Meet Mindeye!
Introducing Mindeye, a Helsinki-based multidisciplinary artist who has recently captivated the AI art world with her humorous and thought-provoking work. As a finalist in Runway's Gen 48 competition, Mindeye has demonstrated her unique ability to blend playfulness with profound themes, often juxtaposing contrasting elements.
Drawing from her diverse background and a wide array of influences, Mindeye collaborates with AI models to craft enchanting and speculative stories that traverse the past, future, and alternate realities. Her projects explore the depths of the human experience, with recurring motifs that reflect her insatiable curiosity and introspective nature.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got interested in AI art?
My name is Veronika Pell. I was born in sunny Uzbekistan, grew up in snowy Finland, and pursued film direction studies in Moscow, where I lived, worked, and studied all sorts of arts for 17 years. I moved back to Helsinki right after Russia invaded Ukraine, I was afraid that my big mouth would eventually lead me to prison. By then, I was just starting to evolve as a contemporary artist. My work, though multidisciplinary, was primarily conceptual, rooted in thought, so when I decided to play with AI tools, it was just out of curiosity and overall passion for technology. I truly enjoy working on my computer. After a couple of weeks of gazing at really bad but very exciting images, I was completely hooked and had a maniacal need to get better at this and become a part of the brand-new and experimental AI scene.
Who or what are your artistic inspirations, and if you had the opportunity to collaborate with any artist, who would it be?
I’m one of those people who are interested in pretty much everything. However, I often find myself drawn to visualizing radical juxtapositions, like light with darkness or the divine with the monstrous. And I'm deeply inspired by playfulness; there's a certain freedom and silliness to it that resonates with me.
As for collaborations, while I don't have any specific fantasies, there are certain names that immediately spring to mind and hold a special place in my heart—David Lynch and Marina Abramović. I also am in awe of what Denis Villeneuve is doing right now, and I can’t seem to forget a question Amalia Pica posed with her art, "can joy be a form of resistance?".
I do want to collaborate with musicians across various genres, as I have an eclectic taste and appreciate anything that sounds good and/or offers complexity. And when I studied music in my youth, I noticed myself envisioning stories, places, and atmospheres as I listened. I just close my eyes and find myself somewhere.
How do you approach the creative process when working with AI?
I like to approach my work in terms of projects, each with its own underlying theme. Pinpointing a single method for generating ideas is tricky because there are so many. But I particularly enjoy drawing inspiration from expressions I encounter—whether heard, read, or used in conversation. These are written down in a long list that I constantly revisit. It's also fascinating to observe recurring themes. Death is a winner at this point.
And another great method is shazaming music I hear on NTS radio, and craft a project that relies on the abstract first and the symbolic later.
The difference between AI and traditional mediums is that AI allows you to create projects much faster, and therefore you can treat so many of your ideas with attention they deserve. AI has democratized art-making and made it more accessible to those that lack the privilege of time and resources. So, hallelujah!
Can you share a specific artwork or moment that transformed your perspective on AI art?
The piece of AI art which blew my mind in the making was the short film I created for Runway’s GEN 48 competition. I honestly didn’t think that I could make something wholesome —from initial idea and text to the final montage and sound design—in just 48 hours. I just made up my mind that I will finish it no matter what, and pushed myself through many moments of anger, frustration and fatigue. And right after I completed it, I felt like a child at a candy store. It's a project that will undoubtedly have a lasting place in my portfolio.
How has working with AI in art influenced your mental and emotional wellbeing?
Working with AI has completely consumed me. While I've always been driven by art and creativity, AI got me to a new level where I can envision structuring my entire life around art and learning new things. Now, I see endless possibilities for how this medium can empower me to thrive and give back to creative community. I have become much more confident in my current abilities as an artist, as well as confident about what I can accomplish and experience during my time here with you guys. The list of things I want to create is long.
In your opinion, how does AI redefine the concept of creativity and artistic agency, and how do you see it impacting the future of art?
I partly answered this question in my previous answer, but I would like to add that I believe this medium will allow people to learn about, understand, and appreciate art more. Perhaps this is an important step toward developing a more creative society, one in which we have a greater interest in making something and problem-solving, rather than sticking to the good old exploitation and suppressing the freedom of others.
The natural ending of all things, death, is a sufficient suppressor as it is; we don't need to hasten the process.
What role do you think AI art can play in highlighting social issues?
One thing that comes naturally to me when I work with AI is visualizing the fluidity of gender and identity. I would like to research and explore this theme further in my work.
How do you engage with the broader AI and digital artist community?
It has probably been said a lot, but AI community is the best. I’m so lucky to be a part of it. And besides the friendliness and all the support, I am excited to see where we all are going and how all our individual art practices are evolving. And what all this would mean to the evolution of the medium. Such a time to be alive. And just when I thought that all fun and games surpassed me during the times when photography, cinema or performance art came to be.
What advice or encouragement would you give to aspiring women and non-binary folks who are interested in pursuing AI art?
1. Go for it.
2. Write down ALL of your ideas—big, small, stupid, profound.
3. Experiment with as many AI tools as you can.
4. Learn as much about all art forms as you can.
5. Be picky when working on and choosing your images and animations.
6. Be nice to fellow artists.
For more of Mindeye’s incredible work, make sure to visit her Instagram account: @__mindeye___