UNDRGRND DIGS 058
JANUARY 17TH, 2023
5 Artists From the UNDRGRND Collection
UNDRGRND DIGS is a periodical feature showcasing artists that the UNDRGRND curators dig. We sift through the social media and NFT platforms to find the best artists waiting to be discovered. UNDRGRND believes in the artists we feature and we will purchase NFTs from each artist featured.
The nude form has never been more bizarre than when it is of a plastic action figure: the bizarre proportions (male or female) and the flat nether regions never feel human. Yasin Aribugo finds a way to make this more bizarre with their character Juje. Dancing, jumping through the screen, dreaming, or doing gymnastics Juje is funny and unsettling at the same time. Yasin Aribugo’s art is the spiritual sibling of previously UNDRGRND featured artists like DAVIDVNUN. A collab between the two would be seamless with Yasin’s other character: a genderless clay-like person put into David Lynchian dreams. Even if you want to (we doubt you would) you won't be able to forget Yasin's work.
The export of Indonesian culture is spreading thanks to artists like Rivaldo Pramana. Deeply influenced by ‘90s comic styles, Rivaldo's art fits into the colorful portrait being painted by other Indonesian artists making a name for themselves. Their art provides a window into religion, music and family dynamics previously unknown to many in the western world. Rivaldo also provides social commentary on the crypto world (Ritual) that artists find themselves immersed in, blending cultures with culture.
Creative coder and generative artist Dogan Demir has done some truly interesting things with his generative art series Multipurpose Circuits. Dogan collaborated with more recognized NFT artists, David Bianchi and PLS&TY, on an Async piece titled Senses and holds his own in skill and talent. You can see this talent pm display in Glazed Coralines. The palpable texture of each piece is either a pristine porcelain or a glob of goo left by some organism. It’s only a matter of time before more people begin to take notice of Dogan Demir.
A friend of a friend we wish we met sooner. Isa Panic Monsta creates cartoon worlds based on their life, mythology or music. We often talk about how animated scenes provide an easily digestible way to convey deeper concepts and Isa continues to prove this concept throughout their work. Their Memory Card series creates characters with rich backstories that leave you wanting more. The most poignant pieces may be the pieces that appear to be something of a self-portrait, of a girl who loves to live in these fantasy worlds they create. A bold, brave girl that knows no limits in terms of imagination that proves again and again that women belong in the crypto art world.
Abusalam is answering the tired question of “Why would you pay for a jpeg?” by showing our human desire throughout history to collect. In his Layered Series: The Collections he combines pieces of art history with modern collectibles and bizarre meme-quality items (e.g., wacky inflatable arm-waving tube man). Abusalam proves that no matter the time or place in our human history, we repeat the desire again and again of collecting things that help us define ourselves. So to any skeptic that may still not understand why we choose to partake in the NFT world, even after multiple announcements of ‘NFTs Are Dead’, simply show them the work of Abusalam and walk away.
