N. KFKS: “SOMETIMES YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT CREATING SOMETHING NEW”
N. KFKS: “SOMETIMES YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT CREATING SOMETHING NEW”
 

Photo credit: N. KFKS

Text: Anna Mar

30/09/22

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When our Foxylab New York team saw Nastia’s work for the first time, we definitely decided to do a collaboration with her.

N. KFKS is an incredibly talented artist and graphic designer. The scope of her talent is limitless: from graphic design, illustration, 3D, packaging design, product design to projection mapping to videos, murals, concept art, game and experimental design.

Working all over the world, she has accumulated more than a decade of experience in the design industry and has participated in many international exhibitions.

Whatever Nastia does, she does it with passion. In our interview we talked about her passion for work, travel, hobbies and her upcoming collection with Foxylab New York.

Can you talk about your path to becoming a graphic designer?

During my last two years at school, I studied in architectural class and after in the Academy of Architecture & Art at the faculty of graphic design. Around that time, I started skateboarding and snowboarding. A lot, of course, came to me from that subculture. Also, I was very into manga & anime like Samurai Champloo, Ghost in the Shell, Ergo Proxy, Fullmetal Alchemist, Death Note & many more. All those epic visual styles were around me already. After I got my master’s degree, I moved to New York, where I learned to ride a flatland bmx. Street style was always a part of my daily life and shaped my design tastes.

How would you describe your approach to design?

Passion. It’s like plenty of ideas in your head, and you want to do them all at once. Sometimes you can’t live without creating something new.

Among your works there is often a theme of nature and Japanese culture.I think this reflects your style and you in general.Is it important for you to always put a part of yourself into your work?

I think when you create something, it’s always a part of you; it is a mix of your vision and a sense of beauty in some way. Since I’ve learned the history of art in the academy, I have fallen in love with Japanese culture : the spirit, beauty, philosophy. Also, I was fortunate to spend all my holidays as a kid in the mountains, sea and lakes around my native town: so I’m a big fan of nature. That’s why you can see many Japanese and natural influences in my works.

Which of your projects are you most proud of and why?

It is hard to say which one because I have plenty of great projects, and I’m so grateful for that. Maybe the first big project I collaborated with my friends, we made live-drawing on an abandoned factory. It was new for me, as I realized I could create at more levels, not only drawing but filming, editing, and most fun is collaborating.

Other amazing projects were in New York in the iconic place Zakka in DUMBO. I created live-drawing & art exhibitions there, met so many remarkable people & got so much inspiration from that place. I still think it was the best graphic/art/design store in the town. That store’s owner made it an extraordinary place for customers & artists, very rare nowadays.

Also, my projects in Shanghai and Singapore. It was a significantly different experience, with exciting communication and cultures.

Also, my projects in Shanghai and Singapore. It was a significantly different experience, with exciting communication and cultures.And, of course, my daily experiments in creating things, searching for new styles, and building myself as an artist.

Did you have any experience with NFT? How do you think the NFT world will evolve in the near future?

The idea is certainly good, and it seems to be a transition to some new level for art. But I don’t like that it’s bad for the environment. On another side, there is a changing trend, focusing on more environmentally friendly options. It is much more interesting.

I saw that you also paint with acrylics. What is closer to you: digital or fine art?

I think both. It’s best when you do one thing after another. It gives your mind a bit of fresh air, and you end up much better at generating new ideas or seeing inspiration in the mix.

Can you tell us something about your upcoming collaboration with FXLB? What will it be about? What was the inspiration behind it? And what drew you to this project?

It’s about finding ways to reveal your personality, your character. Every person has their internal struggle, and when the character can find a way to understand this, it will lead him/her to a better future: where you can be anyone, and any paths will be open to you.

The collaboration turned out marvelous. I saw samples, and it looks incredibly cool! I can’t wait to share.

You have a travel blog on your website. How many countries have you been to? Give us a number. Which place evoked the most emotion in you?

I didn’t count till now, and actually, not as much as it might seem: 37 countries. My favorites are Indonesia, Hawaii, Japan, Iceland, the South Caribbean, and all kinds of islands. It is challenging to say what place is my #1, in total, I think TRAVELLING is the key.

You have a travel blog on your website. How many countries have you been to? Give us a number. Which place evoked the most emotion in you?

I didn’t count till now, and actually, not as much as it might seem: 37 countries. My favorites are Indonesia, Hawaii, Japan, Iceland, the South Caribbean, and all kinds of islands. It is challenging to say what place is my #1, in total, I think TRAVELLING is the key.

What are you passionate about besides your work and how is it feeding into your work?

I have many interests, from different techniques and directions in the art to extreme sports, but most of all, I like to travel. I love that ideas and inspiration can flow from one field to another. So you as an artist always have lots of stuff you want to work on.

You do different sports activities (surfing, skateboarding, formerly flatland bmx, parkour, snowboarding) and lead a healthy lifestyle. How has all this shaped you as a person and an artist?

“Mens sana in corpore sano”(a healthy mind in a healthy body). It is simple: you feel great and your thoughts are so right. Also, I love doing difficult things – it makes me feel excellent! But it was not all the time; for example, I had serious surgery, recovered for a few years, and after that gave birth to a baby. It wasn’t easy without sports then, and I appreciate any activity much more these days. Now I’m in good shape and keep going, taking slow steps for bigger adventures in this field and now in a more excellent way: with my family.

Who or what has been the biggest influence on your way of thinking?

Initially, it was my parents; I am very grateful to them because we traveled a lot when I was a kid. Then I continued to travel and live in different places around the globe. Two tips: Adventures always teach something new. Travel is the best education you can give yourself.

When I made my first design collection, I was shocked by the production and the importance of thinking about the environment from the beginning. I can talk about it for hours. Long story short: After that, I opened a vintage shop.

Do you have any exciting projects coming up that you can share?

I’ve been making indie games for some time now, but since I have a baby, I’ve postponed the process for a while, so I can spend more time with my family.

The visual part of the game is almost done, and one level from ten is already tested. There is plenty of work ahead, but it looks fantastic already; I can’t wait to share it! Some of the processes you can find on my Instagram.

 

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