"I think what led me to become an artist is the freedom, being free to express myself and to live life as I see fit… My brother… passed away very young. But his passion to live and create… will always push me forward."
"As an artist, I hope that NFTs will bring a renaissance to the art world. In this contemporary age, many artists are being lost to history and NFTs are shining a light on these amazingly talented people. I hope NFTs will bring the enjoyment of owning the original works."
As human interaction transitions from the physical world to the screen in our pocket, and ultimately to our senses in a 3d environment, perhaps no one can better capture our imaginations and the possibilities that the future holds than the artists in the NFT space. One of the most iconic is Cassiopeus.
Unafraid to experiment with technology and dig deep into his soul, the artist Cassiopeus weaves pixel-perfect images of what could have been one of Philip K. Dick’s sweetest daydreams. With a melancholic heart and a keen eye for apparel design, Cassiopeus presents us with a dark, sensual, and surreal future where humans and machines have finally merged. In his bold retro-punk expressions it’s interesting to observe that humans have not hidden the technology beneath the surface but have adopted it as part of their identity. Perhaps this all-too timely vision beautifully highlights our current embrace with technology and an uncertain future.
What name do you go by?
Cassiopeus, similar to Cassiopea but the male version of the name.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to become an artist.
I’m a 30-year-old artist from Central Europe, mainly focusing on digital 3D and new media art. My first big project is titled Bio_Machina. This collection is portraying a surreal fashion-like beauty from the possible future.
I started making art when I was like 8. I was making comics on those little school notebooks. Later, I went to a film academy in the Czech Republic where I graduated as a live-action film director.
I thought that it would fulfill me, but it didn’t, so I started learning Blender and found a passion for making digital art. I love delving into the dystopic future where humans and machines are merging into one functional organism.
I think what led me to become an artist is the freedom, being free to express myself and to live life as I see fit, not being chained by some “boss”.
What in your personal history has influenced your work the most?
My friends, my family — mainly my brother who passed away very young. But his passion to live and create, as he was a music producer, will always push me forward.
How did you come up with your specific style?
This one is very hard to answer because it didn’t happen overnight. I think it came to me naturally. Like I said my love for cyberpunk and sci-fi genres influenced me a lot, but I remember one time I was looking at Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and thought to myself, “how would she look with a retro styled helmet made from old radios and CRT TVs?” I think this was one of the moments that defined my style.
What do you think makes your work unique? How intentional are these choices when you’re creating?
This is a hard question because I think every artwork is unique. I think it’s up to people to say if my work is unique or not. But if I have to answer I would say many combinations of different styles and moods, surrealism, retro, and cyberpunk combined with classical portrait painting-like poses.
When it comes to what is intentional in my work, that’s also hard to answer because most of the time I don’t have a concept of what it will be.
Why did you first start experimenting with NFTs and what was the experience like for you?
I started in 2020. I think it was in November. I learned about NFTs thanks to artists I follow on Instagram. Saw them posting about this new way of exposing artwork and tried it. My first, let’s call it a “test work” was minted in February and real artwork on April 10th.
The experience, at first, was very confusing, but when I started to get to know the community It became a smoother experience. Now I think it’s the best way for artists to not only sell art but to gain global exposure.
What do you think are the greatest benefits of NFT technology? What do you hope NFTs will change about the future?
For artists — exposition, growth, experimentation and financial stability. For collectors definitely ownership, authenticity, opportunity and also growth.
As an artist, I hope that NFTs will bring a renaissance to the art world. In this contemporary age, many artists are being lost to history and NFTs are shining a light on these amazingly talented people. I hope NFTs will bring the enjoyment of owning the original works.
Is there another technology that you harness in your work and/or are excited about?
Definitely, right now I’m looking at possibilities of virtual reality.
Do you have any other passions besides art?
Video games, movies, activism, walking, and hanging out with friends.
Do you remember an early experience when a piece of art really affected you? Does any of that experience influence you today?
There are a lot of things that still inspire me today — mainly works from contemporary artists. In the past, it was mostly movies like Blade Runner, Matrix, Alien, and Holy Mountain that inspired me. I really loved pop culture as well as old sci-fi, and cyberpunk novels. I was also very lucky to be born after the Soviet Union dissolved as my country was part of the union. So yeah, I was lucky.
What artist or artists have had the greatest influence on your work?
I don’t have specific artists that I can point out that were influential to me, but I can tell you which one I truly enjoy. Hieronymus Bosch, Vermeer, Yves Tanguy, René Magritte, Warhol, Basquiat, H.R. Giger, Brancusi, and many more.
If you could go back to any moment from your life and relive it, what would it be and why?
I guess I would love to go back to any moment in my childhood, those were the good times.
What do you hope your art accomplishes?
I hope my art brings people joy as it does to me when I’m making it.
Do you have any upcoming drops?
I don’t have any upcoming drops at the moment, but my latest works on SuperRare represent my current artistic status quo. Every artwork there was crafted with care for detail and joy. They also represent my journey as an artist that’s ever-changing.
Check out more of Cassiopeus’ work on his SuperRare and artist website:
Keep up to date with the latest from Cassiopeus here:
Interview edited for length and clarity.