Art has the unique power to reflect our innermost thoughts and emotions, often sparked by a moment of realization or rebellion. Jessy, an artist whose journey began as a means of escape during her school years, has transformed her initial doodles into a vibrant and multifaceted career. From her roots in figurative and performance art to her innovative use of digital mediums, Jessy's work is a bold statement of empowerment and self-expression.
In this exclusive interview, Jessy shares her artistic evolution, the muses that inspire her, and the challenges she has faced in both traditional and Web3 spaces. She delves into her commitment to women's empowerment, her navigation through the complexities of cancel culture, and her visionary projects that blend art with digital interactivity. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of Jessy, uncovering the inspirations and philosophies that drive her creative endeavors.
Mismir ( Eduard – E ): Artists often have varied origins to their passion: some seem to be born with an innate flame for creation, while others start with a budding interest in creating that, at a pivotal moment, blossoms into a profound passion. Which resonates more with your journey, and can you recall that defining moment when you realized art is your calling?
Jessy ( J ): School wasn't easy; I felt like a rebel and often felt left behind by my teachers. Drawing during class became my escape. This led me to art school to pursue a career as an artist, where I could express my personality and ideas through figurative art and later performance art.
E: In my view, the bedrock of every creation is an inspiration. Whether it's drawn from people, places, experiences, introspective moments, or even fleeting thoughts, there's always a muse guiding the creative process. Who or what has been the most impactful muse in your journey, and why?
J: I draw inspiration from women and social media culture to depict strong and empowering women in my art. I aim to highlight and enhance the vulnerabilities often associated with femininity in our society. By blending conventional beauty standards with meme culture, my work challenges traditional notions of femininity, creating a bold and impactful aesthetic.
E: Every journey, especially in the creative realm, is punctuated with challenges, often more so than successes. While successes are undoubtedly rewarding, I believe it's the challenges that truly catalyze growth and sometimes even inspire a fresh perspective. With this in mind, have you faced a specific challenge that significantly altered your approach to your craft? If so, would you be comfortable sharing that experience?
J: The challenge has always been to find my artistic path, whether in the traditional art world or the Web3 space. With a lot of offerings available, standing out can be difficult at times, especially when your approach doesn't align with the current norm.
E: One of my cherished practices when engaging with artists like you is to set them on a path of introspection. I'd like you to cast your mind back to the very first day you delved into art creation. As you journey from that moment to the present, could you share how your style or approach has evolved over time?
J: I started my journey in the art world as a painter. Not many know this, but I completed four years of intensive painting studies at l'Ecole des Art Décoratifs in Strasbourg. In 2015, I earned my Master of Fine Arts and continued developing my painting practice. My artistic style used to be raw and unconventional, preferring water-based mediums like watercolors and ink over oils due to their drying time.
Women have always been a prominent theme in my work. As I progressed, I started combining physical and digital art, with a focus on AI collages and performance art on-chain incorporating text and memes. My style has transitioned from raw to cleaner aesthetics, influenced by pop-internet culture. Today I consider myself an artist, content creator, and business girl.
E: Art, in all its forms, serves as a reflection of the artist's soul, acting as a mirror to their innermost thoughts and feelings. With this perspective in mind, how do you feel your essence, as "Jessy", is captured and portrayed in your creations?
J: Everything I do is all about empowering women, giving them a voice somehow! I like to showcase the unseen, provoke reactions, and mix the cute with the edgy! I wanted to take it to the next level and create a super fun version of JessyFries, an AI bestie named Jessy aka FriesGPT, who’s always there to chat about anything, be it fries, boys, or heartbreak. Bestie Jessy’s responses add humor and charm to interactions.
I want to further develop this project as it goes with my mission to empower women. It's a fun, feminine tool, a meme-inspired creation that encompasses various elements like quirky bot responses, featured artworks, and playful audio sections where Jessy's cloned voice adds amusement. This entire project acts as a form of performance art that I aim to evolve and explore. The message at the core of my art is fearless, it's girly, and it embodies who I am.
E: One thing that does much harm in today's society, and unfortunately is one of the most prevalent things nowadays, is Cancel Culture. I feel like people keep throwing words at one another without even thinking about it. They are willing to harm without even realizing why they are doing it. And most of this canceling, in my opinion, happens on social media. Whether we want it or not, it's there where we spend most of our time, and hence, where this Cancel Culture is most ubiquitous. As a person who grows her brand online, you have to post on socials even more. Aside from your art and other things you may create, you have to be there to keep in touch with your people. I'm sure that in your journey, you've faced a lot of canceling. How do you deal with it, and how would you advise others to react if they were in your shoes?
