From Mental Concept to Algorithmic Exemplification: Rethinking the Aesthetic Situation in the Age of Generative AI

The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) necessitates a re -evaluation of the foundational structures of artistic creation and reception. This article utilises the “aesthetic situation” theory, originally formulated by Maria Gołaszewska (1984) and recently expanded through a managerial lens by Michał Szostak (2023b), to analyse the transformative impact of computational agents on the creative process. Building upon the distinction between “supporting” and “substituting” AI roles (Szostak & Modliński, 2025), this paper introduces a conceptual model of “algorithmic exemplification”. It posits that generative AI functions as a technical mediator, translating an artist’s internal “mental concept” into a publicly accessible artefact through iterative prompting and latent -space navigation. By systematically analysing the five components of the aesthetic situation—the artist, the artwork, the recipient, the world of values, and the real world—this article argues that generative AI does not merely automate production but reconfigures the ontic status of the artwork and the agency of the creator. The discussion highlights the shift from direct craftsmanship to “aesthetic situation management”, in which the artist’s role evolves into that of a curator and prompt engineer, potentially substituting for traditional manual skills while supporting higher--order conceptual synthesis.