do not have adequate governance and operational infrastructure. The courses in art demand studio-like work, critique and handling of huge media files. The generic learning management systems are generally ineffective, as it prioritizes the text-based courses and fails to consider intellectual property or community safety. The given paper suggests a management system applicable to online platforms of visual art education. The framework was created based on the existing platforms analysis, stakeholder needs and gaps in literature analysis. It consists of governance systems, curriculum-level lifecycle management, studio orchestration, quality assurance, community moderation, learner support, analytics and privacy protection. A pilot study on a medium art website was analyzed in terms of user interaction and performance indicators. Quantitative findings indicate that course completion (71.2 to 83.6 percent), the number of learners who are active weekly, and the critique and system usability are improved, whereas feedback and support response time significantly drop. The qualitative feedback was marked with more distinct roles, faster moderation and increased learner satisfaction. The results imply that the quality of learning and operational efficiency of visual art platforms can be improved by organizing management processes. It has implications that guide administrators aiming to professionalize art-oriented platforms, and provide policy-makers with information about digital studio pedagogy. The adaptive analytics in creativity evaluation and cross-platform accreditation should be studied in the future.

VISUAL DESIGN FRAMEWORKS FOR CREATIVE QUALITY MANAGEMENT: INTEGRATING LEAN SIX SIGMA IN CONTEMPORARY DESIGN INDUSTRIES

Shruti Gomkale — 2025-12-20

The contemporary design industry operates at the intersection of creativity, visual communication, and quality-driven production, demanding structured yet flexible frameworks to sustain innovation. This study proposes a visual design framework for creative quality management by integrating Lean Six Sigma principles within contemporary design industries. Moving beyond traditional industrial applications, Lean Six Sigma is reinterpreted as a visual and strategic tool to enhance creative workflows, reduce process inefficiencies, and improve design consistency without constraining artistic expression. The framework emphasizes visual thinking, design iteration, and process transparency, aligning quality management practices with creative decision-making. Through conceptual analysis and illustrative design-process models, the study demonstrates how visual mapping, workflow optimization, and feedback loops can support design quality across disciplines such as graphic design, media production, fashion, and digital arts. The proposed framework bridges the gap between creativity and systematic quality management, offering designers and creative managers a structured approach to maintain artistic integrity while achieving operational excellence. This research contributes to the growing discourse on interdisciplinary design management by positioning Lean Six Sigma as a design-enabled methodology rather than a purely industrial tool, thereby expanding its relevance within visual and creative industries.

VISUAL DESIGN THINKING FOR DIGITAL BANKING: COMPARATIVE INSIGHTS FROM CO-OPERATIVE INSTITUTIONS

Jyotirmayee Vishvajit Bhosale — 2025-12-28

The high level of digitalization of financial services has altered customer-customer interaction with the banking platform, which has put visual design thinking at the center of innovation in digital banking. As commercial banks have actively pursued the user-centric digital interfaces, co-operative banking institutions that are based on shared values of communities and relationship-based services have distinct challenges and opportunities in how their ethos can become successful in digital experiences. This paper examines visual design thinking in digital banking and gives some comparative analysis on co-operative institutions and the mainstream commercial banks. The study analyzes the effect of the visual aspects of design like the simplicity of the interface, hierarchy of information, accessibility, the psychology of color and customer engagement to usability, trust, and customer engagement across digital banking systems. The research applies a comparative framework in the analysis of mobile and web interfaces of the chosen co-operative and commercial banks and is backed by the principles of user experience (UI) and design thinking phases such as empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. The specific focus is on the way co-operative banks are changing the visual design to suit different, often semi-urban and rural audiences with different degrees of digital literacy. The results have shown that commercial banks focus on efficiency and personalization and rich-features dashboards whereas co-operative institutions focus on clarity, familiarity and trust-building visuals. Nevertheless, inconsistencies, responsiveness, and compliance to accessibility still exist in most co-operative online platforms. The research paper has identified the best practices and design solutions that can help co-operative banks strike a balance between technological modernization and their social and community-based identity.

