CRYPTOARTIST : NELLY BAKSHT

This interview shall launch a serie of interviews playing with the theme "Evolution of Art". IWAproject shall proudly present exclusive interviews of artists, developers and visionaries, and share their stories. In this first part we shall introduce crypto-artist Nelly Baksht.
Nelly Baksht is a Russian born artist, living currently in Toronto. After graduating from Tomsk University in Russia, she was a successful corporate lawyer for many years, but still recalled her longing for art and left her law practice to follow her dream - and in 2008 she graduated from art college with a degree in Graphic Design.

Nelly Baksht has delighted the art-world in many ways by her wonderful paintings, that speak the language of their own. Her works has been presented in many blockchain summits & conferences and auctioned in different events and for art collectors there are many ways to reach art from Nelly, from original paintings to limited edition prints and NFT-collectibles.
Her works can be found in private collections all around the world: Europe, Middle East, Australia, U.S, and Canada.

So let's begin with the questions..

You are born in Russia, Tomsk. How was your family then?

I would say I was raised in a very ordinary family - my parents and older brother - but the fact that my brother was an actor at a local theatre and punk rock musician made it all different. This made a great impact - regular theater performance, "closed" premieres, punc music instead of children songs (while parents were not at joe, of course).

I have been drawing since I remember myself. So once the opportunity arose I applied to youth art school. I was 7 years old then. There was a competitive admission but luckily I passed all the tests. That course lasted for 8 years. For my parents whose occupation was pretty far from any art I think it was a big surprise to have kids into art but they supported me as they could - they bought beautiful books about art, went with me to museums, exhibitions and galleries.

Do you remember your first steps toward painting and art? And did you have some in your family or maybe teacher or some that have given you inspiration and motivation to practice?

It may sound strange but the most important source of inspiration that changed me was a book. Not a book about old master or Louvre or Dresden gallery but a book about how Marvel comics were created. It was a very rare book, especially in Siberia! There were hundreds of illustrations of different characters' poses with description on how and why they should be drawn in a particular way. I did not own that book - it belonged to my cousin who lived in another city. In order to get it I had no choice but re-draw it! It took me several weeks during summer break at school. I was 11 years old.

You studied art and life then guided you through academic life and lawyer studies and work. This surely gave you lot's of perspective. And again you made a decision to return to art. How did this actually happen and what gave you courage to make that jump?

After graduation from university I dedicated myself to law practice. Diploma with honor gave me a good theoretical foundation but I needed to learn so much in real practiсe. I literally had zero time for art those days. Few years later when my law career became more or less stable I got a feeling that I was missing art a lot! And I realized that my passion for art was the same as law or maybe even stronger. So I decided to pursue both and graduated from art college with a degree in Graphic Design.

I see there is lot's of hope and calm faith in many of your artworks and also certain lightness, also represented by colors. Also joy and togetherness is presented there, like in "The three crypto gracies". Surely all this is very natural to present after leaving work as a lawyer and starting life of an artists, and goes in your works so perfectly well indeed, so would you share something more about this? Where comes the calmness of ethEra? And the beautiful shades of blue in many of your paintings? Where this all arises? ( like you told HardFork interview, you have different message ; beauty genesis instead of scary apocalypse.)

I like harmony, you know. Harmony brings a feeling of happiness to all things alive. And the opposite - the lack of harmony creates fear and uncertainty. Every artist in the world has their own message. Someone tells about the beauty of nature, someone tells about the past, some about human sins, some trying to break stereotypes... I personally want to show that harmony does exist and it is beautiful. It even exists in something pretty disruptive like cutting edge blockchain technology. Blue is the color of creation. Peaceful? Maybe this is what people can find in art and what I am missing as a holecric.

I personally love 'ethEra'ry much-figure myself. Of course also others like "The three CryptoGazes". Would you share more of the birth of this artwork? How just these three came along? And who came with the dog? Lol.

"The three CryptoGazes" is like a time link - arising from Ancient times it brings us to the future via the present. An Image known for centuries once again reminds us that humans do not change much. But the world and human role in it do change a lot. And human abilities nowadays are bigger than ever!

Which is the most beloved artwork for yourself? Can be also outside the crypto-scene for you surely have many artworks, beside those blockchain-related.

If we are talking about crypto art then it is definitely "ethEra". This is how it all started. The concept of ethEra formed so fast in my mind, and I painted it so easily. Such a nice start for the entire "ethEra" series.

Do you have in mind to create and share something beside blockchain-tech. in close future?

Absolutely, and happy to present my very new work - "Hope".

You paint oil on canvas and you have this 'Genesis-Egg' also? How is your painting? Can you describe shortly your painting and techniques..?

I work in traditional technique - oil on canvas. Sometimes I use gold and modeling paste. The combination of traditional technique and modern materials guarantee a long life for my artworks unlike some fancy techniques. I am very interested in sculpture and have practiced quite a bit with clay but getting stuff in bronze is still my dream.

And before end..

Would you like to share three artists you follow?

Those are my three most favorite artists that I follow at Instagram: Roberto Ferri, Gabriel Moreno and ... Van Gogh

And three interesting channels/websites/etc. you would like to share with us.. can be your hobby.. or some beloved things.. you can decide

I would share those virtual museums - so easy to go and enjoy - https://vangoghmuseum.nl/en  https://www.khm.at/en/objectdb/  https://www.louvre.fr/en/selections

And the last for now..

Which was your very-very first crypto-artwork? I mean even from those not published.. Ethereum? BTC? or maybe some other.....


ethEra was the very first one. I think it is pretty symbolic - there was no creative concept research - it just appeared in my imagination by itself.

Hope you all enjoyed these little insights and details shared by wonderful Nelly Baksht. More exclusive interviews coming this spring. In the next part IWAproject shall present to you Nanu Berks, multidimensional artist, healer, musician and much more.. STAY TUNED !!!

Bless.