Originally from New York, London-based artist Nygilia conjures immersive universes and characters, drawing inspiration from beloved games like Final Fantasy and Legend of Zelda. Nygilia’s deep connection to these stories empowers her to craft works that pulsate with movement and dynamics, unifying elements of cultural heritage, gaming aesthetics, traditional folklore, and symbolism. Her practice is fuelled by a commitment to representation and storytelling, drawing inspiration from cultures that embrace ideas for a greater purpose and reflecting her own Jamaican, West-Indian, German, and Italian heritage.
Image courtesy of the artist
I believe gaming, art, and culture co-exist to help progress our existence in life and evolve the importance of representation in storytelling
NYGILIA
Nygilia’s dedication to representation and storytelling is evident in her African-inspired fantasy character, Alzena, who embodies different cultural elements. Alzena, a celestial being, symbolises the empowerment of a positive Black female lead with her own magical power. This project, which began while she was studying for a Master’s Degree at Northumbria University, first appeared in her short VR film “Vanity.” As Nygilia moved into NFTs, she continued to develop Alzena, expanding her narrative and presence in the digital art world.
This summer, as part of Base’s Onchain Summer campaign, Nygilia has teamed up with NPC Labs to release an NFT honouring the USA Basketball team during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Collectors will be able to redeem their NFTs for phygital products such as jerseys and hats. Additionally, Nygilia will hold an exhibition at ArtPoint in Paris, which will be open to the public for three weeks. She is the first artist in NPC Labs’ consecutive artist collaboration drops that will run weekly.
Nygilia’s work is a vivid blend of Y2K aesthetics reminiscent of early 2000s gaming, intertwined with cultural motifs and folklore bursting with colours and textures. These qualities have propelled her to exhibit at Art Basel with Playboy and Roc Nation, which were both well received. We caught up with the artist ahead of her exhibition and collaboration with NPC Labs.
Nygilia NFT is available for minting on Zora from the 24th July, 2024 – > Mint NFT
Hi NYGILIA, thank you for speaking with us. Could you introduce yourself to those who might not be familiar with your work?
NYGILIA: Hi there! My name is Nygilia, and I am a visual artist who creates worlds based on Y2K gaming aesthetics, mixed-media, and multicultural influences. I am from New York and was raised by family members from Jamaican, West-Indian, German, and Italian backgrounds.
The people in my life inspire me to tell unique stories that immerse people in a new place. Overall, I believe gaming, art, and culture co-exist to help progress our existence in life and evolve the importance of representation in storytelling.
Your journey from basketball player to artist is fascinating. How does your background in sports influence your creative process and the themes you explore in your art?
NYGILIA: I would say that the beauty of basketball and art is that they are so unpredictable. I realized I didn’t want to live a life that was too slow or not exciting enough. I have seen people lose themselves in being too comfortable with not challenging their dreams.
For me, I always have dreams and tell myself that I can fight to be the best version of myself. I fight to build my confidence while remembering that kindness is the best energy. Sports inspire my process because I believe in the power of perspective. Creating something that feels great yet doesn’t always have a linear answer. I want viewers to dive into the surreal and enter an ethereal place. At that moment, you may have learned something you never knew or felt a feeling. I like unlocking those moments with my art and taking people on a journey.
Image courtesy of the artist
In your upcoming exhibition dedicated to the US Basketball Team, how do you plan to visually convey your passion for basketball? Are there specific elements or stories from your basketball career that you intend to highlight?
NYGILIA: In the artwork “4th Quarter”, I was inspired by myself and other Afro-Diaspora athletes who compete/have competed in the sport of basketball. When it comes to sports in America, it is very competitive and can change your life if you work hard enough at it. However, the stereotypes and mental toughness you need to have speak volumes about the experience. There are layers to this people might not get and that’s why I have the artwork animate in the way it does. Personally, I have faced all kinds of barriers ever since I was young.
One day, I made a wish and had this interview in the newspaper when I was 17. I stated that one day I would go overseas. I had to work extremely hard to get myself there and I am so glad I made it happen. That’s the vision of the 4th quarter. Anything can be done by putting your heart into the unknown. It can be confusing, and strange, but also fulfilling. You have the chance to create a life you never thought possible and I was able to do it because of basketball.
Image courtesy of the artist
Your work draws inspiration from multicultural influences. Can you share some of the cultural sources that have profoundly impacted your work and how you integrate them into your art?
NYGILIA: Yes of course! So I grew up at my grandparent’s house in the USA. Both of them are immigrants of Italian and German heritage My father’s side of the family is from Jamaica & West-Indian culture so my overall household was filled with many traditions, viewpoints, and stories. When it comes to that, I was always drawn to cultures that embrace ideas for a greater purpose. Alongside my own ethnicities, I am inspired by Asian and African cultures too.
My favorite video game is Final Fantasy because of how much Japan grew a series that elevated its history, combined with fantasy and unique character creations. When it comes to African culture overall, I like to learn about the different tribes, their folklore, and textile patterns too. There are similar visuals that, ancestry-wise, connect back to the Caribbean. For me, it’s a life-long journey of learning and growing with these important identities.
