Serhii Shybirkin (known as @pactalom on Twitter) is an artist based in Yuzhne, Ukraine. He combines his artistic talent with a passion for exploring new technologies. Despite living in a war-torn country, Shybirkin remains dedicated to creativity and actively engages on social media platforms to showcase his art and advocate for the transformative potential of AI-based art. He is recognized as a spokesperson in the genre, sharing his artistic journey, promoting the fusion of technology and art, and inspiring others to embrace the possibilities of AI.
Exploring violin and painting as a child, Shybirkin later in life expanded his skills to digital art, photography and collaborations with his wife, Yulia Shybirkina. He is also a member of MTCLTR (Xcube Gallery), has been participating in notable Ukrainian art events and showcasing his work on OpenSea and OBJKT on the Tezos blockchain.
The collection During Days: Unseen Cityscapes introduces a surreal world through the use of AI-generated post-photography. Shybirkin’s artwork showcases an alternate reality that is both recognizable and ethereal, transcending our perception.
By harnessing the transformative capabilities of AI, the artist presents unseen dimensions that exist in the spaces between reality. Each image captures a fleeting moment, hinting at a larger narrative and inviting the viewer to interpret and engage with the world inhabited by its central characters.
Leap Gallery has curated the drop of ”During Days: Unseen Cityscapes” by Serhii Shybirkin, showcasing his captivating artwork. This interview offers an insightful glimpse into the creative mind of the artist and explores the inspiration behind his surreal and transformative exploration of unseen dimensions in cityscapes. The interview is done by Ellika Sjöstrand, curator and founder of Leap Gallery.
LEAP: I know that you have been engaging in art and creative hobbies since you were a kid, but how did you enter web3 and NFTs? Tell me a little about your journey in art and how you started with NFt:s.
SERHII: Since childhood, I was engaged in fine arts, music and computer programming. Until a few years ago, my wife and I were completely analog artists and creators of strange interior items. Then photography appeared in our lives and after a while, artificial intelligence too. I’ve never been a technically strong artist, however, it seemed to me that I could distinguish between good and bad art in terms of composition, colors, technique, and so on. And now, when there is a MidJourney, I give him logical puzzles to which I get answers in the form of pictures and I can evaluate them in terms of artistic value.
LEAP: So we can’t avoid the subject of your living circumstances. You are Ukrainian and are living in the midst of a war. How do your days look like now and is it possible to find routines in your artwork process?
SERHII: Life before and after the war is very different. Our days used to be filled with trips, hikes, swimming in the sea, trips to various cultural institutions. Now 90 percent is sitting at the computer. There are positive aspects to developing yourself as a professional in the artistic field, but in general I would like to add a few more moving elements of life.
LEAP: Tell us more about your art on the technical side. Do you use Midjourney solely or do you use other software or services as well?
SERHII: In this collection, I used only Midjourney without interfering with a single pixel, color scheme, contrast or exposure. In one work, I only had to trim the frame for balance. I have a separate project where I use Photoshop, but in terms of artificial intelligence, this is only MidJourney. It’s amazing!
LEAP: You are a true advocate for AI art and have developed a prompt assistant that people can use for their own art creation. How come you have this interest in teaching others about AI art?
SERHII: I created an assistant for myself, but I realized that it had a very big potential. I figured out how to refine it and then launched it on my website.
This is a lot of work and I think that leaving it only to myself is generally strange. I will contribute with this, other people will contribute in other areas, and together the community will grow much faster. This is how the community works.
LEAP: What are your favorite pieces of art in your own collections that you created?SERHII: There are many favorite pieces, here are some of them:
LEAP: Can you mention some favorite artists of yours in web3 that inspire you?
SERHII: Of course, one of the most inspiring artists is my wife Shybirkina Yuliia. She is a black and white photographer. I can also name Anna Malina and Yuma Sogo.
LEAP: Do you have a collection of crypto art yourself and are there particular works you are fond of?
SERHII: So far I have a very modest collection of other artist’s art, but it will grow. I am an aspiring nft-artist and collector. But I see a large quantity of fully amazing artists on Objkt and Foundation. And when I get a chance, I will definitely collect more.
LEAP: And then one last question: What artist from the past would you like to meet and have dinner with?
SERHII: With Leonardo Da Vinci, as he is the most versatile personality. Completely in awe of his productivity.
LEAP: Thank you very much for taking the time and answering my questions!
SERHII: Thank you very much for your questions!