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S I N G U L A R I T Y
_ P A P E R S P A C E X T H Y L E O N D
[Singularity] is a piece that speaks about the rapid pace of technological advancements in today's day and age. Yet in this digital race, people sometimes lose themselves in this singularity.
Displaced, disrupted and lost; digitally, physically & psychologically. There is an increasing phenomenon and danger in which we are able lose ourselves and get left behind, willingly or not - into a liminal space between reality and irreality. What is real no longer matters - instead what feels real becomes the new reality.
Yet, with new dangers also comes new opportunities. What lies at the edge of this new age? What doors will it open? There is a new eagerness, a new energy to, a new desire to explore the unknown.
Evolution is coming and it's inevitable.
So what will it be?
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A r t i s t f e a t u r e :
Leon is an artist with background in paintings, mainly in the surrealist style. His works revolve and oscillate around both styles old and new, and his recent venture into Web3 introduced new forms of work that are both whimsical and otherworldly. His pieces are sculptural, bold, playful and colorful - yet they are thought-provoking. The use of texture, materials and his strong sense of composition makes his artistic style visually identifiable and recognizable in the space.
My name is Mohamed Alaabar , I have been practicing visual creative work under the name Leon D. since 2008. I started my journey making art in the lowbrow and pop art genre and now I merge everything with a touch of surrealism and minimalism and abstract.
Q1: Please introduce yourself!
Q2: Let's talk aboult art - and what do you hope to express or manifest in this collaborative piece with Paper?
In our collaboration I tried to focus on certain elements, such as, beauty, confidence and flamboyance. That was done by making a forward looking model with her tech, modestly layered clothing. Creating this art piece was a process that stemmed from an idea of celebrating contemporary topics in the metaverse space, technology and elegance. I enjoyed the process and discussion with @paperspace, with his open mindedness and direction , we found a common ground and inspiration from subculture movements and retro media to generate this art piece
I was introduced to art in web3 through NFTs, around 3 years ago . I always wanted to create digital artwork with value. I consider myself a traditional artist focused mainly on producing physical work. That digital space brought me more than financial value, I am blessed to meet creatives who I learned from , connected and worked with.
Q3: Please tell us more about your journey into art, Web3 and the NFT space!
The Dreamer, 3D Animation 2023
Q4: You produce interesting and intriguing works; do share more on what inspired your art and how it has evolved over time.
Art is a great medium that allows me to self reflect. Whether these expressions are physical or metaphysical, my choice of medium and methods are changing and evolving.
Jala, 3D Animation, 2023
Q5: Besides art, anything at all you'd like to share more about your personal journey / life.
I am a full-time fire engineer and firefighter. Ever since I was a kid I loved art and practiced it. Working with both sides of the brain helps me learn from every single opportunity, connect with others and generate meaningful multi-layered work with extensive depth.
Q6: How do you think artists can move forward in this space, e.g. through collaborations? Any advice for those new to this space?
I believe the space is filled with talented people , who never had the opportunity to explore their potentials. There are a lot of examples of artists tackling the mundane through repetitive works doing portraits or simple cartoons. Perhaps, they were not met with constructive criticism. I find a lot of people complimenting each other in spaces and introducing each other to collectors rather than build and direct .
A person like myself, showing artworks in exhibitions and public spaces ,would probably be subjected to constructive comments, directions, art programs and rejections. These helped me to become the artist I am today.
How To Wake Up, 3055 x 2023 pixels, 2022
Q7: Any thoughts or expectations of the future in the NFT, or Web3 space in the coming years? Anything you like to see yourself achieve?
I am looking to utilize this space to reward my collectors with physical artworks, eventually. This plan should bridge my use of Web3 and the material world. I believe that I had a successful attempt through my collection “Digital Ceramics“. Art pieces allow their owners to download an Obj version of the artworks.
Eventually, we will have the technology to conveniently print these artworks in 3d as sculptures.
Q8: Closing statement: Anything at all!
I hope that people become inspired by the artwork and stories we create. I wish for an everlasting drive to generate work, explore the potential of this space and enrich people's lives with inspiring work.