Nygilia’s ‘Alzenaverse Halloween’ Gets Spooky on Rarible

They say that Halloween is a time when the veil between worlds is thinnest. That for these few days spirits and beings can roam free, paying us a visit when we least expect it. It is at this very moment that Alzena arrives: an Afrofuturist spirit that travels through time and space, a figure formed from iridescent rainbows, with piercing eyes that gaze at us from the darkness…

Dropping on Rarible tomorrow, Alzenaverse Halloween is the latest collection of Alzena NFTs by American artist Nygilia. This drop marks the 6th anniversary of Alzena’s birth into the digital realm, and is divided into two parts:

• Phase 1 opens at 9 AM on October 30th, where you can mint magical animated potions priced at .00123 ETH. Collect as many as you can, here’s why:
• In phase 2 on October 31st you can transform each of these potions into a unique Alzena NFT. 

We sat down with Nygilia and chatted about all things digital art, NFTs, and representation in visual culture. Read on to get the full story behind this drop.

Nygilia’s path to art

There’s two things Nygilia has in buckets: passion and vision. Born in New York State, she has been living on and off in the UK since 2016, where she’s bagged two MA’s in art and animation, and is currently doing a PhD. Damn girl. Growing up in an active, sporty family, her first love was not art, but basketball. 

“I was actually thrown into sports. I come from a family that's very active, my mother did track and field and volleyball, my dad comes from Jamaica so he was always active playing soccer (or well, football!). I got into basketball and though I wasn’t great at first, the more I played the better I got.”

Eventually, Nygilia came to realize that sports was not something she wanted to do forever  (“everything starts to hurt!”), and she shifted her attention to the arts. An introduction to graphic design in high school sparked a passion for design and, in turn, animation and fine art. Since then, she has studied design and animation and has been working in the NFT space since 2021. 

The birth of Alzena

Part of Nygilia’s authentic storytelling is the character of Alzena - an Afrofuturist spirit from another dimension. Alzena first came to life in the 2019 piece ‘Vanity’: a video animation depicting a luminous line-drawn character moving through surreal and abstract landscapes. 

Throughout the video, a chorus of voices sing, and a poem is recited in the Zambian language of Bemba. Originally created entirely within a VR space, the animation is both disorienting in its movement and patterning, and at the same time uplifting in its sense of journey and its use of poetry and song. The message is clear: Alzena has arrived.

She is both ancient tradition and modern technology, she is an African past, and a diasporic future, she is here in spirit and onchain.

Nygilia shared two main influences in creating Alzena:

“ I would describe Alzena's personality like Yuna from ‘Final Fantasy X/X-2’ and Kida from ‘Atlantis’. Like Yuna, she possesses a deep spiritual connection and a sense of destiny that drives her actions. She is kind, stubborn, and empathetic to others. 

Similar to Kida, she's a natural leader with a strong determination to protect her people. Alzena's intelligence and curiosity allow her to navigate complex situations and uncover hidden truths. Her combination of these qualities makes her a truly unique and compelling character.”

In many ways, Alzena is a reflection of Nygilia herself: her character and her journey, from her days on the basketball courts in New York state, to her current life as a PhD research candidate. It wasn’t all plain sailing to get where she is today — there were people in her life who thought she shouldn’t move to England, there were, of course, challenges with moving across the world and building a life for herself in a new country. Feelings of alienation and uncertainty came naturally, but her determination kept her going.

“Like Alzena, I've always been driven by a sense of purpose and a desire to do incredible things in the world. I also share her passion for exploring new ideas and challenging the status quo. While our experiences may differ, I believe we share a similar spirit of adventure and a belief in the power of human connection.”

More than a mirror

Alzena is not “simply” an extension or reflection of the artist, though - she is a complex character in her own right. Nygilia is clear that Alzena is an individual with her own story and personality, a member of the African diaspora on her own unique journey. And representation in visual culture is extremely important:

“When we see characters who look like us, have similar experiences or embody values we identify with, it validates our existence and makes us feel seen, heard, and understood. Diverse and nuanced characters also challenge stereotypes and broaden our perspectives. By encountering different viewpoints and lived experiences, we can develop empathy, compassion, and a deeper appreciation for the richness of human diversity.”

Digital art and the NFT space, in particular, offer unique opportunities for historically marginalized groups, allowing people to tell their own unique stories in an industry that is still growing, and still finding its feet.

“As a mixed-Caribbean artist myself, I've always felt a deep connection to the stories and traditions passed down through generations of my family. NFTs and digital art offer a unique opportunity to share these stories with the world in a way that's both authentic and accessible.

Imagine being able to create a digital artwork that not only captures the essence of your culture but also allows people from all walks of life to explore and appreciate it. It's like building a bridge between the past and the future, connecting with the cutting-edge technology of today.

For me, NFTs are more than just a new way to sell art; they're a tool for empowerment and preservation. They allow us to reclaim our narrative, challenge stereotypes, and ensure that our cultural heritage is celebrated for generations to come.”

Because the digital realm is still very new in the history of art, Nygilia sees an opportunity here for African and black diaspora artists to write their own stories.

Instead of having large institutions tell us what matters (which, let’s face it, has been happening for hundreds of years), we now have an opportunity to decide ourselves what’s important in this space, and in the art we create and collect. 

Nygilia is a force to be reckoned with — she has a keen understanding of the current landscape of digital art and NFTs, and the possibilities she sees in this space are inspiring. 

This Halloween, Alzena will come to life on Rarible and roam amongst us in all her glitchy glory. Don’t sleep on this one - mint your potions and watch them transform into your own Alzena. Phase 1 drops at 9 AM ET on October 30, phase 2 drops at 3 PM on October 31st. 

👻Let’s get spooky.