This is a question I have had to answer multiple times. But I never get tired of answering this question, on the contrary I feel elated that this term piques the curiosity of the listener.
So I penned down a tweet which explains what I believe a Cryptomodel is, and should be;
This tweet has attracted a lot of puzzled looks, questions and even corrections but nevertheless I stood firm on what I imagined when the term first came to fruition within the depths of my mind.
Before I answer this question, you would need to go back and start this journey with me from the beginning. Before cryptocurrency and NFTs took over the world, I was an optimistic fashion model who believed he was meant for something great. I undertook jobs for fashion designers, posed for photographers and even went as far as wearing the most outrageous outfits. But at the end of the day, I knew something was missing. It took me a while to find out. But I eventually did and what was it?
CONTROL.
Control over how I looked, control over how I posed, control over the message I was trying to pass across etc. So because of a lack of this, I resigned and decided to start over but differently this time and on my own terms.
I began creating looks for myself, visualizing the message I intended to pass across and the creative process needed to undertake this. I was new to this so it wasn’t easy but fortunately for me, I had friends who believed and encouraged me.
In the winter of 2019, I was researching about web3 and Ethereum and I stumbled upon NFTs. I subsequently took my time to understand the inner workings of the NFT space and it wasn’t until the summer of 2020 I finally grew courage to mint my first NFT titled “The Sojourner” which was a collaboration with an amazing digital artist called Kriss.
ethereum://0x60f80121c31a0d46b5279700f9df786054aa5ee5/6.08012131046528e+32
ethereum://0x60f80121c31a0d46b5279700f9df786054aa5ee5/6.08012131046528e+32
ethereum://0x60f80121c31a0d46b5279700f9df786054aa5ee5/6.08012131046528e+32
https://rarible.com/token/0x60f80121c31a0d46b5279700f9df786054aa5ee5:55450?tab=details
This NFT received a warm welcome by the NFT community and this encouraged me to create and mind more.
They were followed by “NARCISSUS”
https://rarible.com/token/0x60f80121c31a0d46b5279700f9df786054aa5ee5:77803?tab=details
Then “ROOTS”
https://rarible.com/token/0xc9e73a60d0d2bbc850b5ea819a133395a2205686:2?tab=details
And one of my greatest creations
“THAT WHICH HOLDS ME BACK”
https://rarible.com/token/0xc9e73a60d0d2bbc850b5ea819a133395a2205686:1?tab=details
And finally, “OUR BIRTHRIGHT”
https://rarible.com/token/0xc9e73a60d0d2bbc850b5ea819a133395a2205686:3?tab=details
Asides having an element of myself in my images, I try to accompany my images with lyrical poems or art to aid in transporting the message effectively.
In conclusion, have you ever encountered something that you know you were put on this earth for? Well I’m glad that I have found mine and that all my previous actions and tasks have prepared me adequately for this and I will never let it go.
In the future I hope to post a crowdfund for anyone willing to ensure my the destination of my journey isn’t just the summit of the mountain but the stars.