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On September 3, 2006, Blue Tsuki logged into Second Life for the first time.
Real life artist, designer, graphic artist, content manager, UX designer, technical writer, animator and art director for a variety of well-known software, entertainment and educational brands. Skilled in creating a work of art in a variety of media including photography, painting, drawing, printing, and installation art.
Blue describes Second Life as “virtualism”, an art that is made with 3D environments of the virtual world and can only be experienced in this environment.
As he says, “This is a medium that is only present in the computer. The essence of this medium is to create immersive installations or experiences that you navigate in a 3D world. These include space, avatar interactions, animation, Sound, music and scripted code. It is possible to point out these environments with photos or videos, but to really capture the experience you have to experience and interact with the virtual space. It’s the difference between photographing the forest and standing in one. Virtualism favors interactions and immersive experiences that are not possible in the real world. An aspect that makes for a unique and exciting art medium. “
Driven by dreams, memories, landscapes, maps, poetry and music and inspired by well-known artists, Blue is always keen to experiment and remains true to his own vision.
When creating one of his fantastic installations, he makes use of various experiences from the past and with his inner imagination he uses all the possibilities that are given to him in SL to carry out his idea, always driven by the power of the original idea.
With his art, he creates an experience for the viewer that is visually entchaned, appeals to our feelings and transports us into another world.
Through his art, Blue expresses feelings that can be felt intuitively if you only let yourself into it for a brief moment. On closer inspection, you will always find many small elaborate hints that suddenly create space for many visions according to your own perception.
Personally,
I find Blue through and through as an artist who impresses with his work, who has the ability to encase you with the most varied of emotions and all the more often can kidnap you into a meditative state.
His work actually not only conveys a feeling of completion, but also a broad channel for the our own visions.
As he himself says, he cannot remember the time when art was not creative and that is exactly what is reflected in his whole personality.
His words are just as well chosen as his work, his focus as soon as he has felt the creative impetus, owns him entirely with his vision and the deep level of his feelings is evident and omnipresent.
Acting creatively opens him like a door to a positive world view, always gives him new momentum to experience, see, feel and create new things.
Blue Tsuki is a Second Life artist / builder and an RL artist through and through. He is a very smart, friendly and accommodating person who got power to leaves a lasting impression with his work.
How pronounced and complex his emotional sensitivity, and the state of mind is reflected in the quote that I found in his profile: “If you could see what I’ve seen with your eyes” by Roy Batty
Interview with Blue Tsuki
Blue,
Your life without art would be …
Blue: Without art I would feel like a ghost in the world. Art has been a touchstone, an anchor to a world too often unseen. Art does not just provide a feeling of accomplishment, it provides a conduit to your vision and the vision of others.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Blue: So many things inform my art: dreams, memory, maps, the landscape. But also to a large degree, music. I listen to lot of music when I am working. It puts me in that evocative creative space.
What is your work about?
Blue: It hardly matters what I think it is about. Saying how I think someone approaches my work handcuffs their imagination as to how they perceive it. Some may think that is avoidance but I too often cringe at artist statements.
How is the artistic process like there? Do you see an object / person / landscape first and then the idea comes up? Or is it upside down?
Blue: When I create an installation here it has a genesis that comes from experience or imagination. Sometimes it is generated by an image I found. Regardless, it forms in my head first. As it gets implemented I am flexible and see how some things work and some don’t. But the original idea is the driving force. SL of course has special technical considerations but making art here, at its root, is like making art anywhere. You look, you see, you make choices.
Your mantra?
Blue: Be honest to your vision.
Currently, the best place for you in SL?
Blue: Anyplace I am awestruck by someone’s creation.
A question that moves you right now …
Blue: When do we eat?
Is there a work of art in your life that particularly impressed you?
Blue: A single work of art?
No but there are too many to list that have impressed me.
Everything from Robert Smithson earthworks to Sargent portraits to Kehinde Wiley to Hudson School landscapes.
I have seen a Winston Tong puppet performance, a Leonardo Codex, many spaces by James Turell, a live performance of the Glass opera Satyagraha. I even once got to see Michelangelo graffiti.
What is art for you – now completely independent of the usual definitions?
Blue: It is just what I do. It is what I can not stop doing.
Returning to it after an absence, it is like waking up to being alive.
Was there a key experience or has the artist profession always been your dearest wish?
Blue: I can not remember a time I was not drawing, designing, taking pictures.
I have always made art, experimenting in many mediums. Maybe too many…
Do you feel understood with your art?
Blue: I am not trying to be understood.
I just want to create an experience that makes you see or feel something awe inspiring, that makes you stop.
Just stop.
Do you think that you can make a difference with your art?
Blue: I doubt it. Besides, what kind of difference?
Maybe something that sticks in someone’s memory or, in the moment, gives them pause,
transports them to another place.
Do you think that everyone is an artist?
Blue: No but we all can see the world better by opening ourselves to the creative.
What does the term art mean to you?
Blue: It means more than just the visual arts.
It encompasses poetry, prose, music, architecture, performance and more.
When I look at something and someone asks: “But is it art?” It usually is.
Are there any topics that you are particularly interested in implementing?
Blue: I would like to do more work with a qualified scripter. My scripting skills range from miserable to non-existent.
What is your strength?
Blue: My strength is focus but my weakness is procrastination.
Once there is momentum I am good. It is just getting there.
What was the best advice you have ever received in SL?
Blue: “Forget it Jake, it’s Second Life”
Your next projects, exhibitions. Where your art can be seen?
Blue: Installation “All the Songs We Never Sang” at Dixmix Gallery.
Blue Tsuki Bio
“Blue Tsuki is both a Second Life artist/builder and a RL fine artist.
He has worked for many years in a variety of mediums. Trained as a painter and printmaker he has a history of experimentation and unique process art-making. He has shown painting, mixed media sculpture installations, unique process photography, interactive electronic music sculpture, traditional graphite drawings and digital prints.
Blue has worked with computers for many years with a concentration on art and design.
He has become deeply involved with the potential of Second Life as an art medium, pursuing installations and interactive sculptures.”
