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Arya Mularama. Hamlatul Arsy. DIELA. Loopymoon. Sarisa Kojima. Tommy Chandra. These are names that are synonymous with artistic talent and creativity. Their works are all set to decorate the walls of the dedicated 72m2 Tezos exhibition at AMJ 2022 from 4 to 6 Nov.
They may have different styles, but one common denominator binds them all: That their enchanting works are inspired by the stories, skills and experiences that they have picked up in their life and artistic journeys. Their success has not been overnight - the stunning visuals of their work belies many years of hard work and adversity in their journey.
This month’s edition of #starsoftzapac is a special one. It’s an Art Moments Jakarta edition, where we dive into the minds of each of these artists’ journeys, stories and careers so far.
As humans, we all need to adapt and reprogram ourselves to fit into this world (system). But there’s a price to pay - a little bit of our soul.
That’s the inspiration behind Arya’s collection exhibited at AMJ 2022, “There's birth, there's death, and in between there's maintenance”. It features works of characters fixing themselves, to meet certain standards that life demands from us, mirroring how everyday we try to be a little bit better.
For Arya, art has always been therapy and a medium for expression. Inspired by the anxiety he experiences, his art speaks to the duality of human nature. His work sits at the intersection of where dark meets light, balancing an eclectic, vibrant, pop culture style with underlying themes of mental illness.
Arya describes himself as a kid who loves to draw on anything, who simply got older. In his early days, he started by exhibiting his work in group shows, posting daily sketches, and doing murals for brands. Today, he has since risen to be one of the most renowned artists in the Tezos ecosystem. Under his art identity ‘Gogoporen’, Arya has sold over 5,000 NFTs. The 5,555 editions of his GOGOS collaboration sold out in less than three hours, despite being a totally secret stealth drop with no marketing whatsoever.
To Arya, NFTs themselves encapsulate the theme of “Continuity” - a progression of how we collect art physically, now moving onto the digital space. In addition, Arya views the community spirit found in the Tezos art scene as a continuous cycle.
As a rookie artist, Arya was grateful to the established artists that helped him to get to where he is now. Today, he hopes to carry this same spirit of community on and continue to provide the same guidance and support for newer artists coming to Tezos. A strong supporter of Tezos, Arya has this to say:
“The art scene in Tezos is super awesome because it’s an art community where people fully support each other instead of trying to compete.”
Having graced AMJ 2022 with his unique and vibrant style, Arya hopes that he can inspire the creation and appreciation of art, especially at this time when NFTs allow people to directly collect from and connect with artists.
https://www.instagram.com/aryamularama
Born in Okinowa and raised in Thailand, a plethora of multi-cultural influences shape Sarisa’s work along with her own experiences in life as a Thai-Japanese transgender artist. Channeling her creativity through illustration, Japanese calligraphy, textile, coding and programming, and performance art, it is clear that Sarisa’s muses have inspired her craft.
Sarisa’s work for AMJ features Sweet Eyes, her avatar in a fantasy world. It expresses who she wants to be in real life, but cannot be. Disagreeing with mainstream narratives that often present femininity as fragility, her work also features tigers as a symbol of strength. Her art is inspired by her background as a transgender person grew up in a multicultural environment - especially influenced by Asian philosophy, Japanese pop culture, and the LGBTQ community.
Finding a passion for art when she was little, Sarisa found out that creating art allowed her to express negative feelings and escape cruel reality. Having studied Japanese woodblock print for her diploma and working as a full-time artist in 2012, she turned pressure into incredible creations.
However, Sarisa was no exception to the fact that art can rarely cover the full living costs of an artist, and this made her go back to working at a corporate job. Fortunately for her, 2015 saw her quitting to take a break - and it was this time onwards that she discovered NFTs and reconnected with art, allowing her to start her journey as an artist again.
For Sarisa, NFTs and continuity are two concepts that go hand-in-hand.
“I had to stop creating art because of the difficulty of earning enough income to live on. But after the world implemented NFT technology, it made me see the future of the creative economy. This was my unexpected return to creating art.
It’s such a suitable time; the right material came into human life, while many artists started giving up on their careers. This new tech can shape the art scene into the next chapter as it allows me to continue with my creation.”
She explains that the concept of continuity is essential when it comes to NFTs. Because NFTs are stored on a blockchain, they can theoretically exist forever. This gives them a level of permanence that other digital assets don’t have
“The fact that NFTs can be used to create a permanent record of ownership for digital assets makes them ideal for use cases where continuity is essential. For example, an artist could sell an NFT that represents a digital artwork, and the buyer would then own that artwork forever. “
Sarisa recognizes the growth potential for the Tezos NFT art scene in Asia.
