Twisted Mentat Matt (@moridinamael) on X

Back in the old days, I was using one of the older OpenAI image models to get design ideas for my living room.

I loved the old image models, because there would be weird, evocative yet unplaceable stuff in the background. These background statues struck me immediately as being far more interesting than the central elements of the image.

I was entranced by this character. What is his deal. What’s that thing he’s holding in his left hand. Is that armor, or is that just what his body looks like? He seems somehow sci-fi and tribal at the same time.

I tried the ask ChatGPT at the time to give me a better look at him but it did not do a very good job. I mean, it’s alright, but it’s not the Guy.

Nano Banana does a much better job. There’s a face, which isn’t quite what I would have done, but it’s plausible, and maintains the weird cool vibe of the original. It also seems to have decided that the object it’s holding is a cloth or garment.

I looked for a model that could convert an image to a 3D mesh. I sent the Nano Banana render to

got this 3D model in 60 seconds. The horn coming out of his chest is the only element that seems off to me, but I like it, it carries through some of the surreal vibe of the

Of course, once you’ve got a 3D model, there’s only one logical next step.

He’s only a few cm high for now, but if I break him into pieces and print them piece by piece, and paint him, I might end up getting that statue in my living room.