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Lost in MelancholiaMark Constantine Inducil

Lost in MelancholiaMark Constantine Inducil

We are hereuntil we’re noteditorial by Sia PineschiThe past can be a meditative place. Especially aerperiods of great activity, finding refuge in the harbour of one’s memories can be a way to process who we are and where we will be going. It is a concept that Mark Constantine Inducil hasexplored in his newest series ‘Lost in Melancholia’, released on 20 February 2022. Through four renderings, Inducil contemplates the role that the past plays in our lives, using a combination of autobiographicalself-portraiture and mysteriously universal symbolism to gently confront significant moments of his life through the frame of impending mortality.

In much the same way a psychologist delves deeply through the layers of one’s mind to uncover itssubconscious patterns, it is satisfying to tease apart the tapestry of meanings in Inducil’s work. Segmented heads pose pristinely amidst explosions of colours and objects, referencing Inducil’s continuing preoccupation with the subjectivity of internal mindscapes. The controlled chaos is a compelling feast of visuals that invites the viewer to process their past experiences by building their own plate from the various elements.The works are populated by ambiguous symbols likecoral bell flowers and small observers watching from thetenuous safety of a forming cloud or an outstretchedfinger. Other symbols of mortality are further hidden still, revealing themselves only to the most dedicated ofobservers. Having multiple symbolic levels is one way that the artist said he ‘tries not to force the work’smeaning’, allowing the viewer to interpret it as much from a personal standpoint as an objective one.“it is satisfying to tease apart the tapestry of meanings in Inducil’s work”

Aer recently transitioning from his career as a graphic designer, Inducil had an incredibly productive year in 2021. Projects like a collaboration with Adobe Aero,inclusions in exhibitions like NFT Artweek Beijing and as an exhibit headliner for ArtLife Fest 2021, and hisselection as the cover artist for the annual edition of ArtLife Magazine contributed to a rapidly growing global reputation in the digital art scene. However, Induciladmitted that despite his intense gratitude for theattention, the whirlwind year of interviews and projects that pushed the boundaries of his artistic practice began to take a toll on his self-described introverted nature. Soon, he began to yearn for some simplicity and arediscovery of his original creative drives.This desire for rediscovery led to the birth of the ‘Lost in Melancholia’ series. ‘It’s like putting on an old pair of sneakers,’ he said, ‘something that feels familiar andcomfortable.’ Aer recent departures like ‘Portraits ofDaemons’, which pondered the idea of partiallyexternalised guiding energies, ‘Lost in Melancholia’ turns the lens inward once again, exploring the multi-faceted concept of the constructed ‘self’ through surrealdreamscapes. Capitalising on themes explored in earlier works like ‘Reassembly Required’, the new series further blurs the line between autobiography and universality. ‘My relationship to art is changing’, said the artist, which has provided him room to ponder a whole host of heavytopics that range from earlier struggles with depression and PTSD to the inevitability of death.

In the kaleidoscope of human experience, there are an infinite number of ways we interpret our pasts. It isdifficult to capture the infinite in a single scene, but Inducil embraces this challenge in a technicolour visual language that complements his equally vibrant curiosity for life. ‘Lost in Melancholia’ straddles the line between a therapeutic meditation on identity and death, and a carefully neutral viewing platform for the audience to reinterpret their own lives as they wish. ‘My artworks are oen very personal so obviously they bring up very personal emotions for me. But my hope is that people will find themselves in my works and discover their own meaning and interpretation,’ said Inducil.And when you consider how subjective life itself is in the end, the idea of finding your own meaning feelsespecially important.Anastasia Pineschi is an Italian-American curator and writer currently living in London. She has worked with organisations like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Digital Art, and Tate Modern to help manage collections and produce exhibitions.“a technicolour visuallanguage that complements his equally vibrant curiosity for life”

Mark Constantine Inducil was born and raised in the Philippines before relocating to Australia in the year 2005. He received his education in graphic design from the Billy Blue School of Graphic Arts in Sydney and went on to study film at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Melbourne. Over the course of the past 20 years, Mark has gained extensive experience in the creative industry, serving in a variety of roles such as a graphic designer, motion designer, and cinematographer. He has worked for notable clients, including Mercedes- Benz, Nintendo, and the Victorian Tourism. During his time as a film student, Mark was recognized for his student work, winning the best film andcinematography award for all three years of his studies. He has also received recognition for various projects as a cinematographer, with his work winning awards in cities such as Los Angeles, Melbourne, and South Korea. Aer experiencing a personal crisis, Mark redirected his focus towards art in 2016 as a form of therapy, merging his knowledge and experience from various creative fields. In 2020, Mark entered the NFT space and was quickly accepted into highly regarded marketplaces such as SuperRare and MakersPlace, garnering the attention of esteemed collectors. He was named as one of the top About the artist