“There are already a few artists from Asia starting to gain recognition in the NFT space and I think we will see more and more artists from Asia getting involved in the coming months and years. Though, there are still more milestones that can be pushed to support the art scene on Tezos
Asia is also becoming interested in NFTs. However, there is no doubt that there is significant potential for growth. With more platforms emerging and more people becoming aware of the technology, we could see a boom in NFT art in Asia over the next few years.”
Finally, Sarisa has this to say about AMJ 2022:
“With so much to offer, there’s something for everyone at Art Moments Jakarta. Whether you’re interested in learning more about NFT art or simply want to enjoy some beautiful artwork, you’re sure to find something that resonates with you. And who knows, maybe you’ll even discover a new favorite artist!”
https://twitter.com/SarisaKojima
https://www.instagram.com/sarisakojima
An illustrator and graphic designer by profession since 2008, Tommy’s training as an architect is visible in his work - sleek, precise, detailed, and involving geometric shapes.
Art is Tommy’s break from his daily routine of design and illustration, where he explores different styles and possibilities. It is also a medium for self-improvement. Now that blockchain and NFT technology is integrated into art, every day presents a new learning opportunity for Tommy to explore.
“NFTs continue the idea of combining technology and art. The smart contract and royalty setup help artists to solve traditional issues. This technology really defines the concept of Continuity.”
On his submission for AMJ 2022, Tommy explains that it is a series that questions continuity. Space and time are the two components that build the sequence of life in the universe. In physics, there is a mathematical model that combines space and time into one continuity. Everything that is created is relative, and will gradually change and continue over and over again.
“I try to break down space, time, and life into different parts, imagining that each of these components goes through its own process. Some come, some go. Some are lost, and some are returned. One thing that is absolute is continuity itself.”
SPACE is symbolized by the impossible room, inspired by M.C. Escher’s “Relativity”.
TIME is represented by the Sun and (the phase of) Moon, two timepieces, and is also a homage to Salvador Dali’s melting clock.
LIFE is symbolized by evolution and metamorphosis. The digital moth was inspired by Van Gogh’s blue butterflies. We spend our lives now in a “new” digital space. The evolution in the digital era still continues and like a moth/butterfly, it keeps changing into a better one.”
With numerous prominent Asian Tezos artists and art/NFT exhibitions being held in Asia, Tommy sees the Tezos arts ecosystem in Asia as only capable of growth, and that these artists will be globally recognized in the future.
“I am really happy for this rare opportunity and I hope more people, fellow artists, and collectors can look at and appreciate my work in Art Moments Jakarta. I hope that at AMJ 2022, visitors will find a way to enjoy art, new knowledge about NFT, and maybe free NFTs :)”
https://twitter.com/toramichan
https://www.instagram.com/tommychandra/
Diela Maharanie is a self-taught illustrator and visual artist with more than 13 years of experience in the field, who has collaborated with some major global brands such as Instagram, Apple Music, Intel, Samsung, and many more. Her works are mostly bright and colorful, filled with vibrant patterns of super saturated hues but also hint at a mystery for the character.
While Diela’s love for digital art is strong, she also enjoys exploring and applying her illustration experience in different mediums like embroidery and tufting. Speaking through her work, DIELA finds zen in her art. Art is a language, to communicate what she feels and to dismantle the chaos in her mind.
Her submission for AMJ 2022, ✦ controlled chaos ✦, features artwork expressing her daily thoughts and emotions that can’t be expressed in words. To DIELA, NFTs represent continuity - they are a tool to immortalize and authenticate her digital works, which will be preserved long after she’s gone.
“I’ve had the best experience with the Tezos NFT art community. I first learned to collect digital works on the Tezos blockchain - collecting from other artists, and artists supporting each other - this is the vibe within the Tezos community!
For AMJ 2022, it’s an achievement for me as an artist. I hope people appreciate digital art as much as they do traditional art, and experience the fun of collecting NFTs! :D”
https://twitter.com/dielamaharanie
https://www.instagram.com/dielamaharanie/
Trippy. Colorful. Cosmic.
These are the words that come to mind when admiring loopymoon’s work, the nature of which alludes to the aptness of his artist name.
Hailing from the Philippines, Loopymoon explains that his name is a reflection of his diverse creative background and his love for the night sky.
“On one side, I like to experiment with colorful and trippy acrylic paintings, and on the other I like to strategize and create digital compositions which includes branding, graphic design, UI design et cetera.
My goal is to bring the ’loopiness’ of naturally flowing paint onto the digital realm. And so I started by creating, combining, and collecting digital patterns.”
To loopymoon, art is both liberty and a place of refuge from life’s crazy challenges. Creating art teaches him the joy of freedom and expression through artistic experiments, on both physical and digital canvases.
When asked about the inspiration behind The Flow of Time, his collection for AMJ 2022, loopymoon muses:
“I like to reflect and daydream whenever I get the chance. Recently, I reflected about the reality of time - how the past two years went by like a blur. Or maybe it’s just one of the effects of long term Covid on me! Haha.
