Vini Naso
Jesse: Masks have been integral to the human experience for millennia. How does that extend into the virtual world?
Vini Naso: I believe masks have a key role in the virtual world because they give the power to any person to express themselves more easily than in real life.
“Most people want to experience and explore different parts of their personality, but we are limited by our cultural norms and constrained by our society in the physical world. In the virtual world, you can wear any mask 100% of the time and be who you really want to be.”
J: Can you share a bit about your creative process behind the creation of these masks? For example, how did you go about determining the relationship between the mask models and materials? What was the process in capturing the most evocative composition for each “photograph”?
VN: I usually start with a theme or a particular aesthetic that catches my attention. After doing some research I start to sketch and explore shapes, forms, and different compositions. The materials are mostly created from scratch in Substance Designer where I can create realistic textures with really intricate patterns. This allows me to create a hyperrealist feel for my characters.
J: What role does Substance play in your process?
VN: Substance Designer is a really versatile tool to create all kinds of textures, from realistic to stylized. It's very easy to quickly generate many versions and variations. This gives me a lot of freedom to explore something new and develop a fresh look for my characters.
J: What was your inspiration in juxtaposing folklore and cyberpunk aesthetics?
VN: Growing up in Brazil exposed me to a huge variety of folklore, which sparked my passion for the diversity of patterns, costumes, and symbolism. Cyberpunk aesthetics try to speculate how our culture will evolve in the future. I find it really fascinating to observe how aesthetics mix when there’s an encounter of cultures from different places and eras. That point of intersection is what inspires me the most.
J: Do you think 3D art and design will change how we think and talk about beauty?
VN: I think it's already changing. The technology we have today allows us to dream faster and explore aesthetics that are probably impossible to express through a physical medium.