Kill The Selfie
1/1
sold to Anonymous
1.5 ETH ($761) on November 20, 2020
Makersplace
When I received the message from Cryptofinally that she had decided to cancel me from her Cryptoartist show because of my NFT, Kill The Selfie, I wasn’t too surprised.
It was another incident in a streak of life events that reveal my core personality: I refuse to candy-coat what I perceive in the world, whether it’s good, bad or ugly. And I often wind up pissing off people in the process of telling my version of the truth.
I wasn’t going to write about why Cryptofinally canceled me for her NFT artist show, but I took a poll on Twitter and 85%+ of you said you wanted to hear the story so here it is.
I’m not upset or mad about being canceled, but I think it’s important to discuss the events surrounding it. Equally interesting is the fact that the buyer of Kill The Selfie recently contacted me and gave me some valuable insights about why he bought it.
Some facts about my artwork: Kill The Selfie sold for 1.5 ETH ($761) on November 20, 2020. It’s a single-edition NFT on Makersplace.
Let me start from the beginning.....
Over a month ago I was contacted by Cryptofinally on Twitter. If you don’t know who Cryptofinally is, check out her Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/cryptofinally. She’s a well-known crypto influencer and everyone in CryptoTwitter knows who she is. She’s also a big NFT collector and creator on Rarible. She caused a bit of a sensation when she put her selfies up for sale as NFTs on Rarible.
She asked me if I would like to be interviewed on her newly launched show about NFT artists. I said yes. We talked about different days and times and agreed upon one. When the day and time arrived, she had some issues with her internet connection, so we agreed to reschedule it.
Before I go on, I need to explain one thing about my current life so that everything is clear. I’m now devoting myself completely to cryptoart. I’ve decided to take the harder route and do art that means something to me and that might be uncomfortable. I’m not making art to please anyone else. I’m doing it to record my truth and ideas. That’s why you’ll never see me paint a pretty ballerina or a beautiful sunset. Plenty of other artists are doing this already.
I am going for something more gut-wrenching and raw. And really, I’ve always been going for the jugular, even in my younger days. My very first art show ended up being banned because a woman who was viewing it had a seizure. I never really found out any details about this incident, but the gallery took my art down as a result.
I might also add that I have very little control over when and what I create. I know this might sound weird, but I have semi-conscious impulses and visions which dictate what I paint.
Ok, now we arrive at the day where I created an NFT titled, Kill The Selfie.
Firstly, I want to clarify that this particular piece of art was not directed at Cryptofinally, and I was not thinking of her at all when I created it. As you can see, the subject is Kim Kardashian:
Description:
Selfie culture degrades humans. At the core of the problem is this: modern society values external beauty over other attributes like intelligence, thereby giving the message to people that it doesn’t matter what your brain looks like, the only thing that matters is how you look physically.
Most of us realize that worshipping the selfie is not going to move humanity forward, but most of us can’t look away either. This points to the fact that humans have not evolved even in the slightest. Most of us are the same as we were in high school: in search of status, money and sex.
The main artistic fuel for Kill The Selfie was my own experience as a teen model and the residual damage that it did to me. When I was a model for Elite, I became bulimic, and began to starve myself. I was a model for several years and the amount of damage it did to me remains to this day.
Here was my tweet about it on Twitter:
If you want to delve into more details about my experience as a teen model, read this: https://medium.com/into-the-raw/the-modeling-industry-destroyed-my-self-esteem-and-soul-6ba3037b26eb
My NFT, Kill The Selfie, is also critical of the vapid selfie culture that is rampant on social media today. I think Kim Kardashian is the perfect personification of vapid celebrity selfie culture. To this day, I still don’t know what she did to get famous.
I get triggered when I see overly sexualized, exploitive selfies because of my past experience as a teen model. It reminds me of those times when I was objectified and starving myself to please my modeling managers. And really, I never got over it. I think also, I was more deeply affected by this because I am an introvert, and tend to internalize stuff to an extreme degree.
There is one more thing.....our physical selves rot pretty quickly, but our minds don’t. Our minds can do amazing things if given the right attention and nurturing. Selfie culture is a primary example of anti-intellectualism. I think it needs to die.
After I minted Kill The Selfie and tweeted about it, Cryptofinally sent me a message on Twitter canceling my interview:
I want to address one thing that I find particularly disgusting about this message.
