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Born Farizwan Fajari, Speak Cryptic is known for his interactive performance art and graffiti-inspired work. The 42-year-old has exhibited in museums and galleries from Paris to Venice, Yokohama, and more.
His journey to become an NFT innovator in Singapore’s art community began at age 14 when he enrolled in LASALLE College of the Arts. During a 2005 street campaign called Speak in Cryptic, based on works centered around censorship, his fellow artists branded him with the stage name Speak Cryptic. The name has remained, as have his street art origins. “I approach everything with a street artist mentality,” he says.
He also draws inspiration from finding the profound in the simple. “I’m just inspired by daily life - stuff I read and listen to. Sometimes there’s a song that reminds me of a memory, which conjures up an image, and I’ll base my work on that. My works are visual narratives, usually a snapshot of an instant or a moment,” he explains.
“Recently, my works are based on meditations on certain things, events, and feelings. The process has changed over the past couple of months from a measured approach to an automatic one.”
Speak describes himself as “a Singaporean Malay of Boyanese descent who was brought up on a healthy dose of punk rock.” All these elements are prevalent in his work. In Malay culture, the Boyanese are depicted as powerful sorcerers. In Speak’s work, they are depicted repeatedly as black and white, woodcut illustrations of fiendish imps.
Street and performance art are associated with rebellion against the art world’s often elitist ecosystem of established galleries and museums, so the leap into NFTs as a platform for art seems like a natural progression.
In 2020, at almost 40 years of age, Speak was planning to slow down. A year later, he minted his first NFT on the Tezos blockchain and sold it in one day. He is now considered a pioneer in the Singapore NFT art scene. Of his decision to cancel early retirement, he says, “I’ve been really lucky to showcase my work in different mediums in Singapore and other parts of the world. When I first heard of NFTs, I thought it was another opportunity to show my art to more people, so I decided to give it a shot.”
Like mastering painting and drawing, there was a learning curve. “I had heard about crypto and the blockchain but had no idea what it was really about. It’s different for everyone, but I learn better by doing. Having conversations with people also helped a lot. I’ve been lucky to have met some amazing people who have been generous with their knowledge.”
Weight #05 from ‘The Weight of Water’ series on Objkt.com
“Tezos, to me, is punk rock and that’s what I liked about it. From the start, Tezos has been a place for collaboration and experimentation. And because it runs on Proof of Stake, it’s more accessible and affordable to not only mint works but also collect them.”
The Tezos blockchain’s relatively low energy use compared to other blockchains appeals to aspiring digital artists for several reasons. It is cheaper, artists are conscious of reducing their environmental impact, and it’s also becoming increasingly important to demonstrate sustainable minting to potential buyers. “That played a huge role in my decision,” he says.
Another drawcard was the increasing social commentary around the potential of NFTs to empower artists to make a living, reach more consumers, and bypass traditional channels.
“The Tezos blockchain was the first blockchain for many who wanted to give NFTs a go. I’ve seen more people leaving their jobs to pursue art in the last year than ever before, and it’s amazing,” he says. “The potential of NFTs to solve the issue of the provenance of an artwork is something else to be excited about.”
For now, NFTs command the bulk of his attention, but Speak is not ready to turn his back on the traditional mechanisms of the artist/gallery owner relationship. “Sure (NFTs) can bypass existing traditional channels and their gatekeepers, but we need to recognize that traditional galleries are often a good thing. Having a gallery represent an artist has proven beneficial for both parties,” he explains.
“Art critics and writers have played an important role in shaping culture and thought. So I think there’s room for everyone in the NFT space.”
In December 2021, Speak Cryptic’s ‘The Weight of Water’ exhibition opened simultaneously in Paris and Singapore, with the Singapore edition taking place in the artist’s studio on a by-appointment basis due to COVID-19 measures and the Paris exhibition taking place at Bulles en Tête - a joint effort by Spaceless Gallery and Chan + Hori Contemporary. Sponsored by Tezos, the collection included 34 ink on paper works – and in a harmonious coupling of traditional and ultramodern – 6 NFT artworks.
Weight #02 from ‘The Weight of Water’ series on Objkt.com
For other artists considering dabbling in selling NFTs, he advises, “At this point, NFTs are an evolution, not a revolution. It’s an added experience. NFTs are for everyone, but not everyone should be doing NFTs. If you are curious, and it makes sense to you, then for sure, proceed (but with caution). But if you are not into it, that’s fine as well. We should always continue to have these conversations with the intent of wanting to learn and be better.”
