Who are you and where are you from?
My name is Kristian Levin. Professional retouch artist and photographer, turned 3D artist. Working out of Copenhagen, Denmark. With plus 15 years of experience.
A couple of years ago, I turned my attention to the world of 3D, and never looked back. All my experience form the latter 2 fields of work, translated seamlessly into the 3D workflow and a whole new world opened to me.
A world where I could create anything effortless, and was literally able to control the sun! I now work fluently within and across my 3 areas of expertise, to create, explore and improve.
NFT Culture
Halo
What did you pursue before art?
I’ve had many other jobs They were mainly in my teens, and early 20s when I first moved to Copenhagen. Like I was an electrician for two weeks at one point, street salesman, check out in a store the list goes on. I’ve done a lot of shit in short spans of time.
When I moved to Copenhagen, I moved there to study Japanese at Copenhagen Business school. This clearly didn’t workout for me and I realized that I’d rather play around with Photoshop than practice my Kanji.
Tell us about what kind of art you are making?
I make 3D based art, with emphasis on an exploration of architecture, art history and the radical movement of fabrics suspended in weightlessness. And storytelling.
How did you got introduced to the nft world?
I got into crypto back in 2016, and loved everything about it. I actually pondered the idea of photography/art provenance on the blockchain back then, without having any conception about NFTs.
When I first discovered NFTs in the summer of 2020, there was no doubt in my mind that I had to become a part of this space. And here we are…
Leviathan
Ark of forbearance and anger, derelict
Night of the brute, antarctic outlander,
Nearing or passing me – an ice-field of cloth
Displacing the darkness – one day
I shall enter your walls, I shall rear
On the sunken marine of your winter, your armory.
Gun Ana
A thin line curves the fabric of
existence. alignment. She who
brings life, stands tall at the fourth
prime. Everything else, beneath her
Without her candescence, all flesh
would perish.
What inspires you about art? Who are your artistic influencers?
Photographers are a big inspiration:
- Mario Testino
- Henrik Bülow
- Trine Søndergaard
- Blaise Reuterswärd
- Hiroshi Sugimoto
- Ansel Adams
- Annie Leibovitz
- and a 100 more.
They’ve always been a big part of my life, and they bring so much inspiration.
I am very influenced by the Dadaists and surrealists of art history:
- Magritte
- Miró
- Dalie
The great masters:
- Giotto
- Botticelli
- Leonardo
- Raphael
- … all the turtles.
The Painters of Baroque are also a huge influence on me:
- Rembrandt
- P.S. Krøyer
- Carl Locher
All these are where I draw my inspiration for themes, lighting and compositions.
Architecture is a huge influence in most of my work, I can only name very few architects, but I love looking at it and doing deep dives into the different genres and styles.
Brutalism being a favorite of mine.
There’s of course loads in the NFT/Creative space, like so many that I could go one forever and new ones are popping up everyday! You all inspire me!
What are your favorite pieces and why?
It’s got to be Devéloppé. The whole history and journey with that one is just special to me.
It’s an exploration of Edgar Degas’s paintings, with the individuals (girls) left out.
This piece was done to emphasize the interchangeable nature of a Ballet.
Ballet is a piece of art that’s evolving, and standing the trials of time.It’s an artform where the performer is replaceable.
Hence why there are no ballerinas. The swan lake does not need a particular dancer or group of dancers, they are just the medium of communication.
The story never changes, the art never changes, but the people performing it dose
The lighting is a combined inspiration of the works of photographer Trine Søndergaard, and painter Vilhelm Hammershøi.
Mirrors being mirrors, breaking reality creating a duality, a natural uncertainty by their presence. Giving off an unreal feeling of what is real and what is not.
Tell us about what kind of art you are making?
I make 3D based art, with emphasis on an exploration of architecture, art history and the radical movement of fabrics suspended in weightlessness. And storytelling.
How did you got introduced to the nft world?
I got into crypto back in 2016, and loved everything about it. I actually pondered the idea of photography/art provenance on the blockchain back then, without having any conception about NFTs.
When I first discovered NFTs in the summer of 2020, there was no doubt in my mind that I had to become a part of this space. And here we are…
How do you make your art?
Honestly I just sit down and work, my pieces take a lot of time and my process is slow. So new ideas for other works rise constantly. Some of them I’ll write down, others just stick and won’t leave again. I really can’t remember the last time I didn’t know what to start on.
My Process:
I use a ton of pinterest boards, Models everything in Cinema 4D, and do the simulations in houdini. I render, texture and light using Octane Render. Do post in either Photoshop or davinci resolve. (plus a dusin other supportive programs and plugins)
What advice would you give to other artists starting out?
Community
Consistency
Curiosity
Speak to everyone you can, do not be shy about it. Most of the NFT space is taking place on twitter and Discord, platforms that are made for talking and interacting.
If people don’t want to talk and interact, they are doing it wrong!
I’ve never turned anyone down, who has reached out,and some of the interactions I’ve had because of that. Is what I cherish the most in this space. Many of these people have become my good friends, and are the reason why I am where I am today.
NFTs are not easy… NFTs are really fucking hard work!
If you entered the NFTs space, you just became your own brand, whether you like it or not… You have to market your art. You have to sell your art. You have to make the hard decisions. You have to choose your strategy. You have to determine your price, and you have to build a community and a brand around yourself.
Source NFT CULTURE
