Beautiful Fantastic Beasts. Interview With Ellen Sheidlin

by Sophie She

Beautiful Fantastic Beasts. Interview With Ellen Sheidlin

20 Mar 2024

In the realm of digital creativity, few names evoke as much fascination and intrigue as Ellen Sheidlin, known online as @Sheidlina. With Ellen’s ethereal aesthetic and boundless imagination, Sheidlin has carved out a unique niche in the world of (digital and visual) art and photography. Through her mesmerising projects and captivating persona, she invites us into a world where reality blends seamlessly with the fantastical and where your inner child is the guide.

In this exclusive interview with Sheidlin, we delve deep into the workings of her creative mind, exploring the inspirations behind her surreal imagery and the journey that has led her to become one of the most compelling voices in the online and offline art communities.

From her unconventional approach to self-expression to her thoughts on the intersection of technology and art, Sheidlin offers unparalleled insight into her craft and the whimsical universe she has constructed.

— Your works often contain surreal and fantastic elements. What inspires your creative process, and how do you come up with ideas for your work?

— In my work, I explore the boundaries of sleep and reality, creating images that generate strong emotions. The goal is not just to create but also to elicit a reaction from the viewer, be it curiosity, admiration or even disgust. My goal is to make the viewer feel, experience and reflect, excluding any indifference.

— Were there any artists or movements that have had a significant impact on your own artistic development?

— I was raised by the Internet age, absorbing millions of visual images, sounds and sensations since I was "born" online about 15 years ago. My style and approach to art are not the result of the influence of specific artistic movements but of my immersion in digital culture and social networks. The world in which I grew up is characterised by a huge speed and flow of information, making reflection and belonging to certain communities less obvious than in the last century.

Having formed my own unique style, I called it survirtualism — a mixture of dream, reality and virtuality, reflecting the versatility of my work. My work covers a wide range — from digital art and video to oil painting and sculpture, developed through training and collaboration all over the world, from Florence to Korea and Australia.

Inspired by 20th-century surrealism, such as Salvador Dali's, I also refer to the work of other iconic surrealists, including Rene Magritte, Joan Miro, and Max Ernst. These artists, with their play of reality and fantasy, have influenced my work, contributing to the formation of my own style, which combines diverse art forms to explore the depths of consciousness and subconsciousness in today's digital world.

Instagram: @sheidlina

— How would you describe the main themes or messages that you would like to convey through your art?

— The main message I want to convey is a call for self-expression and acceptance of one's uniqueness. Being "abnormal" is normal. It is important to maintain kindness, sensitivity, and sincerity despite the pressure from society and fears. I believe that we have strength not because of physical strength but because of faith in ourselves and our beliefs. My message is a call to preserve and protect your inner child so that he can express himself freely without fear of getting lost in the adult world.

— What do they buy more from you — NFT, digital artworks or physical works?

— My visual paintings are now the most commercially successful, especially in the Asian market. The events around NFT on TON [The Open Network] are also very exciting, the market has been dynamic there in the past months. And even the secondary market is prominent, as I can see the interest accumulated every time someone resells my work to another digital collector.

Instagram: @sheidlina

— A question for you and Eugene [Ellen’s partner and husband]. What do you think makes the work successful in terms of sales? In particular, if we are talking about NFT.

— Success in selling NFT lies in strategy, relationships with collectors, and building a community based on mutual trust and a sense of security. It is important that collectors see in their investments not only a return on capital but also the prospect of development and an increase in its value. The basis of success is to show collectors that they are the beneficiaries of my development and success, as well as to emphasise the long-term perspective of our relationship.

Over the past two years of working with NFT, I have been actively involved in the life of the community, holding offline events and supporting the value of works by talking about them in interviews and creating new projects related to already released NFTs. This underscores my commitment and long-term vision, uniting us with a common idea and gratitude. Building and maintaining an active community is key to success in the NFT world.

Instagram: @sheidlina

— Following your work, you can see many different mediums — from photo works to ceramics. What is your favourite and why?

— At the moment, I cannot single out one favourite medium because I find joy and satisfaction in a variety of approaches to creativity. After the presentation of the digital mural at Art Dubai and on the eve of my fully physical exhibition at the Beinart Gallery in Melbourne, it became obvious to me that the importance is not in the specifics of the medium but in the ability to transfer ideas into reality in different ways. Whether through a camera lens, tablet screen, canvas, or even a ceramic oven, each tool has its own value. The secret is to constantly switch between different means of expression, which allows me to remain flexible and creative in any project.

— You are one of the few artists who is not afraid of AI but collaborates with it. Why are you not afraid to train a neural network?

— With the advent of AI and diffusion models in creativity, I realised the beginning of a new creative revolution that changes all the rules of the game. Instead of being afraid of the unknown, I chose the path of studying and collaborating with this technology, seeing it not as a threat but as an opportunity for development. Technology has always been the foundation of my creativity, and artificial intelligence has become just a new tool that expands the boundaries of what is possible. Through training and experiments, including the Neural Network for Creators courses, we explore how to overcome the fear of AI and use it as a partner in creating art.

— Do you have a favourite photo work from those that you present on your Instagram?

— My favourite work on Instagram is updated with each new creation, but among all of them, there is one especially significant for me — "Overdose of likes". This project reflects my thoughts on self-perception and the impact of social media on the modern world, which was becoming innovative and fresh at that time. It quickly became popular and was actively distributed online, symbolising for me an important stage in my work.

I believe that every work of art should live its own life; it is the viewer who should find personal meaning in it. The concept of "author's death" is close to me — after creating a work, it begins to exist independently, acquiring its own interpretations and meanings for everyone who interacts with it. It is important for me not to impose my own view but to listen and learn the opinions of others, enriching my understanding and perception of art.

Instagram: @sheidlina

— You have a lot of animals in your works. What images does each animal bring? Maybe there are some specific emotions? Why animals?

— The animals in my works symbolise the deep connection of man with nature, emphasising our community and unity with the living world. They remind us that human ego and self-centeredness can distance us from a true understanding of our place in the ecosystem. Through the images of animals, I strive to exclude the human ego, inviting an emotional experience of myself as an inseparable part of the world around me. This topic is not aimed at a climate agenda. It is about a deeper realisation that we are not only people but also leaves, flowers, trees, deer, cows and birds united by a common existence on this planet.

Instagram: @sheidlina

— Through the eyes of an artist — how do you see Dubai in 20 years? What kind of emotions does it evoke? What does it look like?

— Looking at Dubai's future through the prism of an artist reveals a vision of the city as a new Mecca of modernity, open to experiments and innovations. Unlike Europe, where the dynamics of development and adoption of new things seem limited, Dubai stands as a symbol of openness and progressivity.

This city, although with a brief history, impresses with its ability to attract talent from all over the world and serve as an assembly point for various civilisations — collectivity and individuality coexist harmoniously here.

Dubai, being a multinational and multi-religious centre, is filled with an incredible number of talented people who are striving to create a new world different from the one we are used to. This makes it not just a city but a global centre of culture and technology, reminiscent of the greatness of the new Florence. Thanks to this unique atmosphere, openness to new things and security, the future of Dubai and the entire region looks very promising and attractive to people from all over the world.

— And finally, the neural network suggested some of these questions. Can you guess which ones?

— It is funny, but I also used ChatGPT when answering questions, which allowed me to transform my thoughts into a more structured and concise form. There is no neural network response; there is only correction and smoothing

It is difficult to determine exactly which questions the neural network proposed. Still, in the end, you made the decision on what to consider important and included in the dialogue, so I think everyone was from you.

by Sophie She