You’ve described your latest NFT collection, ‘Colon Parenthesis’, as one that explores the human need to express emotion in its simplest forms. Could you tell us a bit more about your inspiration for this collection?

This series of work began as a playful note on how we leverage simple glyphs, such as a colon and parenthesis, to evoke and communicate various emotions to each other virtually. Given how Web3’s community mainly gathers online, due to the pandemic, I felt sharing this series as an NFT collection was perfectly fitting.

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The use of distorted glyphs (‘smiley faces’) in your work to interrogate how we express emotion evokes thoughts about early digital communication (before the yellow smiley face there was the colon and parenthesis) and how a simple symbol can convey so much. Why do you think signs and symbols are so powerful in how we communicate emotions today?    

Given so much of our communication lives online - through texts, emails, tweets - the ability to swiftly and simply evoke an emotion or expression digitally has quickly become a part of our daily lives.

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You were a ‘traditional’ artist before you made the foray into the NFT space. What promise do you think this space holds, not just for artists, but for society?

My hope for Web3 is that it democratises not only art, but other currently centralised systems society has in place. We are beginning to see it within art, and I can’t wait for that trajectory to continue.

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As a female artist, do you have any concerns about representation in the Metaverse? How should we confront those challenges as leaders and participants in these emerging digital realities?

Given the Metaverse is built by society, which historically has marginalised women, my concerns are indeed present; with that said, it is quite a hopeful feeling to see folks across genders be thoughtful in how we can shift this new world to be equal and equitable for those who have previously and currently been disadvantaged in our current systems.

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In your opinion, how do you think brands should engage in the NFT space?

L’Oréal was a perfect example; not only did they pay each artist upfront to make the work, each artist also kept primary sales of the piece (with secondary sales going towards a foundation). Moreover, they gave us the lead in the brief - allowing each artist to interpret “Reds of Worth” as we saw fit. I’m excited for other brands to do the same!