Interview with DAMN AI

How did you start working in fashion and visual imagery? Was there a specific moment when you realised you wanted to work with AI?

I started working with photography in 2020. At the beginning I was mostly focused on landscapes and cities, but over time my interest shifted towards people and more narrative image-making. At a certain point I realised that turning some of my ideas into concrete projects could be difficult, often because of limited budget or resources. That was when I began exploring artificial intelligence as a creative tool. In 2023 I started working with AI in a more structured way.

Your feed has a very strong and recognisable style. In a space where algorithms also contribute to image creation, what does authorship mean to you today?

I feel quite relaxed about this topic. Many people try to copy themselves or other creators online, but it is almost impossible to achieve exactly the same result. Every generative process inevitably leads to something different. It depends on your background, your choices and the way the algorithm interprets your input. For this reason I do not take a rigid approach. Sometimes I use images or videos as references, other times I start from scratch. It is a continuous dialogue between influences, tools and personal interpretation.

Today anyone can generate images. What do you think makes your work stand out from the digital noise we see online?

The difference lies in intention. Why are you creating a certain image? Some people imitate existing work because of a lack of inspiration, others because certain visual languages resonate with them. The important thing is always to add something personal, your own vision and your own background. Even when starting from a reference, you need to transform it. That is what makes images and videos truly meaningful.

In your images the body often appears very smooth, artificial, almost sterile. Are you celebrating a new aesthetic or showing the extreme side of our obsession with perfection?

It depends on the project. Sometimes I aim for realism, because I believe imperfections are what make people unique. I am interested in working with particular faces and bodies. At the same time I enjoy exploring surreal territories that do not exist in reality, moving between realism and surrealism. That balance is at the core of my creative approach.

What kind of responsibility do you feel when creating perfect, unreal or impossible bodies?

I am not looking for perfect bodies. I am interested in androgyny and natural bodies, far from the social media obsession with perfection. Sometimes it is important to see more raw and imperfect forms of art. I do not focus on extreme masculine or feminine shapes. I focus more on emotions than on forms, trying to communicate something authentic.

Many of your images show a fragile, androgynous, almost sterile masculinity. Is this a reflection on contemporary masculinity or mainly an aesthetic choice?

It is a combination of both. I am not interested in extremely masculine or traditional bodies. I believe that even people who appear very masculine have a vulnerable side that is often hidden. The images become a way to represent hopes, desires and fears, while remaining intuitive and not overly theoretical.

Fashion has always been linked to craftsmanship, gesture and materiality. Do you think AI risks removing this dimension?

AI brings many new possibilities, but I do not think it will replace the physical dimension of fashion. People will always want to wear clothes, touch fabrics and interact with others. AI will become a useful tool, but it will not cover the entire industry.

Do you follow designers or photographers from the traditional world? Do you think AI is a threat to these professions?

No, I do not see it as a threat. Traditional art forms like painting, theatre or photography will continue to exist. I have not abandoned analogue photography myself. It feels authentic, it helps you slow down and work with real people, away from the digital environment.

Do you think AI is expanding creative freedom or making visual styles more similar globally?

I do not think everything will become the same. Everyone has their own vision and style. Even when starting from existing references, people tend to create something new. AI does not flatten creativity, it expands it and leaves space for personal interpretation.

In ten years, do you think fashion campaigns will be mostly generated with AI?

AI will be a useful tool for creating garments and suggestive shows, but it will not replace the physical dimension of fashion. People will still want to touch fabrics, wear clothes and interact with others.

How would you describe your creative world in three words and why?

Stimulating, because I always try to create a space that makes people think. I like when viewers see different things in my images, and I think it is a way to connect, share ideas and receive feedback from people all over the world.

Article written by Martina Arapi