DESIGNING AN NFT FOR REAL ESTATE SALES
NFT versus Real Estate
The intersection of the virtual world with the real world seems to be a popular topic in the coming years. NFT (non fungabile token), which has found its place in the Metaverse and has increasing interest to resolve, was used this time for a real estate sale. For the first time in the world, NFT was designed by artist Kii Arens for an ordinary real estate project in California, USA. The person who buys the NFT, which is offered for sale by auction, will also be the owner of this house.
Award-winning artist Kii Arens, one of Los Angeles' most trusted and influential figures, describes herself as a critical driver in the creation of modern pop culture. He is a contemporary American pop artist, graphic designer, photographer, director and musician. Kii, whose personal work has appeared in art galleries around the world, was never formally educated. He grew up with a fascination with album covers and vintage logos and has created over 500 works for artists like Dolly Parton, The Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Radiohead, Paul McCartney, Kacey Musgraves, Bernie. His recently directed music video for Elton John was featured prominently on the 2020 Oscar Awards.
We discussed with Kii Arens this project, and his design approach.
Selin Uysal
You are a very versatile person. An artist, graphic designer, director, musician, photographer. How everything started?
Kii Arens
I was born in 1967 and grew up watching the music and the bands acts, that’s why my obsession with music was became unrivaled. My brother has a group band name Flipp. I loved to take time with his group. One day, at end of their spontaneous jam, they decided to release an album. I made their album cover first.
Then I started to a random job as the hotel coordinator during the Woodstock '94 festival. They brought in the artwork as the merchandise, it was all this tie dye stuff. This generation would not be buying your tie-dye products. I raised my concerns with what I saw as an overly nostalgic festival look. They asked me alternative options. I didn't really have an idea, but right on the spot, I just said “I'll bring an option for you.” They gave me just one day to do that. And I decided to work with sunflowers. I put the sunflower in the scanner and showed up the next day with the artwork. Then they told me I shouldn't deal with the hotel management anymore, I should “just do the artwork”. Later, a newspaper from my hometown did a story on how that all happened. Thanks to news, I got approached by some other people who doing artwork, and I never looked back. They invited me attend meetings about the festival's design direction, then I became the designer for Woodstock 99.
Selin Uysal
You are an artist, but also a graphic designer, musician, director. If you would pick one of them, which one would be your favorite? Why?
Kii Arens
Of all the things that I do photography, directing, making art, and making music, singing… Art is my favorite. To conquer the idea, to create the idea, to execute, and then finally have it. When somebody wants to buy it from you and they're excited to have it on their wall, it's hard as an artist to take your best work and get rid of it and let somebody else have it, even if they're paying the right price for it. But as an artist, that's what you have to do. You have to let go of these things because that's.
NFT'S Colors are brighter than they are on canvas
Selin Uysal
Let's talk about your latest and famous NFT House in California. It is the first NFT artwork to sell that comes with a real house and I guess it is still up for auction and accepting bids. Would you tell me how the project came to you? What was your motivation when you created it?
Kii Arens
Well, when I heard that they were going to sell a house as an NFT, I was surprised! How would you do that? We wanted to take this very ordinary house and make it something beautiful. The challenge there was exciting. I saw the house. My first thought was "What will I do as a designer to create what I have to create; how do I make this thing the most beautiful that it can be?" So, I took a look at the surroundings, the cool kind of like low mountains off into the Valley on the other side the areas of Burbank and Van and took that image. There were always things flying around in the sky. So, I put a couple of things flying around in the sky and in the actual color palette itself. Now, what you are seeing is a combination of colors that, as electric as you can get. The fun thing with NFT, is when you're creating for the screen, your colors are brighter than they are on a canvas.
Selin Uysal
They didn't sell the house yet I guess?
Kii Arens
No, they haven't sold it yet. I think it's just because it's in Van is the location. They should have picked a better house for it. To me, that was the miss. If they had a better house and a better location, that people would be inclined to buy it.
Selin Uysal
Do you have any favorite NFT or NFT artist? Are you NFT collector?
Kii Arens
I have about three or four NFTs. I got to be honest. I'm not a collector. I have to create music, art, live a life, go see some comedy. I live in the art world, so my brain is always just all over the place. So, for me going in and seeking the excitement that way doesn't really get me going. No, I'm not a big NFT collector. Just trying to think of who some of my favorites are. I really couldn't tell my favorite NFT artist. I'm not a collector. I'm a maker.
Designing in an unconventional world
Selin Uysal
NFT offers opportunities for artists, and designers, as much as graphic designers. What is your opinion about NFT’s future?
Kii Arens
It's hard to predict. I think that an architect can restrict his designs by thinking about the limits of what he actually needs to physically work with. However, in a world where everything is so unconventional, designing can be more attractive. I don't know if you've ever jumped with Oculus glasses with there are no rules. I really can’t predict. Perhaps they want a little reality in a non-real world. Who knows? Our people are prepared still to hold all their art on their phones. A new generation wants it right here in their wallet. Or do they want it on their wall? Most people I think want it in their wallet. It's super undefined. It's a brand-new baby that can't even talk yet. Perhaps the boundaries of beautiful design will be better for a better person.
Selin Uysal
But you will be part of it in the future, right?
Kii Arens
Yeah. Definitely will. If it excites me, if I feel the urge to create something that falls once again into NFT, I'm sitting on a whole series of NFT pieces that I've created, but I watched the market just go.