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We happened to cross Daniel ‘s work by chance and we could not believe the images were A.I. generated instead of real photos. With a style that mixes Tim Walker, Steven Meisel or Peter Lindbergh we can tell you that he is one of the ones to watch.
WN: Can you tell us a bit about your creative background?
DW: “I come from Austria and so I had contact with art very early on. My father is a gifted draftsman and my uncle is an art carver. And so, as a little boy, I came into contact with pencils and charcoal pencils in my uncle’s workshop and learned to carve. My Parents told me that I carved my first wooden sculpture when I was four, although I doubt that. *Laugh* But that meant I was able to train my skills in sculptural thinking at an early age. Because my uncle always said that the figure has long been hidden in the wood and just needs to be uncovered. And that’s how I understand it to this day: the images have long existed, I just have to use Midjourney and prompt them to make them visible.
For the sake of my parents, I dutifully completed my high school diploma and completed an apprenticeship as a visual merchandiser. But instead of studying afterwards as planned, I went to one of the three state theaters in Hamburg: the famous Thalia Theater. The theater and especially the stage design and props were fantastic. I learned a lot about the eras of art and fashion history and was of course able to perfectly live out my penchant for drama there. But there was another area that absolutely fascinated me: fashion. And so I decided to go into the fashion world in the early 2000s and take care of fashion shoots on the agency side.”
WN: Can you explain your creative process from concept to the final piece?
DW: “My creative process often begins with an idea or a specific story I want to express. Through my years of experience as a creative director in the fashion sector and directing photo shoots all over the world, I have always had a passion for photography. I can draw, paint and do a little sculpting, but unfortunately I’m not blessed with a photographic eye. I know what the end result should look like, but when I look through the viewfinder the result is completely different. So I rely on photographers. But now, thanks to Midjourney, I finally have the opportunity to do all the shoots that have long existed in my head.”
WN: What other tools are essential in your workflow?
DW: “I actually only work with Midjourney and sometimes Photoshop to remove small errors. But otherwise I try to prompt until I like the result. This can sometimes take a frustratingly long time.”
WN: Are there any specific artist that you look into for inspiration?
DW: “There are a lot of great artists out there! But for me Alexander McQueen and as a fashion designer and Tim Walker as a photographer are particularly inspiring. McQueen was a visionary designer who died far too early, while Walker inspires with his vivid stories. I am very impressed by their work. Oh yes and of course not forgetting the incredible Iris van Herpen. Her clothes, or rather wearable sculptures, already look like they were created with AI. Simply fantastic!”
WN: How would you describe your artistic view?
DW: “For me, art is a medium to express my thoughts, emotions and visions. The use of artificial intelligence allows me to make my wildest fantasies become reality. So I can do a full Vogue cover shoot from the comfort of my own home in my pajamas at the computer and be creative at the same time.”
WN: How much impact you think A.I. will have against more traditional art forms?
DW: “I am asked this question often and I rethink my answer every day. I see AI as an exciting addition to traditional art, but ultimately I believe that human creativity and expression are irreplaceable. Artificial intelligence can help, but the core meaning of art still lies in the hands of the artists. The question of what art actually is, is a complex question that I cannot answer conclusively. So today, Pandora’s box remains closed.”
Thanks Daniel for your time.
If you want to follow and check all his work click on his IG: daniel.weiss.hh