Fabin Rasheed ‘s artworks are his honest expression from the heart, sometimes, and he hopes more in the future. He would extend it to express his insights from philosophy and spirituality. When creating new art, he feels excitement when inspiration strikes. But then he rides the wave. Up and down, up and down. Until he finally reaches a great state. His biggest influences and sources of inspiration are the peace that comes with deep meditation, his Family and the Community.
NFT Granny: “Dear Fabin, it is an honour to have you. First of all, let me tell you how beautiful your art pieces are. Do you draw most of them with oil and canvas? For me, they look like paintings I used to see in classic museums?”
Fabin Rasheed: Thank you, NFT Granny. Appreciate it. Although some of my works are created using acrylic paints on canvas or textured paper, most of my work uses technology to create artistic expressions in a multitude of ways.
How did you first become interested in art, and how did you get started with it yourself?
Fabin Rasheed: I guess it goes back to childhood. I always had a penchant for looking at images and drawing the same on paper as a kid. Later, when my family got a computer, I started getting interested in 3D and flash-based animation. Guess this is largely where it began. But then, as I grew up, my career started as an engineer, which seemed ironic since I always saw myself as a creative person. Altogether this led to mixing my engineering and creative sides over time.
Can you tell us more about the story behind your project “I”?
Fabin Rasheed: NFTs have been touted to be immutable, everlasting and many other things. “I” was a project I did to question these concepts—kind of an anti-art art. “I” is an NFT that can change to any image I want in the future. And this will only keep changing as long as I am alive. So the question comes as what exactly would someone be collecting if they collected this work of art.
Would they be collecting a lifetime of unique imagery from me? Would they be collecting a fungible non-fungible token? Or just an expiring container? Imagine this work put up on the wall of the collector’s home. They wouldn’t know what image may show up next. This adds to surprise and anxiety and establishes a deeper relationship between the collector and myself, where they get to see what is in my mind – every day. I recently pushed the concept even further by adding the image of the Mona Lisa into “I” once. Again this raises questions on copyright and copy minting. Did I create an NFT of the Mona Lisa, or was that an NFT which represented an image of the actual Mona Lisa?
Which of your artworks are you most proud of?
Fabin Rasheed: I am most proud of my first internationally acclaimed project with Auria Kathi and “the augmented artist series” extension. My first generative interactive NFT Regalia, the worldwide AR NFT collectable experience Pilgrimage, the “AI-Brushes” project, “GPT3 sees”, and finally, my latest project Astraglade. As well I would also add Voxorium and Petri to the list. Everything is listed on my website as well 🙂
Is there an artist you would like to work with? Like a collaboration?
Fabin Rasheed: That would be Murat Pak. We have tried a couple of times, but it never worked out, but hopefully, someday, we will complete a collab together.
We are curious 🙂 Would you be willing to share any plans of upcoming projects?
Fabin Rasheed: I just released Astraglade, and at least for a period, this project would be my focus. But I am also planning extensions for this project, which are exciting.
Who or what are your biggest influences or sources of inspiration?
Fabin Rasheedi:
- The peace that comes with deep meditation
- My Family
- The Community
Is there something specific you are trying to express with your art?
Fabin Rasheed: While many of my works are my honest expression from the heart, sometimes, and I hope more in the future, I would extend it to express my insights from philosophy and spirituality.
What do you feel when you are creating new art?
Fabin Rasheed: When inspiration strikes, it’s all excitement. But then we ride the wave. Up and down, up and down. Until we finally reach a great state.
Do you remember the first time you heard about NFT Art?
Fabin Rasheed: I think this was in a generative artist’s slack channel, which I am part of.
How do you enjoy the NFT Art you have collected? Do you have a way to display it, for example, at home?
Fabin Rasheed: I have a colour calibrated monitor, which I keep to view much beautiful imagery. Many of the NFT that I have collected have had a powerful impact on me, relating to my past or my thoughts.
What would be your biggest wish for the NFT Art scene? What is currently missing / not fully developed to reach full potential out of it?
Fabin Rasheed: I think the journey of an artwork beyond just collection is essential and highly missing in the scene. Collections are valuable and can be kept inside a box. But they can also be shared with the world, talked about and enjoyed together.
What does a typical day for you look like, and what do you like to do when you’re not busy with NFT Art?
Fabin Rasheed: I spend time with my family. If not that, it would be reading or meditating.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Fabin Rasheed: Be!
Is there something aside from art or NFTs you collect?
Fabin Rasheed: I have a collection of keychains from around the world.
What do you feel the moment a project you’ve created dropped?
Fabin Rasheed: I feel at peace.
Please describe your idea of a perfect world in max. 5 sentences:
Fabin Rasheed: A perfect world is where everyone ACCEPTS imperfections. Instead, realise that imperfections are what makes it perfect. We see differences in everything from thought to appearance to conduct. In an ideal world, rather than seeing the other as the other, we should see the other as the new or an original and see the innate relation with ourselves, i.e. every “other” should be viewed as a work of art. After all, we are painting on the same canvas.
Where do you like to travel?
Fabin Rasheed: My hometown of Alleppey because of its serenity and Florence, Italy because of what it evokes in me.
- Full Name: Fabin Rasheed
- Current hometown: Bangalore
- What did you want to be when you were a child: A healer
- Education: Masters in Design, IIT Hyderabad
First Job: Software Engg., Infosys