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS OF MACROECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN INDIA’S VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS SECTOR

Janaki S — 2025-12-28

This paper attempts to assess the strategic management worth of the macroeconomic forces on the economic performance of firms in the Indian visual and performing arts industry on the current economic circumstances. The research is the empirical test of the key macroeconomic variables including in this case, inflation rate, interest rate, GDP growth, exchange rate fluctuation, and government expenditure on arts so as to establish their contribution towards increased increment in revenue, profitability as well as financial sustainability of arts organizations. Through the secondary data sources which includes industry reports, government publications and the finance statements of the sampled firms and institutions the research will employ the use of statistical methods such as correlation and regression analysis in identifying the significant associations amongst the macroeconomic variables and the firm performances. The conclusions indicate that cost structure and financing availability would be significantly influenced by the inflation, fluctuating interest rates, whereas the demand and financial stability would be positively influenced by the GDP growth and government assistance. The study is also able to offer effective strategic results to the arts administrators and policymakers in a rapidly shifting economic framework so as to augment the strength, best economic planning, and reactive plans.

CREATIVE INDUSTRY REGULATION IN TIMES OF CRISIS: LESSONS FROM COVID-19 ENFORCEMENT AND HEALTHCARE CARTEL POLICIES ACROSS INDIA, AUSTRALIA, AND SINGAPORE

Kshitij Kumar Rai — 2025-12-10

Periods of global crisis significantly disrupt creative industries, particularly the visual and performing arts, where artistic production is closely linked to institutional support, regulatory frameworks, and cultural policy. This paper examines creative industry regulation in times of crisis by drawing comparative lessons from COVID-19 enforcement measures and healthcare cartel policies implemented in India, Australia, and Singapore. Through an interdisciplinary policy analysis, the study explores how emergency regulatory responses—originally designed for essential sectors such as healthcare—offer valuable insights for governing creative and design-led industries during periods of uncertainty. The research contextualizes these regulatory approaches within the creative economy, emphasizing their implications for artistic labour, cultural organizations, and design-driven enterprises. By comparing national responses, the study identifies key governance themes including regulatory flexibility, collaborative compliance, and crisis-driven innovation. The paper argues that adaptive regulatory models can support continuity in creative production while safeguarding artistic autonomy. The findings contribute to emerging scholarship on cultural governance by proposing transferable policy lessons that strengthen resilience in visual and performing arts ecosystems. This research offers strategic insights for policymakers, cultural institutions, and creative practitioners seeking sustainable regulatory frameworks for future crises.

CREATIVE BLOCKCHAIN TRACEABILITY: A DEEP LEARNING AI FRAMEWORK FOR SOURCE AUTHENTICATION IN DIGITAL DESIGN AND MEDIA

Hemlata Kosare — 2025-12-10

The rapid expansion of digital design and media has intensified challenges related to authorship, authenticity, and source attribution within creative ecosystems. In response to these concerns, this study proposes a creative blockchain traceability framework supported by deep learning–based artificial intelligence for real-time source authentication in digital design and media practices. The framework repositions blockchain technology as a cultural infrastructure that safeguards creative ownership, while deep learning models enable intelligent analysis of visual patterns and content provenance. By integrating AI-driven visual recognition with decentralized traceability mechanisms, the proposed approach enhances transparency and trust across digital creative platforms. The study conceptually demonstrates how this framework can support diverse creative domains, including graphic design, digital art, media production, and interactive visual communication. Emphasis is placed on preserving creative integrity without constraining artistic expression or design innovation. This interdisciplinary research contributes to emerging discussions on digital authorship and creative rights by bridging visual arts, design management, and intelligent technologies. The findings offer strategic insights for designers, artists, cultural institutions, and digital platforms seeking resilient solutions for authenticating creative content in an increasingly decentralized and algorithm-driven media landscape.