IMAGINE THAT PRINTS REDEFINING DIGITAL ART
Arminda da Silva is a graphic designer based in Johannesburg who challenges the glossy perfection dominating digital art. Since the early 2000s, digital artists have pursued flawless polish. However, Arminda’s project, Imagine That Prints, pushes back by embracing texture, chaos, and imperfection as radical acts of rebellion.
Artistic Roots and Digital Evolution
A Family Legacy of Creativity
Arminda da Silva’s South African roots shape her unique approach. Growing up in a creative family gave her a strong foundation in design and illustration. As a result, from an early age, she was drawn to what she calls “visual oddities,” small details others often overlook. This fascination guides her work. For instance, she transforms everyday fragments into fresh, thought-provoking images.
Additionally, through her art, she invites viewers “to see the familiar in new and unexpected ways.”
Motherhood and AI Art
Motherhood changed how Arminda creates. She says, “Becoming a mom shifted everything, including how and when I could create. Midjourney became both escape and return, a way to make without overthinking.” This new rhythm shapes Imagine That Prints. The balance between creative freedom and life’s demands drives her digital work forward.
The Creative Process: Embracing Imperfection
Texture as Voice
Though her work is digital, texture is her priority. “I lean into the mess. That raw energy is what I’m after,” she explains. Arminda treats AI as a tool, not the creator. She adds, “AI is just the tool. The voice, the weird filter, that’s mine. I reject most outputs and keep what feels truthful, even if imperfect.” This approach gives her work a distinct, tactile quality.
Finding Beauty in the Uncanny
Rather than presenting purely polished imagery, Arminda blends “awkwardness, folk art, mythology, old cartoons, and children’s drawings.” These elements create images both familiar and unsettling, “like tugging at a memory you can’t place.” This tension defines her signature style.
Intuition Over Logic
Arminda works by feeling, not by plan. “I start with a phrase or image I can’t shake, then throw it into Midjourney. I sift through hundreds, waiting for the one that hits.” As a result, this method makes her creative process an exploration of discovery.
Future Directions and Cultural Impact
From Screen to Print
Imagine That Prints deliberately moves beyond screens to physical prints. Arminda explains, “I’m grounding ethereal digital work in tactile reality through matte, grainy prints.” This choice invites viewers to touch what once only existed digitally. As a result, it builds a tangible link between the digital and physical worlds.
Expanding Horizons
Looking ahead, Arminda is exploring new creative paths, including “zines, storybooks, maybe animations or collaborations.” These ventures will turn her digital images into rich, layered narratives. Consequently, they will break artistic boundaries and invite fresh storytelling forms.
Evoking Complex Emotions
Instead of striving for perfect clarity, Arminda embraces emotional complexity in her work. She wants viewers to feel confusion, curiosity, and discomfort. By challenging polished digital norms, her art encourages deeper reflection and personal engagement with each piece.
Imperfection as Form
Imagine That Prints proves that imperfection is not a flaw but a form. In conclusion, Arminda da Silva shows us art’s future lives in tension, between chaos and control, digital and tactile, uncanny and familiar. It is in this space that creativity feels most alive.
Stay in the loop with Arminda’s latest work on Instagram @_____imaginethat, and explore her prints at www.imaginethatprint.com.
Discover more stories about visionary creatives and daring ideas, with a special focus on digital art, by exploring the articles below or visiting IRKMagazine.com.
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