In addition, Y2K aesthetics play a significant role in your creations. What aspects of the Y2K era resonate with you, and how do you reinterpret them in your mixed-media artworks?
NYGILIA: I love retro anime like Sailor Moon and Akira. Also, being a millennial, it’s the most important era to me as it’s a nostalgia that never dies. I loved also Pokemon growing up and even video games such as Sonic Adventure, Kirby, and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. All those games, styles, types of characters, and textures all contribute to my practice inspirations with mixed-media methods. I use different tools, both fine art and tech, to help develop the world I want to reflect.
Image courtesy of the artist
You’ve mentioned, “I see life through vibrations… There is no perfect memory. Only beautiful thoughts.” How does this philosophy shape your artistic practice and the themes you explore in your work?
NYGILIA: I would say that you can’t change your mind about a memory, an idea, or an artwork created. Because at that moment, it was something that made you feel special and the action already happened. It is what it is. It’s sealed in time. That’s why I see life in vibrations. You have the right to not like something and/or walk away, but the power of the ethereal is everything in life has a purpose. Whether it stays or not, it is all part of the journey and that is the best part about being an artist. Utilize the past to inspire the future. Most importantly, to heal and grow too.
Image courtesy of the artist
Can we speak about your project ‘Confetti’ that combines AI, Touch Designer, and machine learning? What inspired you to use these technologies, and how do they contribute to the overall impact of the project?
NYGILIA: Yes, we can! So ‘Confetti’ was a fun project because I wanted to tap into the dancehall culture with a memory from childhood. I remember seeing the Jamaican film “Dancehall Queen”, which revolved around their society and music culture in the 90s. I wanted to recreate the visuals of the dancehall club scenes into disco ball aesthetics using these tech tools. It was a very experimental approach and I liked that about the collection. It’s something I can always cherish and keep the spirit alive.
This project draws inspiration from ‘Dancehall Queen’ and Final Fantasy X. Can you share with us how these sources influenced ‘Confetti’ and the cultural shifts you aim to express through it?
NYGILIA: For both “Dancehall Queen” and “Final Fantasy X”, the combined inspiration comes from the feeling and vibes they resonate. Both have positive and negative tensions happening at the same time. Both have this sort of superpower moment where all eyes are on the main character. So, when creating Confetti, that was the mentality I had in mind. I want people to be drawn in and think “Wow, that looks cool!”.
Image courtesy of the artist
Your current collaboration with NPC Labs involves creating an NFT of your character Alzena. What is the significance of Alzena in your body of work, and how did you develop her design for this project?
NYGILIA: Alzena is a part of who I am, and I have been developing her look since 2019. She started off in my Master’s Degree project at Northumbria University. I made my first short-film in VR called “Vanity”. It was the first time I created Alzena and made this afrofuturistic storybook experience through 3D painting to show her making life out of colors. Once I started getting into NFTs, I decided to bring her along with me. I was able to evolve her style because of my gaming inspirations with “Final Fantasy” and “Legend of Zelda”.
Image courtesy of the artist
I wanted to make Alzena into an African-inspired fantasy character with elements of different cultures and galactic embodiment. Her skin is a reflection of stars in stipple form, with white hair to represent the moon. Alzena is created from stars and my symbolism with this is having a positive Black female lead that is her own magical power. I also created her this way as inspiration from Midna, the shadow princess
from “Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess”. She plays a vital role in the storyline, fighting against stereotypes, and has a brave, beautiful soul.
Collectors of your NFT can redeem it for physical merchandise. How do you ensure that these phygital products retain the artistic and cultural integrity of your digital artworks?
NYGILIA: So with every product and artwork made, I make sure it all exists in the same ecosystem. Alzena is her own story, but she also has friends too. In terms of art direction, I have been really inspired by how versatile Hello Kitty and Sailor Moon are in the commerce world. That is how I want Alzena to be. She can transform, do anything, and exist anywhere.
Image courtesy of the artist
Your work will be on display at ArtPoint in Paris for three weeks. How do you plan to create an immersive experience for visitors, engage the public with your artworks, and what do you hope they will take away from viewing your pieces, particularly those dedicated to the US Basketball Team during the Summer Olympics?
NYGILIA: I hope that people can get excited about sports overall. The Olympics brings us together and is such a necessary thing when the world goes through so much. It lets us enjoy, compete, and thrive. In the future, I hope to create a type of sports stadium in VR possibly to add to Alzena’s story. She does have a friend who is involved in this type of athletic place, so I am excited to build that, as I wouldn’t have been an artist without the guidance of sport.
Lastly, could you share the philosophy that guides your art? How do you understand the core importance of art in your life and career?
NYGILIA: A personal philosophy that I follow now in life is that “nothing is ever given, it is earned”. As an artist, I was never really supposed to be here. I had to fight to become the artist I wanted to be but also be an artist that is respected too.
I struggled for years in school to find opportunities and work. Now, I feel like I can take on anything when I set my mind to it and believe in that vision. It’s hard but worth it.
IG: @nygi_xxv
X: @nygi_xxv
©2024 NYGILIA
Len is a curator and a contributing writer at Art Plugged, a platform for contemporary art; he also engages in web development, design, and marketing.
