Arcane

Arcane AI is a limited-edition tarot deck that explores the expressive potential of artificial intelligence through Midjourney-generated images. Rooted in the Marseille tarot tradition, each card links to planets, zodiac signs and Hebrew letters, forming a cohesive narrative on the Kabbalah Tree of Life. Robotic-style descriptions written with GPT-3 and a satirical manifesto on AI impact on art enrich this technology-focused project. Developed by dogrush and Dollaria (dog&doll).

Each physical deck connects to its digital companion through a printed QR code, where every card can be expanded with detailed descriptions, symbolic references and astrological correspondences.

Produced in June and July 2022, the project used Midjourney V2 to generate over a thousand original images, from which the final 22 Major Arcana cards were selected, edited and curated into a coherent visual series. Each card represents a unique artwork within a limited run of 100 decks. The design, influenced by the Marseille tradition, merges classical symbology with intentional and unconventional references. A serendipitous discovery revealed the Tree of Life seamlessly integrated into the neural network graphic style, elegantly featured on the back of each card.

The accompanying texts were written in dialogue with GPT-3, embracing its limitations and deliberately preserving a robotic and collaborative tone. The edition includes a printed manifesto reflecting on AI rapid advancement and its impact on artistic processes, along with a satirical interpretation of Martin Niemöller "First They Came..." poem, ominously exploring how AI replaces humans in every creative realm.