ND(VR)E

In ND(VR)E, JL uses a combination of dark, unsaturated greys with titanium white and lamp black, alongside more vibrant colours such as cadmium yellow hue, orange, chromium oxide, burnt umber, and burnt sienna. This selection contrasts the dullness of the greys with the brightness of the other colours, creating a visual tension that reflects the painting’s theme of the virtual versus the physical world. Each segment of the abstracted cubist objects features gradients, adding depth and dimension to the composition.

JL applies the paint using visible brushstrokes, favouring this method to distance the work from the look of digital art. This approach leaves a textured surface on the canvas, with each stroke being noticeable. The technique emphasises the physical act of painting, contrasting with the digital subject matter of the artwork.

The painting blends elements of surrealism and cubism. The abstracted cubist self-portrait of JL, featuring a headset and controller, is set against a surreal, undefined background. This stylistic choice is influenced by the fragmented forms of cubism and the dreamlike, ambiguous nature of surrealism. The reference to Salvador Dalí’s melting clock ties the painting to surrealist traditions while maintaining its cubist structure.

The NFT animation of ND(VR)E includes moving parts, each operating within its own field, reflecting the idea that physical matter is data that exists only when observed. The accompanying music is designed to evoke the sound of an old vinyl playing a long-forgotten tune. The animation’s frames per second are intentionally reduced to create an old, primitive visual style that complements the auditory experience.

ND(VR)E is inspired by the growing popularity of the metaverse and virtual reality, exploring the concept of a near-death virtual reality experience. JL considers the implications of spending extensive time in a virtual world, suggesting that this could lead to the end of traditional physical experiences. This setting is intentionally undefined but includes hints of physical reality, reflecting theories about the existence of physical matter as observed data. The artwork examines the potential future of living and working in virtual spaces and the impact this may have on our perception of reality.

ND(VR)E is a world where VR becomes a more dominant aspect of life, with a man laying on his sofa plugged into his VR Headset all day. Binary code runs in cycles on a timely loop spelling out a typical gaming arcade term for when previous lives have been lost and are now down to the last.

The reality for the man depicted is that he is on his last life (at least in this dimension) but not truly living in reality, instead, living in a meta-made world where lives can be renewed or replaced at will, and where physics can be bent.

ND(VR)E is surrealism mixed with cubism. A reference to Salvador Dali’s melting clock seems appropriate to a life ticking away. The stairs of the man’s apartment are non-sensical, as reality is blurred with the meta world.