The past is immutable (like blockchains) - what’s done is done. It now serves as a memory that serves to guide us in the present and in the future.
The present however is a celebration - a gift that we continuously receive. It is fleeting, which is why it is important to be in it, to always be in the present.
The future is still unknown - a mystery. Like the present, it is also a gift - but it is given only to those who want it and are ready.”
The Flow of Time consists of The Past, The Present, and The Future.
These three pieces (like the rest of the works in this exhibition) will be minted into NFTs and be given out (chosen at random) as part of the “NFTs: Inner Worlds, Immortalized” experience. Collectors of loopymoon’s NFTs enjoy special utility, very fitting of the artwork’s namesake. 30 lucky collectors will receive airdrops of his past, present and future works!
On how NFTs intersect with the concept of ‘Continuity’, loopymoon gives a shout out to Scarletbox.io. In this platform, the works of celebrated Filipino artists or National Artists are minted into NFTs for collectors. This not only preserves their art, but also keep their works relevant in this new digital generation. Ultimately, for him NFTs function as a bridge to connect creators to their audience, transcending time and space.
Being a collector of over 2900 Objkt NFTs on Tezos, loopymoon also puts his money (TEZ) where his mouth is. For this seasoned collector and artist, the best collections undoubtedly come from Asian Tezos artists.
“There are already well-established Tezos NFT movements or communities within Asia, and it makes me proud to be part of this art scene.
I hope visitors will be inspired by the things that they will see and experience in Art Moments Jakarta. I hope they feel the same passion that the artists felt when they worked on their creations.”
https://twitter.com/_loopymoon
https://www.instagram.com/_loopymoon
Hamlatul aka The Curious Unicorn is a Bruneian-Indonesian visual development artist and 2D animator, based in Singapore.
If you guessed that Hamatul holds great love for unicorns, you’re right - but not in the way that you may think.
“To me, Unicorns are majestic and beautiful and they represent something that is rare and highly valued. This is my vision and dream; to aspire to reach these heights by staying curious, continuously seeking inspiration and knowledge, and telling my stories, so that others may be inspired to do the same. To be yourself, because no one else is you. “
It was at the tender age of five that she attended her first art class, and without knowing it - that was when the seed of artistic passion was planted in her soul. However, it was only years later that she understood that the roots will only flower, grow and stay alive when nurtured. So, her relationship with art is two-way:
“Because of Art, I have traveled and explored, experienced unforgettable memories, and lived in different parts of the world. Because of Art, I have learned independence. On the other hand, it is also because of the way I lived which has also informed the art that I make.”
And it was art that chronicled her story, following 2001 when her life took a deep dive. A journey, adventure, experience - of love and loss, success and failures, light and darkness, and the search for The Hidden Princess living inside all of us. The essence of you.
This personal story inspired her collection, The Hidden Princess, 412 unique pieces; a mix of traditional and digital paintings, animation, and installations. Amlatul has thoughtfully picked 3 pieces from this collection to be exhibited at AMJ 2022.
Having her plans to attend AMJ 2020 struck down by the pandemic, she attended it virtually. It was one of the few things that kept her inspired and sane during lockdowns at the peak of the pandemic.
“Having Art Moments feature my work is an honor and a privilege, and meaningful to her journey as an artist. To always continue moving forward and being grateful, even in the midst of difficulty and trouble.”
She hopes that through the stories and works of the artists exhibited at AMJ 2022, visitors are able to be inspired, spark curiosity, provoke imagination, and create meaningful memories.
Hamlatul feels that continuity is all around us - we experience continuity in our lives every day without even planning, realizing, or thinking about it. Continuity helps to keep things in order, and makes us feel comfortable and safe.
But she also points out Heraclitus’ famous quote, “The only constant is change”.
“Change is hard, but it is inevitable. I see NFTs as continuous progress, continuously changing. NFTs have allowed and provided artists with new opportunities and avenues to practice their craft and at the same time, learn new technologies that we never thought could be linked to our craft.”
In 2017, she was first introduced to NFTs by an art mentor of hers. Minting her first NFT in 2021, she has since then connected with artists all over the world and has also built great friendships with many of them.
“In 2021, a friend in Brunei introduced and encouraged me to mint some of my pieces on HEN, and invited me to a channel with a network of artists who are passionate about doing the same things as me. I am very inspired by the Tezos artists in Asia. To see the support that artists have amongst each other is refreshing. The level and skill of art have also tremendously improved over the last year.”
And finally, Hamlatul shares with us some of the wisdom gleaned from her journey:
“One important lesson I learned is gratitude and to live a life of adventure and curiosity. Always remain open to new knowledge and experiences, so you will always have new material in your mental library to draw from when you are creating your works. Get out there and live, and let your life inspire you.”
Hamlatul Arsy is currently working on her own short film as well as a solo art exhibition titled; The Hidden Princess.
