Corda Mortis – The String of Death has been named an Official Selection 2026 by the AI Master Award, in the Conceptual & Fine Art category.
AIMA runs a quarterly curated competition for AI-generated art; only a limited number of submissions pass the curation process, and each Official Selection remains eligible for the jury awards decided at the end of the quarter.
The image presents a demoness enthroned at the centre of a vast infernal hall, playing a dark lute. Serene, sovereign, and utterly merciless, she plays forbidden chords that turn sound into suffering. Her final note brings absolute silence — and death.
The character came first, months ago, her design evolving slowly until it settled. The lute came later, and with it her purpose: she was to be the direct antagonist of Brother Macário. Where his instrument is sober and restrained, hers had to be everything his is not — excessive, ornate, infernal. What remained was the setting. So I built her a stage in Hell: monumental gothic architecture, skulls and carved bone, towering columns, firelight, and a court of demons and dragons gathered before her.
The piece now has a permanent page in the AIMA archive: aimasteraward.com/selections/corda-mortis-the-string-of-death