Carmilla Sumantry is an incredibly talented upcoming artist from Vancouver, Canada. She has been creating art for as long as she can remember. She has started with 3D software for industrial design in her years at Uni. She was exhibited in Paris Hilton’s exhibition with Sevens Genesis Grant. In addition, she will be exhibited during NFT BC in the Hollywood Theatre in Vancouver.
Her biggest wish in the NFT World is that web3 dismantles the barriers that currently exist for marginalized creators.
NFT Granny: “Dear Carmilla – thank you very much for taking your time. You have already done many things in the Web 3.0 world. What do you like most about this new world and why?“
Carmilla Sumantry: My favorite parts of web3 and NFTs are creator autonomy and community. The potential to have an autonomous career as a digital artist didn’t really exist before NFTs and this has completely shifted my career direction. I have also never experienced a supportive community within the arts, like the ones I have found in the NFT space. Because we are all frontiers exploring this new technology together, there is a level of comradery, looking out for each other, and collaborative spirit that doesn’t exist in the traditional art world or with web2.
How did you first become interested in art, and how did you get started with it yourself?
Carmilla Sumantry: I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. My father was a portrait artist and I learned a lot from watching him and rifling through his drawing books. I began with traditional mediums, mostly pencil drawings, but I started making digital art when I was 12 years old, using Photoshop and Corel Painter.
Fast-forward to my university years, I began using 3D software for industrial design; creating technical drawings and product renders. Naturally curious to push the medium towards more creative expression, I started using this software to create animated artwork.
Could you tell us more about the story of your Artwork “Matriarchal Guidance” which was empowered by Paris Hilton: Empowered Women Empower Women Exhibition?
Carmilla Sumantry: The theme of Paris Hilton’s exhibition with Sevens Genesis Grant was Women’s Empowerment and I wanted to create a piece that honored the trailblazing women who carved a path for my generation to continue the good fight towards gender equality. I am so grateful to exist at a time and in a place where I have rights and opportunities to use my voice to call for justice and that would not have existed without the bravery and sacrifice of women in history who dared to oppose the patriarchy. In my piece, the ladder symbolizes the path beyond the glass ceiling and the orbs of light are the souls of our matriarchal heroes guiding the way.
Open on Opensea.io
Which of your artworks are you most proud of?
Carmilla Sumantry: My favorite piece I have created is called Awakening. I was in a bit of a creative rut at the time, feeling stuck and frustrated, but I continued creating art anyway and kind of accidentally created this piece without any vision or planning behind it. The whole process was a reflection of the value of just “creating for the sake of creating”, giving myself the opportunity for things to fall into place even if I don’t have the vision for where it’s going.
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Is there an artist you would like to work with? Like a collaboration?
Carmilla Sumantry: There are so many music artists I’d love to collaborate with. Vegyn comes to mind as a fantastic producer who I would love to make something weird and wonderful with.
As for visual artists, I would do almost anything to collaborate with Pilar Zeta on a physical installation like she created at Miami Basel last year. I didn’t get to see it in person, but the whole concept was incredible.!
We are curious 🙂 Would you be willing to share any plans of upcoming projects?
Carmilla Sumantry: I have a busy year ahead building with a few different NFT projects but I’m also hoping to drop a small collection of my own this summer. The concept is evolving, so I don’t want to give too much away!
One of the projects being released this year is for a series of ambient music albums. I created animated artwork to go with the theme of each album and these will be released as NFTs. I love starting with music as an inspiration point and I had a lot of freedom in the artistic direction for these so I’m excited to see how they do!
Who or what are your biggest influences or sources of inspiration?
Carmilla Sumantry: Since I was a child, I was always fascinated by the concept of utopian societies and alternate worlds. I am intensely idealistic and this comes through in the world and spaces I create through my art. Sometimes I’m influenced by films and architecture or the video games I played as a kid. Still, most of the time, my imagination takes me to a place where I have no knowledge of the origin – it’s just a specific feeling that I try to recreate in 3D.
What do you feel when you are creating new art?
Carmilla Sumantry: In the process of creating, I feel determined to turn the vision in my head into something that people can connect and relate to.
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?
Carmilla Sumantry: Naturally, I’m giving an idealistic answer. My biggest wish is that web3 dismantles the barriers that currently exist for marginalized creators. Because the space is so new, there is potential to create systems that amplify the presence of creators of color, women, and queer folks.
The power of autonomy and decentralization could help level the playing field and create opportunities to reverse some of the damage done by traditional systems in the art and tech spheres. I want to work towards an equitable future in web3 where diversity is the default and creators of all backgrounds can reach their full potential.
What is the most disturbing thing when it comes to NFTs and Crypto Art in your opinion?
Carmilla Sumantry: In November, a stat was released showing that only 5% of NFT sales went to women-led projects and women creators, despite women making up ~20% of the NFT space at the time. This was incredibly discouraging news and almost made me want to give up.
However, I realized that my idealistic dreams for web3 don’t stand a chance if people like me don’t stick it out to fight for equal representation.
What does a typical day for you look like, and what do you like to do when you are not busy with NFT Art?
Carmilla Sumantry: My typical day starts with a slow and quiet morning – my favorite part of my day. The rest of it completely changes day to day – I’m juggling quite a few very different projects – sometimes I’m locked in my office making art for 12 hours straight, other days I have back to back zoom meetings and email-writing, but usually, it’s some combination.
I’m working on having more balance – going outside and eating is important.
On a day off, I like to go for long walks or do yoga and meditate, get some social time in, and cook!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Carmilla Sumantry: Prioritize your health and your happiness.
What do you feel the moment a project you’ve created dropped?
Carmilla Sumantry: A rollercoaster of anxiety, relief, and self-doubt. But I’m working on turning that into peace, confidence and excitement.
- Full Name: Carmilla Sumantry
- Current hometown: Vancouver, Canada
- Languages she speaks: English
- What did you want to be when you were a child: Interior Designer
- Education: Bachelor of Design, Industrial Design major
