TzAR: Pixel Art Profiles #5 – NiftyMonki, Sachcoo the Arty, Guandanarian
Kyle Flemmer profiles three crafters of intricate pixel art included in the forthcoming Tezos Art Review (TzAR): Pixel Art Anthology.
Pixel art is a medium of extremes. It can be simple or complex, 1-bit monochrome or a full-spectrum palette, static or frantically animated. One thing all pixel art demands is an attention to detail. If each pixel equals a single detail, then the more pixels in an image, the more frames in an animation, the more attention to detail a work requires, both to make and to appreciate. Much can be said in favor of minimalism, but where extraordinary skill comes together with preternatural attention to detail, maximalism wins the day.
If digital art is inherently mechanistic, given its entrenchment in computation and electronics, then maximalist pixel art is the closest this medium can get to cellular, organic life. By combining tightly-packed details with rapid animation cycles, pixel artists can achieve work that is thrumming with energy. Though TzAR: Pixel Art Anthology is destined to be a printed books, and therefore static, I hope the intricacy of these living, breathing pixel artworks shine through nonetheless.
“This edition of Pixel Art Profiles features animated artworks that are buzzing with details. Even the most mechanistic-looking pixel art shown here challenges the boundary between organic and inorganic life.”
NiftyMonki
d29ybQ by NiftyMonki, minted January 28, 2023
Artist statement: “Making pixelated artwork is straightforward and challenging, it’s all about making the most of those limitations. I get to know every pixel on the canvas like it’s an old friend. There’s something humble and intimate about working this way.”
Sachcoo the Arty
Fungi Network by Sachcoo the Arty, minted December 16, 2024
Artist statement: “In my work, I explore the complex relationship between humanity and technology, particularly how our pursuit of knowledge can lead us to confront the reality of our existence within a vast, interconnected system. Through collections like Fractured Universe, I depict the unintended consequences of technological advancement, illustrating a world where humankind becomes enmeshed in systems beyond their control. My art serves as a reflection on how, despite being part of a machine-like reality, there is still beauty and meaning in our experiences. I aim to highlight that even within these constraints, there is joy in the act of experiencing life, suggesting that the journey itself holds value, even if it feels like an illusion.”
Guandanarian
All I Want Is You By My Side by Guandanarian, minted March 14, 2024
Artist statement: “I create art that people can randomly stumble upon on the internet and stay with for a few seconds... or minutes. "r/place", "ADHD trap", "La Plata", I've heard it all, but I like to call my art "digital horror vacui" for a more precise categorization. For a creation process it commonly goes in one of two ways: either a huge 3D shape sculpted in Blender or created in Mandelbulb 3D post-processed in Aseprite with custom dithering matrices / tile maps as a standalone visual treat or... also a 3D (or sometimes 2D) shape, this time surrounded by tons of medium to micro sized elements. This is my way to get around my common "I can't draw" joke.”
TzAR: Pixel Art Anthology will be published by The Blasted Tree Publishing Co. in August 2025. Stay tuned for more Pixel Art Profiles in the coming weeks as we prepare the book for publication!