Once Human Devious Painting

Caroline Mae

2 min read

·

06-01-2025

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The art world is rarely straightforward. We're used to grappling with abstract concepts, subjective interpretations, and the occasionally outrageous price tag. But the rise of AI art, specifically tools like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion, throws a whole new wrench into the machine, raising complex ethical questions that go beyond mere aesthetics. One particularly intriguing and slightly unsettling area is the emergence of "Once Human" style paintings – images generated by AI that appear to depict realistic human faces, often with unsettling or uncanny expressions.

The Allure of the Uncanny Valley

These AI-generated portraits often fall into the "uncanny valley," that unsettling space where something appears almost human but not quite, triggering a feeling of unease or even revulsion in the viewer. The slight imperfections, the almost-but-not-quite-right features, are precisely what makes them so captivating and, for some, deeply disturbing. This deliberate manipulation of realism, this playful dance on the edge of human likeness, is a key element of what defines “Once Human” style.

Technical Prowess vs. Artistic Merit?

The technical skill involved in creating these images is undeniable. The algorithms behind AI art generators are sophisticated, capable of learning from vast datasets of existing artwork and photographs to produce strikingly realistic – and sometimes unsettling – results. However, the question remains: does technical proficiency equate to artistic merit? Many argue that the human element – the artist's vision, their emotional investment, their unique perspective – is missing. The AI simply processes data; it doesn't feel.

Ethical Considerations: Consent and Representation

Beyond the artistic debate, significant ethical considerations arise. Many “Once Human” images seem to represent real people, often without their knowledge or consent. The algorithms draw upon vast repositories of images scraped from the internet, meaning faces that appear in these paintings might belong to individuals who never agreed to have their likenesses used in this context. This raises serious issues regarding privacy and the potential for misuse of personal data.

The Future of Artistic Expression?

The “Once Human” aesthetic presents a fascinating challenge to our understanding of art and its relationship to technology. While the technical capabilities are undeniable, the ethical implications require careful consideration. The future of art, it seems, is not simply about the creation of beautiful or compelling images, but also about navigating the complex ethical landscape that these powerful new technologies have created. The discussion surrounding consent, representation, and the very definition of art will undoubtedly continue as AI art evolves. The question remains: where do we draw the line between artistic exploration and ethical responsibility?