Eli Ankutse

Art is more than just a visual experience, it’s a conversation between the creator and the observer, a bridge between moments and meaning. In this interview, I sit down with Eli, a multifaceted artist whose journey began not with a brush or a pencil, but with an appreciation for the world around him. From his early fascination with imagery to his exploration of photography, digital manipulation, and even sound, Eli has shaped a creative identity rooted in storytelling.

We dive into the essence of his work, the evolution of his artistic style, and the moments that inspire him. Beyond technique and aesthetics, Eli shares his perspective on individuality, the role of artists in shaping culture, and the intersection of art with emerging technologies like AI and blockchain. Whether you’re an artist yourself or simply someone who seeks meaning in creativity, this conversation offers a glimpse into the mind of an artist who sees the world through a unique lens, one that captures more than just images, but the very emotions that define them.

Eduard ( M ): I believe each of us is born an artist, whether we realize it or not. Some discover their calling in what is traditionally considered art, while others express creativity in less obvious ways. For those like you, who clearly belong to the former, there’s often a moment—or several—that solidifies art’s importance in their lives. Could you share your moment? Was it a single event or a collection of experiences?

Eli ( E ): I couldn’t agree more, and in fact, when I think back to when I first realized that I was interested in art, I was probably about 8 or 9 years old. What’s interesting is that I didn’t really like drawing or painting so much at the time, I just knew that I liked looking at it. At school, because I was academically better with numbers and science than the arts, I came to the logical decision that I should focus on my strengths and get the best grades. Made sense at the time, but in hindsight, it may have been a missed opportunity. But it was when I got my first real SLR camera for my 21st Birthday that it really started to click, and I realized how much I love capturing moments myself and sharing them with others. So I have my photographic journey to thank for my current love of art.

M: Your art is among my favorites. From the first impression to the finer details, the connections between the name, visuals, and other elements resonate deeply with me. While I love letting art speak for itself, many people feel a need to connect with the artist’s essence to fully embrace the work. For someone encountering your art for the first time, how would you describe its essence?

E: My role as a writer definitely has a big part in the style of my art, as does the desire to tell stories. As an Editor of a magazine, you’re always looking at the entire composition, not just one aspect. Whether it’s with images, video, words, art direction, or illustrations, they all have to buy into the overarching theme—or story—that you are trying to tell.

With my art, I would say that is the essence of it; it’s like when a top chef tells you to combine the different items on your plate together in order to get the full experience of the dish, that’s how I feel with my art. Read the title first, and then through that lens look at the piece of art and experience it that way.

Of course, with art, everything is open to interpretation, it has subjectivity, and that’s what I love about it; people will come to their own opinions about what they think it means, and that’s completely fine too.

M: Reflecting on your creative journey—from the first day you began to now—how has your style or approach to creating evolved?

E: One blessing I had (although I didn’t think so at the time) was my limited ability to draw and also the fact I wasn’t at that time advanced with tools such as Illustrator and Photoshop. This inability helped me to focus my creativity on things that I was better skilled at, as I wasn’t willing to compromise on the quality of my output. So this meant that a lot of my earlier work was mainly photography, as that was—and maybe still is—my strongest creative. As time has progressed and my skills improved I’ve started to use more digital manipulation techniques, including animation and even more recently sound, to tell a more complete story.

M: Every piece of art has an inspiration behind it, whether it’s people, places, experiences, thoughts, or introspection. Who or what stands as your most profound muse, and why?

E: Maybe not a muse as such, but my art is centered on an idea that was born out of a challenge I had a few years back, I think it was 2016. It was a time when video content was starting to come to the fore and social media platforms were beginning the mindset change from being image-centric to being video-centric.

I found myself caught in the middle of these worlds as I was still very much in love with photography, but I could see the benefit of video in telling more of your story. Going back to my earlier point of being “limited” by my skillset, I couldn’t use video in the way I wanted so it made me think of other ways of capturing that.

It wasn’t until a few years later that I developed this concept of “moments”; something that told a deeper story than my photographs, but not as lengthy as video. The idea is that people can look at my art and relive the moment as I once did, over and over again, with different aspects standing out each time.

So my muse, if you will, is the moment, and trying to capture that as best as I can, through my lens of interpretation.

M: We all face times when the world feels heavy, and creating seems impossible. In those moments, what inspires you to return to art? What keeps you creating, even when everything around you feels like it’s falling apart?* *

E: The good thing about art for me is that I don’t rely on it solely as a source of income; it’s more as a form of expression for me, which is perfect when I need to switch my mind off from scouring spreadsheets and business strategy. When I’m creating art, it feels like a more effortless side of my mind is engaged, and I have the freedom to create without boundaries; I’m much more forgiving with myself when I’m creating art than I am with myself in other aspects of life. Whenever I start to feel heavy, I look for inspiration first, which I mainly get from reading the Bible and meditating on the Word, after which the art will generally flow more freely.

