Origin is where it all begins. The dragonfly is a symbol of change, transformation and self-realization. It was important for me to have a recognizable emblem that could embody the spirit of this collection and also symbolize it as a whole. It is a guiding figure helping the character through the different stages of his life as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery and growth. 

I want to thank Dexamol, a wonderful artist and friend of mine, who modeled the dragonfly for this project. I owe a lot to him because of how important that symbol is to the entire series.

Origin is a collaborative piece we’ve created together to showcase his contribution to the project.

Dawn symbolizes this innocence that inhabits us as children. There is something pure and simple about that state. It’s an era of discovery where everything is new, the beginning of an odyssey into a world we barely know about yet. It’s about being thrown into this world without knowing what our purpose truly is.

Limbo is inspired by the feeling of being lost and out of place. It relates to this moment in time where I was trying to find my purpose or a deeper meaning to my life. When I was younger, up until my early twenties, I don’t think I have ever known what I wanted to do later in life. Whenever I was asked about it, I would make up an answer and somehow persuade myself that it was what I wanted. 

I feel like this behavior I had led me to initially pursue a path that wasn’t for me. Spending most of my education in the field of sciences, I ended up enrolling in a bachelor degree in electrical engineering. I considered myself somewhat of a creative person, and I was doing great academically so I didn’t give it too much thought. I quickly understood that I didn’t belong there, that my place was somewhere else. I felt bewildered; I found no enjoyment at all in what I was learning. In parallel though, I began to have a growing interest in the visual arts, which I actually enjoyed. This was the turning point that led me to leave my engineering degree. Art would give me this sense of fulfilment I sought for the longest time. It came into my life in the most unexpected way, but has changed it for the better.

Alter is about finding the inner courage to embrace change in order to move forward and be one step closer to discovering your true self. 

After I chose to leave my engineering studies, I took a risk. I decided to trust my gut and went on to study graphic design instead, all the while working on my personal artistic project that was burgeoning. I felt like it was right, and I honestly never looked back on this decision. The following years were the best of my life. I had the chance to evolve as an artist and improve my craft. During that time, I met so many amazing people, and was given opportunities I never could have imagined a few years earlier. 

This visual represents the past few years that have gone by since I found what gave a purpose to my life, up until now. So much has changed since then. I never thought I’d be doing this as a career and I’m eternally grateful for it.

Eras is the final piece of the series. It represents where I am right now in my life. A page has been turned, and although I don’t have all the answers to my questions yet, I am ready for the next chapter. This state is not definitive, it will still shift over time, hence why I wanted to create a piece that could reflect that. An ever-changing creation I will come back to and revisit as I move forward with my life. This is a piece that can become a journal where I can reflect upon my thoughts, re-evaluate myself as well as establish what has changed in my life and what I want to share with others. Therefore, the metadata of the visual associated with the NFT will be updated with every iteration, which means the piece will change as time goes by.

Up for auction at https://gallery.manifold.xyz/eras

This mask is also a symbol from the series that represents the idea of change. The character's true self is hidden behind this mask that evolves through each of the pieces. We no longer need a mask the moment we truly accept ourselves and embrace change for what it is.

Eras Experience is an Unreal gallery that presents the pieces from the series “Eras” in an immersive environment based on the piece “Limbo”. Huge thanks to Justin Wetch who made it possible for me to bring this idea to life.

Visit this link to enjoy the experience.