Dialogue #3 - chickenTeNNder
APT.55 Cosmic Inhabitant
Chase, with his TeNder reinterpretation of apocalyptic realities, introduces us to a Pop Art dimension where monsters and zombies have the ability to scrutinize us with cartoonish and kooky eyes, provoking a dichotomy in the spectators. On one hand, the walking dead idea can make us feel horrified and scared, but in this case, with the hallucinogenic and colorful effect, these creatures can also be cute and charming.
By contemplating his work it is possible to appreciate his detailed work, it's really impressive and very pleasant to see how meticulous and prolix his work is, and maybe this is one of the reasons why his work is so realistic, perdurable in our mind. Maybe Chase is taking us, gradually, to one of his video games, presenting the characters, scenarios, and difficulty levels in every artwork. Maybe one day we will be able to impersonate one of these creatures and interact with their universe.
If our interpretation is proper to his real intention, it can be the explanation of why it's completely addictive and almost obsess our desire to know more about his cosmos and we really hope to contribute somehow to expand even more his idealistic universe with these few words from our side.
Probably it's time to know more about him, so now, we will let him talk to us!
Is it Chase your real name?
Yes, Chase is my real name, but you can call me TeNN or chickenTeNNder
Are you a fan of zombie apocalypse movies and comics?
I am a big fan of horror in general. Tony Moore’s early work in The Walking Dead comics is so good. I love 80’s horror movies too. Practical effects are the best and I wish it was used more often in current movies.
What is a little known fact you would like to share?
I followed the Grateful Dead across America for a year after high school. It opened my mind to the world around me and the experience truly changed my life.
How did you get involved with the crypto art community?
Well, I kinda stumbled across it actually. I got into crypto in early 2017. I have known about NFT’s for a while, but they weren’t really being utilized very much back then. After taking a break from crypto around mid-2019, I got back into it when the March pandemic crash happened. I only realized NFT art was gaining attention a couple of months ago, so I decided to try it out. I think blockchain is a perfect marriage with digital art.
Besides Crypto Art what other kinds of art expressions do you like to explore?
I love to dismantle, learn, and build things. Art is everywhere, so I create in many traditional and digital mediums including silversmithing, wire wrapping, and 3d art for video games. I would consider myself mainly a digital artist nowadays.
How do you choose the subject of your art and depending on this how is your creative process?
I get a lot of inspiration from the media I consume. Other artists inspire me too, along with sci-fi, horror movies, and shows. What I make changes daily with my mood, haha. Working at night was my jam for a while, but now it’s mostly right after I wake up. I like it when the world feels quiet, slowed down a bit. I just relax and kinda fall into a zone where time disappears.
Which tools or softwares do you usually use to do your work?
I have been using Adobe products for years now, Photoshop, Illustrator etc. I prefer to draw 2d in Clip Studio and recently started learning After Effects. When using 3d, I tend to default to Maya and Substance Painter. It’s what I learned in school and know the best. Blender is amazing and is quickly becoming my new favorite.
Why did you choose Rarible as your Marketplace option and what do you believe is the key element to be a successful NFT artist?
To be honest, Rarible was the first place I learned about. I really like it though. It’s raw and easily accessible to artists and collectors. Lots of talent there. Being a successful NFT artist just requires making unique art. Getting to know other artists in the space and being involved.
Do you have collectibles? Which one of your personal collection is your favorite?
I have started to collect from a couple of artists. Hrmmm... I think “Camp Kaiju” from Kreature Kastle might be my favorite at the moment.
Which are your crypto artist favorites right now, which works make you mind-blowing and wanted to add to your personal collection?
I love Stephen Tompkins style.
Josh White, Carboncell, nattorare, Fennec Bright, definitely_inkognito, and Kiefmonster are all doing something different in the space and you should check them out.
You need no introduction to Josh White and Carboncell, as you’ve featured them already. :-)
Stephen Tompkins: https://app.rarible.com/stephentompkins - @misterstephent
Kiefmonster: https://app.rarible.com/kiefmonster - @BChikun
Fennec Bright: https://app.rarible.com/fennecbright - @fennecbright
definitely_inkognito: https://app.rarible.com/def_inkognito - @def_inkognito
You describe yourself as a Crypto Enthusiast, that means you are into other projects inside the ecosystem, can you talk about that with us?
There is so much innovation in the blockchain space right now. It’s very exciting. Everything from unique digital identity of art and video game assets, to the Internet of Things. IoT and Web 3.0 is slowly becoming our reality, connecting everybody and everything together. We are going to have more and more advanced AI and algorithms that can help and/or hinder humans in the future. Smart everything! Of course, I believe in “being your own bank” too. I think what you buy and when you buy is a freedom and should be private. You should own your own data.
What’s next for you in the future?
Hopefully more collaborations. Evolving my art to fit the NFT space better and getting it on other platforms like Makersplace, SuperRare, and Knownorigin.
chickenTeNNder creates this artwork as a part of a collaboration with our collective APT. 55, so here you have “APT.55 Cosmic Inhabitant”, limited edition of 25, be quick!
Founded in 2020, APT. 55 is a project created with the main purpose of supporting alternative and emerging crypto and digital artists. Devoting our efforts to provide an emergent space for artists and art precursors in which they can make public their work and also participate and create temporary exhibits and fairs, worldwide.
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