Grant Yun's exclusive limited edition titled "A Bright Spring Day", part of his "Life in Japan" series is dropping today at 6pm Eastern Time on Exchange Art.
In anticipation of his long-awaited Solana debut, we sat with the Neo-Precisionist maestro to discuss his story, process, and what motivated him to try Solana.
‘THE ORIGIN’
What can you tell us about yourself?
Art has always been a part of my life since I was a child. I have always thought of my art as a way to be the mediator of conversation.
The art helps start a conversation between viewers or between myself and
the viewer.
How and why did you get into crypto art?
As an artist, I really became more serious about my practice about 10 years ago when I began doing digital work. I had a vision for my work to help shape the narrative of digital art and fine art; however, at the time, there were no easy ways to do this.
While it may still not be easy, the digital art scene in web3 has provided an avenue to help elevate my career in ways I could not have imagined
before.
The journey to Web3 began with a true leap of faith. The same week I first got into NFTs, I fell victim to a phishing scam. Days after I had all my funds drained, I got word I was accepted to SuperRare. I decided to use all my remaining money in my bank account to mint my first token, as it cost over $200 at the time to mint due to gas.
The road to where I am today was not the easiest and there never was a moment of monumental success for myself. It has always been a slow
yet dedicated climb from my initial 0.4ETH sale to the sales that have happened in recent years.
To me the single most important part about NFTs has been the digital immutable provenance. As a digital artist I have always wanted to create work that was scarce, that people could uniquely own, and NFTs provided that answer I was looking for.
‘THE PROCESS’
What's your process of creation? Is this series a departure from any typical processes?
- My process often starts with a vision in my mind. I work mostly in unique themes and so for this particular piece it is part of my “Life In Japan” series that spans both 1/1s and editions on ETH… and now editions on SOL.
I do not follow a specific set of rules most of the time; it is most often just a “vibe check” to see if I like where pieces are falling in my work, if the colors start to work together, etc.
How does "Life in Japan" connect with your broader artistic journey?
- It's a look back at some of the early memories I had living partly in Korea and visiting Japan frequently.
It is a very personal series as I explore not only these, memories but also many of my other inspirations such as my love for video games as a child.
This body of work has helped me push through and find more vulnerable ways to share my vision in art and I hope that the viewers can appreciate the time and thought that has gone into work on this series over time.
However, I always leave the interpretation of the work itself up to the viewer. Personally, it is just a candid moment that I tried to capture.
‘THE ECOSYSTEM’
Many find this space challenging. How do you approach your relationship with the crypto art community?
- Networking is no different in crypto art communities as it is in any other industry. I think building relationships, learning from each other, and critiquing each other are all important and imperative things that are needed by artists to succeed.
There's no step-by-step playbook, of course, but it is great to meet and learn about the artist behind the works of art you see on your phone.
Building IRL relationships of course only amplifies these ideas. Studio tours, networking in-person, etc. have all helped shape my own practice and approach.
Speaking of community, how do you see Solana within the larger NFT community,will and what motivated you to explore it?
- As a lurker I have been watching SOL and Exchange Art from the sidelines for a long time now and it's been a few years since Exchange and I first started talking.
Personally, I wanted to see that there was a robust Solana art community prior to dropping there and to say the least, from the past several years it has become clear that there is a tightly knit group of collectors and artists actively contributing to the space.
On the other hand, especially given all that has happened these past few years, it is clear to me that Exchange Art is one of the leading platforms for art on Solana, and that it is not only future-focused but also artist-focused.
Beyond what platforms can do for artists today or what they’ve done for artists in the past, it is important to see what platforms will do for artists in the future.
It is not only reassuring for myself as an artist but this is also encouraging me to explore more.
‘THE FUTURE’
- Before we wrap this up, what does the future look like?
I think NFTs and Fine Art will meet at a niche intersection, at least this is how I see it to happen at least for the immediate future. However each month I see the hard work and successes individuals and organizations are making in the world of NFTs.
Some of the smartest and most well-connected people I know are here
in space with us. I think the future of NFTs as a form of art is bright. This doesn’t necessarily mean everyone will make it, I surely don’t think I am guaranteed a spot at “making it.”
What it does mean, however, is that each of us has an opportunity to make our mark, and that is what I am focused on today.
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