Fabio Catapano
United Kingdom
AI Art experience
What excites me most about integrating AI into my art is the sense of collaboration and unpredictability it introduces. In my artistic practice, I’ve always been drawn to the element of surprise—allowing the machine to take part in the creative process, where I don’t control every aspect. I view generative AI as similar to a photo walk, where patience and openness to unexpected moments are key, and mistakes become part of the journey. There’s something profoundly human in embracing the unknown, letting go of control, and seeing what unfolds next.
Personal experience
My personal experiences deeply influence the AI art I create, particularly what I refer to as "digital romanticism." Growing up in Naples, a city steeped in art, music, and a rich sense of romanticism, has shaped my creative sensibilities. There’s an emotional thread in everything I do, and I aim to bring that emotionality into the digital realm. By merging my cultural roots with AI tools, I’m able to express something intimate and personal—bridging the warmth and depth of my early influences with the new, evolving possibilities of technology.
Unexpected thought
One of the most unexpected thoughts my AI art generation has led me to is the feeling of having a non-judgmental collaborator—almost like brainstorming with someone who embraces every outcome, even the most imperfect ones. Much like scientific experimentation, this process allows mistakes to become an essential part of discovering the solution. Another fascinating aspect is the potential for AI to enter a feedback loop, where it starts generating content based on its own outputs, creating hyper-biased ideas. This echoes what we experience daily on social media, where our perceptions are continuously shaped and reinforced by algorithms.
I'm very slow at solving reCAPTCHA security questions :) and also, I can still accept pineapple on pizza, but I don't think I will be happy with an AI pizza.
Published in >
The AI Art Magazine, Number 1
GEN_AI_Exploration_2024_0030.png, AI generation, 2024
GEN_AI_Exploration_2024_0030.png, AI generation, 2024.
Fabio Catapano, GEN_AI_Exploration_2024_0030.png, AI generation, 2024
Description
The inspiration behind this artwork stems from a fascination with lo-fi 3D assets, reminiscent of those found in early video games. I wanted to reimagine the digital portrait, drawing parallels to the rich tradition of classical art history, but with a distinctly contemporary, unfinished quality. By portraying an artificial avatar where the textures and polygons appear only partially rendered, I aimed to evoke a sense of imperfection within the digital medium. This piece also incorporates influences from my previous non-AI works, creating a unique fusion between traditional artistic practices and AI-generated visual language.
Process
This artwork is part of an ongoing series of generative AI explorations, where I combine various techniques and styles. It also forms part of a broader body of work in which I, as an artist, delve into the possibilities of co-creation with generative systems, including both AI and procedural methods. Rather than embracing the mathematical precision often associated with these technologies, I aim to evoke a sense of emotional resonance and imperfection. My creative process intentionally leans towards an unfinished, organic flow of colours and shapes, challenging the machine's tendency toward flawless execution, in favour of a more human and expressive visual language.
Tools
- Different iterations of outputs and inputs using Midjourney
- References with a series of my work called spectrum https://fabiocatapano.it/project/spectrum
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