Issue (18) — En conversation with Marcus Wallinder
"While AI can generate images, it’s my role to shape them into a cohesive vision that speaks to the deeper currents of life..."
Welcome to another issue of En Conversation, a monthly series featuring talented entrepreneurs to talk about their creative process and what keeps them inspired.
This month I’m chatting with Marcus Wallinder, a minimalist graphic artist known as Meanwhile In Nowhere online, whose work combines AI—driven processes with traditional digital techniques to create visually striking and thought—provoking compositions.
My otherwise despised IG algorithm would *sometimes* surprise me with an unusual recommendation, and this was one of those times: I’m a huge fan of Surrealism so it’s no wonder Marcus’ art instantly caught my eye.
It was with that particular image:
Through a number of conversations, Marcus has savingly tamed AI to co—create delicate and deeply resonating stories with the source, exploring new creative avenues that would have gone otherwise unexplored.
Ultimately, as you’ll discover through this conversation, AI art cannot exist without our participation and needs human intention just as much as we need its ability to generate imagery. Hope you enjoy!
(1) Hi! Let’s start by introducing you. Can you tell us a little bit about you; who are you, what are you passionate about and how did you get started in your industry?
Hey Alexia! This question always makes me a bit uncomfortable to answer, so it's great practice for me. My curiosity lies in others—I love asking questions, discovering what drives people, their thoughts, ideas, and experiences. Perhaps it's a psychological defense mechanism to avoid talking about myself.
I grew up in a family where both of my parents were alcoholics, and they passed away when I was relatively young. While I have many beautiful memories from my childhood, there are also some darker ones. I think that’s why I often focus on others; it allows me to sidestep revisiting my own past. That said, this background has deeply shaped my need to express myself in various ways, and my art is one of those outlets. I’ve always been fascinated by different ways of creating images—from digital art to photography—and now, promptography is what truly excites me.
(2) First of all—thank you for sharing your story, I totally feel you. Talking with various creatives over the past few years it’s clear that our backgrounds invariably shape our perspective on art to a certain degree, and that is a beautiful contribution to the world.
I’m curious to learn more about your artistic style and inspiration; do you find that your past experiences influence the themes or emotions you explore in your art? And if so, what are those overarching themes?
Also, I find promptography to be a fascinating medium in 2024. Would you briefly explain what it is for creatives who might not be familiar with the term?
In my work, my background comes through in a variety of ways. I often gravitate toward themes of duality—light versus dark, order versus chaos—mirroring the tension between beautiful moments and painful ones. You’ll notice a lot of fragmented forms and surreal compositions in my work, which represent the idea of brokenness, but also the possibility of reconstruction and hope. There’s a constant exploration of identity, time, and existence, which is very connected to my own need to express and reflect.
Promptography is a relatively new term that describes a form of image creation using text-based prompts. What excites me about this process is the element of unpredictability and collaboration with the AI itself. The AI interprets my prompts in ways that surprise me, offering new perspectives and pushing the boundaries of my own creative intent. It’s almost like tapping into a collective digital unconscious—much like how surrealists used dreams and the subconscious as creative fuel. This unpredictability mirrors life itself, which is never perfect. Promptography, for me, is an outlet that continues to reshape the way I approach art, world-building and storytelling.
(3) As a huge fan of Surrealism as an art movement (especially in photography) I was immediately drawn to the surrealist elements that are part of your compositions, and I love the unpredictability/ whimsical perspective AI brings to the table in that sense.
I recently read an essay questioning the limits of AI in an article called “are you still a writer if you use chatGPT” and I want to ask you the same thing: in your opinion, what is the role or unique value of an artist in a world where AI can generate art? Is there something inherently human in the creative process that AI cannot replicate? How do you balance your own creative vision with its interpretations? I have so many questions!
In its current form, AI is not a replacement for human creativity but rather a tool that amplifies it. Looking forward into the future, things may change, but right now AI art cannot exist without our participation. AI needs human intention just as much as we need its ability to generate imagery. As an artist, I'm always in a state of brainstorming, exploring my past and future through the creative process and transforming these ideas into images.
The unique value of an artist in an AI-driven world lies in the personal vision and energy we bring to our work. Each piece I create is a reflection of my inner world, shaped by my life experiences and emotions.
