Meet Benjamin Mandre, a unique artist with a distinctive and mature style. His artistic journey shows incredible promise, making him one to watch in the coming months.

In this exclusive interview with Partfaliaz, Benjamin shares insights about his professional background through five carefully chosen questions. Moreover, he takes us behind the scenes of his creative process, revealing fascinating details about his approach.

Additionally, Benjamin offers valuable advice for emerging AI artists, drawing from his extensive experience. Despite being concise, his responses are packed with wisdom that both beginners and experienced artists will find enlightening.

Can you introduce yourself?

— I am Swedish and live in Stockholm. I studied architecture in Stockholm and Barcelona and run an architectural practice with a partner. I have also studied painting and sculpture and have worked as a critic of architecture and music.

How long have you been using generative AI and do you use it professionally?

— I have been using AI since 2023. Initially as an experiment to see if it could be used as a design tool. We’ve had a few AI aided projects in the office, and we’ve also been commissioned to do illustrations for others, in cases where traditional 3D tools don’t offer the level of realism required, especially for daylight.

What is your biggest source of inspiration currently?

— I mostly find inspiration in my everyday environment. Random things I see in the street, music I hear, or exhibitions I visit. The AI tools themselves are also hugely inspirational. More recently, I have tried to pursue a language specific to AI. Things you can’t do in other mediums such as painting or photography. That’s the most interesting part of AI as an artistic tool, where it can contribute something completely new.

Which AI tools do you use?

— I have tried many different platforms, but Midjourney is the most versatile tool I have come across. It is still the base for most things I do. I have a film project with a friend that I’m doing part of in Runway. Krea is also fun and easy to use for many things. I used to try to keep up with all the tools out there. But now there are so many that it’s impossible, so I try to stick to just these three.

Any advice for those who want to get started with AI art?

— First of all, be patient. Although many AI tools are fairly easy to get started with, there is indeed a learning curve, and it’s not a linear process. AI doesn’t work like any other software I’ve used, especially Midjourney, it’s much more fluid and dynamic. If you have artistic ambitions – be true to yourself and do something that really expresses your personality. I would also add that while AI offers great opportunities, we need to be critical because it is very powerful and nobody knows where it will take us.