Matteo Procaccioli Della Valle's AI-Generated Anti-Geishas at Raffaella De Chirico

Italian artist Matteo Procaccioli Della Valle (born 1983 in Jesi) presents a series of AI-generated images at Galleria Raffaella De Chirico in Milan's Brera district, subverting traditional geisha iconography. After over a decade working in architectural and landscape photography, often using Polaroid, he now employs artificial intelligence to create deliberately imperfect, handcrafted-looking portraits. The subjects are heavily tattooed with irezumi designs reminiscent of Hokusai and Hiroshige prints, challenging the stereotype of the pristine geisha. In Japanese culture, tattoos have long been associated with the Yakuza and are still banned in many public baths. Procaccioli Della Valle's geishas retain traditional makeup and hairstyles but display full-body ink, embodying a celebration of imperfection. The artist describes a complex production process, discarding many images to achieve a human-like quality. The exhibition marks a creative turning point, using AI not for flawless output but to express his photographic vision.