AI works are already trying to appear in the Biennale archive. Tools like DALL·E, MidJourney, and Stable Diffusion enable the creation of detailed and diverse images, speeding up the process, generating ideas, expanding creative boundaries, and automating repetitive tasks, freeing up time for conceptual work. That’s why more and more illustrators are looking to AI as a collaborator, not a replacement. Hybrid approaches that blend traditional drawing with algorithm-generated elements are opening up new styles. But with that come ethical challenges, such as copyright and fair remuneration.
There are other concerns. In the commercial sector, AI could displace illustrators, devalue traditional craftsmanship, and dull the emotional depth of visual art. That’s why experts stress how important it is for artists to develop a distinctive style and storytelling skills to stand out in a market already saturated with algorithmically generated images.
AI democratizes their creation, allowing people without an art education like me to produce impressive visuals. This is a valuable resource for businesses, marketers, and content creators on a budget, but it blurs the line between illustrator and digital content creator. The commercial approach pursues effect, the artistic approach pursues experience. The Biennale preserves precisely the latter – art that doesn’t sell, but provokes; that doesn’t decorate, but engages.
In the age of AI, human illustration is irreplaceable. It brings a unique touch, emotional depth, and “imperfections” that machines cannot fully imitate. In addition, the process of drawing develops cognitive, motor, and emotional skills — qualities that a bot cannot replace.
Yes, algorithms create stunning images in seconds, but they often lack the depth, originality, and emotional richness of human creativity. And this is why “pictures” often seem clichéd, mass-produced, kitschy, and devoid of personality. That is why illustration not only survives — it becomes even more important as an expression of personality and creativity. It is the opposite and at the same time a complement to AI, because man and machine can coexist, offering different values and opportunities for creators and audiences.
The future of illustration will be shaped by this balance. Illustration is not a backdrop to our digital world — it is its voice. Sometimes we see it, sometimes we feel it, but when it’s real, we can’t ignore it.
Illustration is more than a pretty picture. It’s a language, a position, and an invitation to communicate. In a world that increasingly speaks through images, that makes it more important than ever. The question that looms large with the dizzying development of AI is simple: will we be creators of images with a soul or creators of soulless prompts?
Elitsa Winiarczek
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