20 Crypto Artists to watch in 2021 and his work has been displayed in several cities around the world, including Melbourne, Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Paris,Moscow, London, Beijing, and Bangkok. In 2021, he was a finalist in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s Art Prize for Digital Art and was selected as the first NFT artist to grace the cover of ArtLife Fest’s annual magazine, which represents the largest traditional art festival in Russia. Additionally, Mark was commissioned by Adobe to create anaugmented reality piece for their Adobe Aero app, which has been exhibited in Adobe MAX in 2022. He has also created works of art for several leading NFT projects, including stampu, CryptoCubes, World of Women, and GM world, among others. To this day, Mark remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of his work and embracing new technology, drawing inspiration from personal experience, philosophy and psychology to create truly unique and personalpieces of art. He hopes to discover new forms ofexpression and dreams of one day making a feature film in his home country.“Mark Constantine Inducil is a Filipino artist now living in Melbourne, Australia. His highly textured and detailed renders address questions of memory, psychology, and emotional processing. In his use of vivid colours and fragmented forms, Inducil employs a keen understanding of humanity’s deeper psychological state and the full range of technicolour diversity it has. By using his own experiences as a jumping-off point, Inducil createscompelling works that embrace the disorientingexperience of coming to terms with our internal realities.”System Shock: 777 Art Exhibition(Museum of Contemporary Digital Art)

Portrait of a Daemon III

Reassembly Required

Notable collectorsBen, also known as DeFi, is not only a highly sought-aer collector of unique, one-of-a-kind NFT art but also a notable talent scout. Many of the artists he has supported have achieved great success in the NFT art world. As the founder of GM World, a gallery and accelerator for rising artists creatingon-chain masterpieces, Ben continues to play a key role in building the future of NFT art by driving innovation and shaping the future of the space.Anesti Dhima, also known as the_alchemist, is a former advertising executive turned accomplished NFT art collector. He now serves as a Web3 advisor and investor, and is widely recognized as a patron of the arts in the NFT community. With his unique background and expertise, Anesti continues to play a significant role in shaping the future of the NFT space.Ryan Zurrer, founder of Dialectic CH and Vine Ventures, is a prominent NFT art collector known by the handle “kukulabanze.” He has made a name for himself with notable purchases, such as Beeple’s “Human One,” which fetched a record-breaking $25 million at Christie’s in 2022. With his sharp eye for talent and passion for NFT art, Ryan continues to be a major player in the industry.Artguy is an early crypto investor and a leading collector of 1/1 NFT art. In 2022, he was ranked among the top collectors on SuperRare, a prestigious NFT art platform. His virtual gallery, “Pantheon,” showcases his extensive NFT art collection and was recognized by oncyber, a platform for creatingimmersive web3 experiences. Artguy’s ongoing contributions to the NFT art world continue to inspire and influence the industry.

“I fell in love with the work of Mark Constantine Inducil the first time I encountered it in early 2021. I always look for artists with singular and visuallystunning styles. Nobody does art like MCI, you know his work from a mile away. I’ve collected from over 100digital artists and Mark’s work is one of the mostengaged with and complimented when I share it due to its instant visual impact. I consider Lost in Melancholia to be among Mark’s most iconic work. The dance of vibrant colors, the play with dimension and perspective, the meeting of dark and light and of death with organic, life-affirming matter, somehow the distorted and severed forms come together into a harmonious whole. I appreciate that Mark has embraced NFT technology as an artist in a similar way I have embraced it as a collector. I prefer to collect art in the form of NFTs due to verifiable authenticity (provenance), access to a global secondary marketplace, perpetual artist royalties, and because they are easier and cheaper to transfer, store, and secure. I still oen display digital works asphysical prints or on digital screens on my home walls, and I expect that physical displays for NFTs will only improve in coming years. As the world shis digital and the internet-nativegeneration gradually become the world’s largest art collector base, there is no doubt in my mind that digital art and NFTs will grow massively and Mark’s work will be beloved by many collectors.”Ben (DeFi)

On Memoriesand Mortality“that silent embrace of our mortality which we all share is what this series means to me”There are certain memories that take me into that dark place which I’m slowly getting used to navigating, though it’s still easy to get lost in that mindscape. I go there because I realise that there are still a lot of things that I need to confront in that place. This series was originally meant to be a collection of self-portraits in times of deep melancholia. However, while working on it, I found myself thinking about the people that I know who have gone through their share of melancholy and started incorporating their stories into the portraits. This series evolved from a collection of self-portraits in melancholia into a series of portraits of melancholia being experienced collectively. As human beings we share this very special kind of existence where in the centre of everything that we yearn and build from lies a distinct kind of bittersweetness. That silent embrace of our mortality which we all share is what this series means to me.

The Lost in Melancholia series had a peculiar launch. We had plans to drop it early February of 2022 but was pushed back due to declaration of war by Russia to Ukraine. As the focus of the Internet shied to a newcrisis, we decided to pull out the two remaining pieces and to make it available at another time. It never seemed like the right time until now.

I IIEdition of 1 *SOLD OUT-Purchased by Artguyfor 6ETH (USD 18,900)*Edition of 1Email for inquiriesAvailability*conversion at time of sale

III IVEdition of 1 *SOLD OUT-Purchased by Benfor 6ETH (USD 18,600)*100% of the proceeds were donated directly to Ukraine to help with their relief efforts.Edition of 1Available for minting mid 2023

Mark lives in Melbourne with his wife Janice and two dogs; Pomee and Zukee.Through Mark’s work, they oen support young, upcoming digital and traditional artists in the NFT space and through Janice’s small business have managed toprovide education to women in impoverished countries. They hope to one day make a positive difference in the Philippine art community.Lost in MelancholiaMark Constantine Inducil4960 × 7015 pixelsCreated in Cinema 4d, Octane and Photoshoptwitter.com/markinducilinstagram.com/markinduciloncyber.io/dreamscapesuperrare.com/markinducilinquiries@markinducil.comwww.markinducil.com

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