We were lucky to catch up with Mediolanum recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mediolanum, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

This is a question that runs through my mind quite often. I never really had anyone close to me who was an artist or creative so, even the concept of being one was fairly foreign to me. I question from time to time if I made the right choice. I have always been under the impression that if you love your job you will never work a day in your life. However, it seems like I am always working or thinking about what to do next. The reality is I chose not to take the normal path. I chose not to work a job that society had set out for me. I remember finishing college and being offered a full-time job. I realized two things about that offer, one was that it would allow me to have a steady income and more money than I was used to. I could use that money to support my parents and siblings and change my life. The other thing was I knew I would hate the job. It wouldn’t be fulfilling and I would dread going to work every day. That was about a year ago, and I’m still an artist now. I declined that offer without knowing exactly what I would do.

Happiness is complex, there will always be moments of happiness but, I can’t be happy forever. As an artist I’ve dealt with so many struggles, constantly wondering if I made the right choice. I look back at all the choices I’ve made, the friends I’ve made, the art I’ve created and I can’t help but feel content. I’ve been able to accomplish things I never would have dreamed of. The mere concept of making money off my art is still so crazy to me. We’re all offered one chance at life. You can think about the mistakes you’ve made but, you can’t change the past. I do wonder what life would have been like had I chosen to take that job. At the same time though, I know I would have woken up every single day wondering, what life would be like if I chose to be an artist. So, I can’t go back and change the choice I made, I can just keep moving forward and remind myself why I made the choice. This is just the beginning of my artistic journey, I have so many more accolades I have yet to accomplish. I know I will be faced with many obstacles in my future but, those obstacles can never outweigh the thought of asking myself the “What if” questions. So, to answer the question I’d say Yes, I am happy to be an artist.

Mediolanum, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an artist who works with many mediums but, mainly digital. I started creating art about two years ago when I came upon the program Adobe Photoshop. It really just began with creating edits, changing colors, and just messing around with pictures. I never took it seriously and merely just did it as a hobby. However, I remember taking a Contemporary Art 101 class in college. It was an elective that I ended up thoroughly enjoying. It taught me that art is more powerful than what is seen at the surface level. It can start conversations, shift perspectives, and even change the world. I even had an Instagram account where I would repost art. Eventually, I figured why don’t create my own art. So, I made a Twitter account as well and began posting my own art. I was blessed that I made many friends along the way that pushed me to take my art seriously.

As time went on I mainly sold prints of my work. However, I began to learn about NFTs and web3 about a year and a half ago. This led me down a rabbit hole of learning what the future of art can be. Fast forward to today, I have sold many of my artworks for prices I can’t believe. I have many connections, friends and collectors. I have been able to showcase my work in galleries in NYC and network with hundreds of artists. It is truly a blessing and I am grateful for the opportunities I have. I am still constantly trying to evolve my work as I play with styles, mediums, and concepts.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I truly believe its the future. I do not blame anyone for being against it. At hindsight it may seem dumb and just outright stupid to ever pay money for a jpeg. However, I truly saw the innovation since day 1. Whether it was what blockchain technology was capable of, the decentralization of using cryptocurrency, or even cutting out the middle man for artists. NFTs are really just one part of the whole story. At least for me its helped change my life. I have been able to sell my work for prices I could never have without NFTs. Its connected me to so many amazing artists, collectors and friends. It has changed the way people interact and value digital art which I mainly create. The most important thing I would say for artists is that it cut out the middle man. There is no gallery, curator, seller fees. You can sell directly to collectors on the blockchain. There is no physical space taken up and it has definitely democratized collecting art.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I want to change the world. To whatever extent that may be, I want to do it. I want to make the world a better place. I don’t want to use my time to make someone else rich, work a job that isn’t fulfilling, or wok for something that adds no real value to society. I want to help kids that look like me. I want them to believe in themselves. I want them to create. I want to give resources, start programs, and open schools. I’m not sure how much I will accomplish in this lifetime. I do know, that I will do everything in my power to try. I want to start conversations, and I want people to resonate with my work. I want them to come up with their own opinions and perspectives. I want them to share my work with others, I want it to impact them, I want my work to impact the world. I have big ambitions and even bigger visions to help create a better world. I create in a world where we were taught to only consume. I want to give back, I want to make polarizing art. I want people to question the world around them, question themselves, and question who I am.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/mediolanum666
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mediolanum666

Image Credits
Mediolanum