Ever feel disconnected from the artwork you're making? Where each project feels like an isolated task, as if you're just checking boxes, rather than contributing to something bigger?
By the end of 2023, I felt completely disconnected from my vision as an artist and the work I was expected to create as Second Realm.
Second Realm is an award-winning artist who revolutionized the use of CryptoPunks for artistic expression. His Unofficial Punks project sparked a decentralized art movement—the Alt Punks. He played a key role in the Trash Art movement, challenging IP, digital ownership, traditional curation, and art censorship.
I’m so proud of what I accomplished as Second Realm, but the disconnect made my work feel fragmented, leaving me frustrated. There was a clear gap between who Second Realm was and what I wanted to bring to life as an artist.
The answer for me was letting go of Second Realm. It wasn’t easy—I still struggle with it. Second Realm was more than just a persona; it was a construct, a safe space, something I’d held close since I was 12.
But the new direction I want doesn’t align with Second Realm anymore.
A deeper, more personal vision began to emerge. I couldn’t fully capture or release it as Second Realm. It felt like the very persona I had operated under since 2019 was holding me back.
There was a larger purpose trying to emerge, but at the time, I didn’t know what it would look like or how to bring it into focus. A year later, I have a much clearer vision of what's next for me as an artist.