AI helps me realize those visions, but the responsibility and meaning behind the art remain uniquely human—and always will. This becomes especially important as AI-generated images become indistinguishable from human-created ones. While AI can generate images, it’s my role to shape them into a cohesive vision that speaks to the deeper currents of life. Great questions!
(4) Love that answer!!! And completely agree with you—I think AI shouldn’t be seen as a threat diminishing human creativity, but rather as a tool empowering us to explore new avenues that wouldn’t otherwise have come to mind. Speaking of which, how do you actually get started on your projects? How do you carry your concepts through?
For me, the creative process starts as a thought. Inspiration often comes unexpectedly, whether it's a piece of music, a photograph, graphic design, a movie I'm watching, a conversation I'm having or, my favourite, a memory that triggers an emotional response. My fascination with technology and the intersections of past and future plays a huge role in sparking ideas.
The process is less about precise organization and more about diving into the unknown and seeing where it takes me. I tend to experiment a lot, where I throw out my initial concepts and see what happens when I dive deeper into a certain concept. From there, I don’t just accept the output as is; I like to manipulate and refine it using tools like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, adding my human touch, drawing from my background in photography I retouch a lot and add my flair of editing and treatment.
I think of it as having a dialogue with the machine where I control the narrative, but I also allow it to surprise me. I don’t rely on traditional systems like moodboards, though I do keep a strict visual language in mind when I curate a batch of images so they all harmonize with each other. The concept evolves as I experiment, often arriving at something quite different from what I imagined at the start.
(5) You almost make it look easy, which I’d say is the beauty of talent and experience… Do you have any creative nemesis?
When it comes to my creative nemesis, there's nothing that disrupts my flow quite like time pressure. Creating on a time limit is the one thing that really puts me off—it feels like an immediate block to the organic and intuitive way I prefer to work.
For me, the best ideas and outcomes come when I have the freedom to explore without constraints, and time pressure strips away that freedom. I've learned this the hard way, especially when it comes to managing my presence on Instagram. There have been times when I felt the need to post just because I had a plan or schedule, but every time I forced myself to create or share something while feeling stressed, I ended up regretting it. The piece would never feel as true to my vision as it could have been, and the pressure made the whole process feel rushed and incomplete.
Now, I've accepted that if I feel that kind of stress about posting, it’s better to simply cancel my plans and wait until the next day. The extra time gives me space to make sure that what I’m sharing is something I truly stand behind, rather than something created just to meet my own deadline. Time pressure isn't just inconvenient for me; it actively works against my ability to create meaningful, authentic work.
(6) God I’m the same. Give me something to do in a week but let me know I only have a week, and it’ll instantly block any creative juice. Most of the time I would have to trick myself into fake deadlines so I can meet the real deadline—like with my substack editorial calendar for example (but then again I still miss it).
Marcus, it was such a pleasure chatting with you, and I could go on this conversation forever! Thank you so, so much for the depth of each one of your answers; let’s close it with your own R.E.P.O.R.T 🔍📓☕️
/ READING
"A Clockwork Orange" is a compelling read today for its exploration of free will and morality through the violent yet complex character of Alex. Burgess’s dystopian world and unique language is fun to read and the story is to this day very thought-provoking.
/ EXPLORING
Lately, I've been using Runway to transform my static artworks into dynamic, moving pieces. It’s been a game-changer. Their newest feature, Act-One, lets you record your own facial expressions and precise 1:1 movements to apply to a fictional character, is a huge leap forward for indie filmmakers.
/ PLAYING
If you haven't yet, you need to watch "Poor Things", it's an absolute visual thrill. The film is packed with bold, surreal imagery that feels like stepping into a bizarre, mesmerizing painting. Every scene bursts with imagination and detail that perfectly matches its eccentric story.
/ OBSESSING OVER
The past few weeks, I’ve been busy creating a short art film for "Art In Awe", an exhibition in San Francisco. Made entirely with AI tools, the film will be scored by the incredible Robot Koch, and I couldn’t be more excited. Art In Awe is a group exhibition bringing together artists from around the world, each exploring unique, immersive ways to experience art.
/ RECOMMENDING
"A Little to the Left" is a charming puzzle game that’s incredibly calming and satisfying. The gameplay revolves around organizing everyday objects, finding that perfect, aesthetic arrangement. It’s pure joy for my OCD!
/ THINGS I WANT
Tea. All the time. Maybe it's an age thing, I don't know. Earl Grey with a little splash of oat milk. Please!
Thanks for reading!
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