Art and Algorithm: Ilaria Merola’s Vision of AI as a Creative Ally. 

Italian artist Ilaria Merola speaks with Cluster about her groundbreaking work in blending AI with traditional art, particularly in her celebrated project Neural Metamorphosis.

Drawing on inspirations from classical art, science fiction, and the beauty of Rome, Merola uses AI to capture fleeting moments of natural harmony and feminine power. In her vision, AI is not a substitute for human intuition but an extension, capable of expanding the limits of creativity while preserving an intimate connection with her artistic roots.

Hi Ilaria! Can you describe your journey as an artist and how you arrived at the intersection of AI and traditional art forms?

Throughout my career, I have been profoundly inspired by the arts, ranging from painting and photography to cinema and traditional visual arts. I consider myself an aesthete, with aesthetics and visual harmony playing a crucial role in my practice as a visual designer and communicator. My background has instilled in me the ability to craft compositions that are both harmonious and captivating.

My foundational training as a designer and visual artist compelled me to explore diverse aesthetic languages, yet it was only through the discovery of artificial intelligence that I found an unrestricted mode of creative expression. AI introduced unprecedented possibilities, allowing me to transcend the limitations inherent in my traditional artistic practices. This desire for unbounded creative exploration culminated in the 'Neural Metamorphosis' project, which marks my initial and most profound engagement with AI as an artistic medium.

What role does spontaneity play in your creative process, and how do you balance it with the structured nature of AI?

Spontaneity is at the core of my creative practice. I am guided by the inspiration of the moment, shaped by my lived experiences and the surrounding environment.

Living in Rome provides me with access to an immense cultural heritage, continually informing my creative process with the beauty of past eras—from the Imperial Age to the Baroque and the Renaissance. Cinema, particularly science fiction, serves as another significant source of inspiration, as does music. When working with AI models, I often find that specific musical compositions can capture the emotional resonance of the images being generated, creating an interplay between auditory and visual stimuli that enhances my creative vision.

While spontaneity drives my creative impulses, AI introduces a structured component that allows these impulses to materialise with precision. My creative balance emerges from this dynamic: spontaneous prompts driven by inspiration are systematically refined through the logical frameworks of AI, enabling me to shape and realise even the most visionary ideas. 

What impact do you believe your work has had on contemporary discussions around gender and technology in the art world?

My work places a strong emphasis on the condition of women and the transformative power of female imagination. Through projects such as Neural Metamorphosis, I have sought to celebrate and examine the agency of women within technological contexts, emphasising their roles not as passive observers but as active creators and innovators.

A significant aspect of my artistic approach is the ability to generate something unique by combining and blending natural elements with representations of women.

The recurrent theme of nature in my work arises from my perception of its intrinsic perfection. Nature's enduring beauty, despite the accelerating changes of our modern era, demands celebration and protection, particularly as the trajectory of human development often threatens its preservation.

Through my artistic practice, I aim to evoke an appreciation for this beauty and to underscore the urgency of safeguarding it, fostering a critical dialogue on the complex relationship between human progress and the natural environment..