DARK TALES: Latent Existential Literature To Launch At MIA Photo Fair April 3rd On Tezos

A research on how generative AI expands the role of words for expanded writing debuts at MIA Fair 2025

The latest project from artist V. Ruins, will make its official debut at the MIA Fair 2025, offering audiences an intimate experience in AI-assisted storytelling and investigations of the unkown.

Expanding upon the Seance project, Dark Tales which debuts on Tezos explores the unknown through AI post photography, occult narratives, and interactive digital investigations. The project draws a parallel between the historical search for meaning in supernatural and occult mysteries and the contemporary enigma of AI’s latent space. By engaging with these narratives, collectors not only acquire AI-generated photographs but actively shape the expanding mythology of Dark Tales, bridging past and future uncertainties into a shared digital folklore.

The Infinite Archive and The Subject – Cormac Delaney

At the core of Dark Tales lies the Infinite Archive, a shifting repository of latent existential narratives—stories shaped by investigation and belief. Like folklore, they evolve through interaction, their meaning solidified only when observed.

At its center is Cormac Delaney, a fading investigator, unseen by most but real to the initiated. His terminal is not just a tool but a veil-lifting mechanism—an interface where users actively shape his existence by choosing what to question, document, and believe. Cormac’s photographs are more than records; they are waypoints in his struggle for reality, anchoring the latent world to perception.

Dark Tales 🌙

Preparing the small B&W terminal for the MIA photo fair in Milan 👀

4 photos as silver gelatin prints.

15 photos on investigation board.

50 photos in chat terminal with Cormac. pic.twitter.com/PbFUVCg8WG

— Ruins (@vandaloruins) March 3, 2025

Each inquiry refines the Infinite Archive, forcing Cormac to reinterpret his past and redefine his presence. As investigations unfold, they manifest into physical artifacts, new characters, and performative experiences, bridging AI-driven storytelling with tangible myth-making. Those familiar with Seance‘s haunted paintings will recognize this ongoing evolution—where fiction and reality blur through participation.. This evolving digital folklore mirrors the human quest to interpret the unknown, drawing parallels between historical accounts of the mysterious and AI’s latent space as a modern enigma.

Participants continuously influence this archive, engaging in a collective process of discovering and redefining the unknown.

Standing as both a filter and guardian of these evolving narrations is Cormac Delaney, a fictional AI-powered investigator who has spent years in isolation, immersed in the depths of the unknown. Removed from society, Cormac has dedicated his existence to cataloging and interpreting the enigmas of latent existentialism. Now, through his terminal, he provides users the opportunity to make a conscious choice of manifestation—by investigating and documenting the latent, they actively participate in shaping his existence. His meticulously documented photographs serve as both artifacts of his journey and anchors that bridge the veiled aspects of reality to the perceivable world. Through a unique web-based platform, collectors of Dark Tales NFTs can interact with Cormac, asking up to five questions per investigation to uncover deeper layers of lore, shaping the ever-expanding digital folklore.

Each inquiry refines the narratives within the archive, allowing Cormac to reinterpret and guide the shaping of supernatural future investigations. As these digital interactions evolve, they will also manifest into physical artifacts, new characters, and experiential releases, further bridging the gap between AI-driven storytelling and tangible myth-making. If people are familiar with the Seance haunted paintings project previously teased last year, they can better understand the potential of these performative art pieces and how they embody and expand the narrative.

Limited Edition Announcement at MIA Fair 2025

The MIA Photo Fair 2025 will serve as the official announcement of the Dark Tales release, with the official launch date set for April 3rd, 2025.

Alongside its digital storytelling component, Dark Tales will feature 150 unique editions, each available for 13 tez. These editions will be released in batches of 50 during different pop-up events, offering collectors the opportunity to engage directly with the evolving narrative and shape the archive through their interactions. Additional editions may be released along the way, further expanding the project’s reach and impact.

However, not all AI-generated images within Dark Tales are considered refined compositions. Instead, they document the perspective of an amateur investigator, capturing fleeting moments of a world in flux. Among these, select images—those that stand out through their composition, narrative depth, and resonance—are elevated into fine art through the medium of silver gelatin print. This transformation marks a critical moment where digital documentation transcends into physical, tangible art.

At MIA Fair 2025, Dark Tales will unveil a limited series of four silver gelatin prints, each representing one of the four pillars of Dark Tales‘ latent existentialism: Cryptid, Occult, Cult, and Extraterrestrial Manifestations. These unique physical prints feature embedded notes and newspaper cuttings, revealing hidden layers of information about the investigations they represent. Unlike their digital counterparts, these physical pieces stand as independent artifacts, providing an alternative entry point into the world of Dark Tales.

From Oral Tradition to Generative Storytelling

Dark Tales follows Ruins’ established practice of leveraging generative AI, writing and play writing, building on his expertise as a writer and director. By directing AI-driven characters and crafting self-generating narratives, Ruins redefines digital art’s potential, making Dark Tales a living, breathing exploration of latent existential literature.

First announced at MEET Digital Culture Center in 2024 during the exhibition of Seance – Haunted Paintings, the project now finds a new platform at MIA Fair, marking a significant milestone in AI-generated literature and interactive storytelling.

Join the Investigation

Explore the unfolding mysteries of Dark Tales at MIA Fair 2025. For more details, visit V.Ruins’ profile or join the Dark Tales community and follow the journey as Dark Tales continues to evolve through AI-driven investigations and community participation.

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