J: I've dealt with online negativity and false information thrown at me by certain people. I simply choose to ignore it. I believe that everyone knows their own truth. Dedicating energy to fabricated and non-existent issues will only divert attention from what truly matters. Let the haters hate; people who matter will always know your true self. My advice is to build a strong support system. And honestly, throwing hate towards others is a reflection of envy, and it's something to be avoided at all costs.
E: I haven’t encountered many individuals as genuinely committed to women's empowerment as you are. Many proclaim such intentions, but you actively embody them, which is truly admirable in my opinion. Given your mission and the realm in which you’re building your brand, how do you envision Web 3 aiding you in achieving your goals? What role has it played thus far in your journey?
J: Thank you for the feedback. For me, Web3 symbolizes freedom! There are countless ways to empower women, such as collecting their art, tipping them, writing articles, sharing their content, and creating empowering content as well. As I continue to grow my brand, receiving messages from women who feel inspired to start their projects or be themselves is incredibly rewarding! Some may label my content as controversial, but in reality, it's funny, lighthearted, and most importantly, empowering to girly girls. If it can empower them, I am super happy!
Also, in 2022 I co-founded Gxrls Revolution, a project that was made possible by Jean-Michel Pailhon, art collector and ex-Ledger executive. Together with 4 curators, we wrote a 180-page long catalog featuring 100 women artists to follow in the NFT space, with context about the current state of the artworks, statistics about crypto events, and some interesting history about the crypto art world. Later we decided to curate physical art exhibitions in Paris to collaborate with the artists to bring their art to bigger art collectors.
E: For many, online success appears seamless, but those familiar with the game know it also entails challenges like mental health strains. How do you navigate this journey during difficult or overwhelming times? What advice would you offer to those aspiring to build a brand like yours, considering this unavoidable aspect of the journey?
J: While I don't consider myself to have achieved online success yet, I feel like I'm gradually making progress toward that goal. Honestly, I struggle with managing my screen time effectively and am not the best at offering advice on this matter! But it's essential to prioritize self-care, especially when establishing a strong brand and building an engaged community can be quite time-intensive initially. It can all feel overwhelming at times.
E: Many people have an obsession with perfection, constantly striving to achieve it in everything they do. Yet, in my view, true perfection remains elusive. Artists, in particular, seem to possess a perpetually designing mind, often feeling that there's always something more to add or adjust in their creations. How do you navigate this pursuit of perfection? And what do you believe we should prioritize over this elusive ideal?
J: There is no such thing as perfection! It's all about testing and learning fast! This is the only way to reach your desired destination!
E: Could you immerse us into the narrative or concept behind the exclusive piece that you’ve created for the Mystic’s Garden Genesis Drop?
J: I wanted to create a piece that aligns with my storytelling and branding, and all I could think about was fries and boys lol. So, I asked Bestie, FriesGPT, to think of a description for the artwork I envisioned, and here’s what she came up with: "In the mystic garden, boys chase after you like bees to honey, but you know that fries will always be your one true love."
I resonated with this concept because it reminded me of a video I watched. It proposed the idea of reversing the narrative where Adam, not Eve, could have initiated all human troubles. This twist challenges the traditional tale, which was narrated by men.
Based on this inspiration, I used Midjourney to create my artwork, depicting a fearful girly girl surrounded by enchanting flowers. She communicates with her bestie to always trust fries, emphasizing their loyalty and truthfulness in contrast to the potentially fabricated narrative attributed to others. I used my own voice in the video to embody the sweet, feminine girly stereotypes and highlight the internet girly style of the artwork.
E: If you could travel to any era of history when it would be and why?
J: I believe we already live in the best society possible! I don't want to live in the past. I find happiness in fries and real showers.
As we conclude this deep dive into Jessy's artistic journey, it's clear that her work is a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and empowerment. Her ability to blend traditional art forms with contemporary digital mediums creates a unique and impactful aesthetic that challenges norms and celebrates femininity.
To stay connected with Jessy and witness the evolution of her art firsthand, be sure to follow her on her social media platforms: Lens, Farcaster, Instagram, Twitter, and her Website. Dive into her world, where each piece of art tells a story, and every story invites you to explore the deeper realms of creativity and empowerment.
The artistic journey doesn’t end here.
Season 2 of Storied Strokes, a collaboration between Mismir and Mystic Garden continues, bringing you closer to the most intriguing and inspiring artists from around the world. Stay up to date with our upcoming features, discover the next artist in the spotlight, and never miss a release by following us on social media ( Twitter - Lens - Instagram - Farcaster).
Thank you!
