Head in the Clouds by Kristjana S. Williams
VIVE Arts NFT Platform
‘Head in the Clouds’ is the first digital collectible (NFT) project by London-based Icelandic artist Kristjana S. Williams. The project features three NFT collections: unique editions generated from three core artworks, ‘Heart of Nature’, ‘Contemplating Skeleton’ and ‘Drifting Skeleton’. The first collection, ‘Heart of Nature’, will launch on 7 December 2022. ‘Head in Clouds’ will be on view at the artist’s pop-up store on London’s Carnaby Street and the NFTs will be available to purchase globally through the VIVE Arts platform.
Kristjana S. Williams is a multidisciplinary artist, whose work spans hand and laser cut collage, illustration, fashion and interior design. Her artworks draw inspiration from Victorian engravings and the natural world, and involve physically and digitally layering exotic botanicals and vibrant animals to build fantastical, dream-like worlds. This is the second collaboration between VIVE Arts and Kristjana S. Williams, following their work together on ‘A Curious Game of Croquet’, a VR experience that was presented as part of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s 2021 blockbuster exhibition Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser.
Williams envisions ‘Head in the Clouds’ as an imaginative, expressive digital art project inspired by the figurative idea of having your ‘head in the clouds’ and the heightened emotions associated with the act of travelling, from joy and anticipation to impatience and nervous excitement. ‘Heart of Nature’, ‘Contemplating Skeleton’ and ‘Drifting Skeleton’ reflect how these emotions are deeply felt, right down to the bone and with a pounding heart, as travelling opens up the mind and body to new possibilities and expands appreciation of the natural world.
The project introduces the element of chance into Williams’ intricate, deliberate artworks as each NFT is generated through an interactive function on the platform. The collector is invited to spin two ‘wheels of chance’ resulting in a variation of the artwork featuring a particular personality and emotion. These elements are represented through various figurative motifs, which add a beautiful, surreal layer of moving imagery over the core artworks, from floating clouds, flying birds and butterflies, to unfurling flowers and mushrooms. The NFT can then be minted on the VIVE Arts NFT platform. In total, there will be 64 variations of ‘Heart of Nature’ and 144 variations of each of the two Skeleton works.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How can I see/ access Head in the Clouds?
‘Head in the Clouds’ NFT editions will be available to explore and to purchase online through the VIVE Arts NFT platform. The works will be on display on digital screens at Kristjana S. Williams pop up store on London’s Carnaby Street, which is open from now until Spring 2023.
How were the works created?
Kristjana’s artworks draw inspiration from Victorian engravings and the natural world and involve physically and digitally layering exotic botanicals and vibrant animals to build fantastical, dream-like worlds. ‘Head in the Clouds’ is a continuation of her practice and the NFTs are generated through a playful interactive function designed by the artist, which determine the layer of colour and animation added to the animated artwork.
When were the original artworks created?
Kristjana S. Williams created the three original artworks in 2020, Heart of Nature in January 2020 before Valentine’s Day and the skeletons in summer 2020. They were inspired by the emotions felt whilst travelling, particularly after the pandemic, and how these sensations are felt deep down to the bone and with a pounding heart and heightening your appreciation of the natural world.
How do collectors mint the NFTs?
When collectors go the VIVE Arts platform they can spin the two colourful wheels, which will determine the colour and emotion of their artwork, and then mint their unique NFT. There will also be different ways for the community to engage and take part in the project on Discord, such as taking part in an AMA or a raffle, with benefits such as place on the whitelist, to exclusively mint an NFT from the first collection, early access to the waitlist for later drops or an opportunity to connect with the VIVE Arts team.
How is the NFT hosted and how does the collector access it?
Once the NFT is minted it is transferred to the collector’s wallet. The NFT is connected to a decentralised file system, which hosts the metafile with information about the artwork. The artwork itself is hosted on the HTC server.
Who is the team behind Head in the Clouds?
Kristjana S. Williams – Artist
Eyjólfur Jónsson – Animator
Sophie Newport – Chief Operating Officer, Kristjana S. Williams Studio
Sousou Kim – Senior Graphics Designer, Kristjana S. Williams Studio
Nina Weng – Curatorial Project Manager, VIVE Arts
Ann Kuo – Platform Manager, VIVE Arts
Caio Lofrano – Web3 Community Manager, VIVE Arts
Celina Yeh – Executive Director, VIVE Arts
Sam King – Head of Programme, VIVE Arts
David.CH Liu, Technical Lead, HTC
Jessie Hsieh, Senior Backend Engineer, HTC
Doris Hsiao, Principal Frontend Engineer, HTC
Heidy Chan, Senior QA Engineer, HTC
Ym Chuang, Assistant Manager, HTC
Ryan Chen, Principal Engineer, HTC
Bryan Wu, Senior Manager, HTC
Massimo Sahin – Web3 Advisor
Gianfranco Tesoro - Web3 Collaboration Specialist
Ten Ten – website development
Sutton PR - PR and communications