M: People are drawn to the unconventional, where rules are defied and new ideas take shape. For an artist, authenticity and integrity are crucial to breaking boundaries and truly standing out. How important do you think individuality is in an artist’s journey, and what steps can artists take to embrace their unique essence, especially under the pressure to conform?

To keep it very simple, Nosce Teipsum—Know Thyself. Until you spend time getting to know yourself and truly understand who you are, you will always struggle with individuality in every aspect of life. I’m blessed that I enjoy spending time by myself, and as a Christian, my Faith journey has played a massive part in understanding who I am, while caring less about the noise surrounding me. When it gets too much, I just look up and the noise gradually fades away.

M: Artists have always been at the forefront of societal change and cultural revolutions, inspiring others to embrace their true selves. How do you see artists, including yourself, shaping a world where people can live more freely? What’s your stance on the impact that artists have on our lives, and how they can drive positive change today?* *

E: I think in both medium and output art is very important in providing insight into culture, challenges, emotions, and life. While a lot can be said for experiencing art in the moment, I feel art is almost always best enjoyed in posterity, when there is a disconnect from the societal paradigms of the era in which the art is created. I think only then can you truly assess the real impact of the art. In my opinion, people 100 years from now will be able to truly understand my art in more depth than anyone today could ever hope to. That’s the beauty of art to me. I also think digital art—particularly on-chain art—will have a place in the annals of art history, as it captures the societal mindset at the naissance of blockchain technology.

M: When I first discovered your visual art on Lens, I was captivated. Then I saw your short car review videos—like the ones with Rolls-Royces—and was equally impressed. You manage to convey so much in such a short time, turning these videos into art themselves. Do you see a connection between your static visual art and these dynamic video projects? How do they influence each other?

E: It's interesting you say that, as internally I have a clear distinction between when I create content, and when I create art; for me, they are completely different. As an Editor, I naturally see content creation more as work and hence have a lot of guardrails and briefs to follow, making sure the content meets the needs for which I was given to create it.

With my art I just do what I feel led to do, and proceed with complete freedom to express—within my vision—that which I’m trying to express.

M: Many people approach new technologies like NFTs and AI with hesitation, often dismissing them without understanding their potential. But you’ve embraced both, integrating them into your art. What sparked your curiosity and courage to explore these worlds? How have they influenced your work, and what would you say to those who remain skeptical?

E: I could be wrong, but I imagine the journey we’re on with blockchain and AI must have been similar to when color was introduced to the cinema, or sound added to films, or even more recently with digital videography and editing. My viewpoint is less concerned with the technology itself and more with how it is applied.

I think before long we’ll see both these technologies integrated into society and art in ways that most will not even think twice about using. A lot of the hesitation surrounding these technologies has been due to the threat of the unknown, such as loss of jobs, plagiarism etc—all valid concerns.

But as time goes by, and more conventions set for the usage of these technologies, we’ll see much more willing adoption. Many were scared of the internet at first, but now look? I see new technologies as opportunities to learn, grow, and from a business perspective, stay ahead of the competition. That’s why I’m planning to include blockchain technology and AI in the next venture I’m building.

M: Every piece of art has a purpose and points toward a destination. What purpose does your art serve, and what dream or goal do you aspire to achieve on your creative journey?

E: In simple terms, my art serves to convey the emotions I felt in a “moment” I have experienced, be that abstract or in real life. My hope is that when people see my art it transports them to where I was when I saw it, and how I felt when I created it. If I can somehow provide people with a temporary escape from their day-to-day, then that is success for me. 11.

If you could trade your current artistic talent for a completely different one—like dance, cooking, or coding—what would it be and why? To be honest, I’m not one to wish for talents I don’t have; I find great comfort in knowing that God has given me the skills I’m meant to have, and I’m very happy to focus on growing within those “boundaries”. That said, the next step for me is going deeper into generative art, so keep an eye out for that.

Throughout this conversation, Eli has offered a glimpse into the mind of an artist who sees beyond the surface—who captures not just images, but emotions, stories, and fleeting moments. His journey is a testament to the power of creativity, individuality, and embracing new technologies while staying true to one's artistic essence. As the world of art continues to evolve, Eli stands at the intersection of tradition and innovation, proving that storytelling will always be at the heart of meaningful creation.

To explore more of Eli’s work and follow his creative journey, you can find him on Lens, Farcaster, Twitter, and Instagram.

Mismir is more than a brand, it’s a movement that believes in the power of creativity, collaboration, and storytelling. If you want to be part of the journey, follow Mismir on Lens, Twitter, Instagram, Farcaster and discover what’s next in the world of fashion, art, tech, and most importantly, community.

Thank you for reading!🌹