"why it's taking such a large part of your brand at this moment"
First of all, I am a human being, not a brand.
Secondly, I am an artist and published author, and it's pretty obvious that you don't know who the fuck I am because my book, Uncrap Your Life: Navigating Life's Crappiest Situations that I published in 2015 is raw as fuck. I delve into every failure I ever had in my 50 years of life and get to root cause of each one, providing the reader with ideas on how to solve life's crappiest situations.
Throughout my entire life, I have expressed uncomfortable truths, whether the world wanted to hear or it not, both in writing and art. I've been doing art and creative projects for over 30 years, so getting a lecture and canceled from a youngin is quite hilarious. Your notion of "brand" is really gross, and you're reducing my life to something like a corporation, something superficial and cheap. I am not a brand nor will I ever be a brand. Human first, Arist/Writer second.
Here’s the entire exchange.
I don’t normally publish dm’s, but in this case, I think it’s more fair to let you come to your own conclusions after reading it for yourself. (Blue is my text)
She ends it on a neutral tone, and throughout the exchange, we ended up getting to know each other better. But it’s still quite obvious that she has no intention of having me on her show because my art hit a nerve. I think she could begin her research into the differences between the artist vs. the art.
I am not my art.
I created it, but it doesn’t define my multi-faceted human existence. I am just a person, like you. I don’t filter my ideas, and they express themselves in a raw way, but just because I created Kill The Selfie doesn’t mean I hate people who post selfies. I occasionally post selfies. LOL.
I am not that one-dimensional. I recognize that I cannot change people, and I also have no desire to spend my energy in such a futile endeavor. I accept people for who they are, for the most part. But I also don’t repress my truth, experience and ideas. And I definitely am not into candy-coated art.
Now, fast forward to today.
The buyer of Kill The Selfie messaged me on Twitter. I was very surprised to learn the entire story of why he decided to to buy it. He explained that he wasn’t even an NFT collector, and that this purchase was the first big one he’d ever made. Then, he divulged more details:
“It was more like ‘How can I not look at this...’ it was brilliant. and horrifying.”
That is the best compliment I have ever received from any of my buyers!
I am really grateful to receive this kind of feedback because I wanted to know if my tweet caused someone to buy my art. It turned out that it did.
So what are the lessons in this? If you don’t understand the difference between the art and the artist, it’s time to study. Also, if you can’t explore topics that challenge the status quo, pop culture and views that differ from your own you probably need to rethink your art show. Art is often uncomfortable and requires a certain amount of objectivity in order to process it.
I’d like to end on a positive note.
I’m happy to announce that I’m going to be interviewed on Josie Bellini’s show, Behind The Art tonight at 9 PM CST. Here’s her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/215josie
I will see you all then!
Check out my NFTs art on Makersplace: https://makersplace.com/stellabelle
Here’s my full list of links:
Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/stellabelle
NFT Showroom: https://nftshowroom.com/stellabelle/gallery
Makersplace: https://makersplace.com/stellabelle
Rarible: https://app.rarible.com/stellabelle/onsale
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stellabelle
Hive: https://peakd.com/@stellabelle
Website: https://stellabelle.carrd.co/
Excellent post! Good for you and you do you which is commendable. I am usually very critical of folks and that is my own self-esteem* issues. It seems that you are working through yours using your various creative skills to include your unique-art. I am not a fan of the art, but a fan of your going for the jugular.
@cryptofinally is a kid barely out of her teens. She chooses to sexually objective herself and that is her choice to make. Like you said, we can change no one. Duplicity is a common malady that all human-beings experience to different degrees.
If you think it strange that I am giving you this praise, don't get mad at me. I am a Gemini♊ and currently sober. The good twin is in control. 😉
lol!
glad the good twin is control sarg, you ain't the only gemini ........HONEY :P
haha
HIVE!D
Such a great story! Thank you for sharing it... it's tough but it's true!
Your Art is Horrifying!
and Brilliant!
Stay [BLOCK]!
~Frank
Something controversial struck up controversy. Who whoulda thunk it.
hahhahaha. Yeah, I am continually surprised by humans!
well for what it matters I have no clue who half the "influencers" in most of this shit are nor do I give a fuck!
:)
That's why I write how I damn well want to and others do too but it may not get you lambo! (oh effn' no, amirite?) Isn't it odd though her lil' avi is a cutesy pic of herself, is she jealous you made money, seems like it.
She mad you modeled? So did I and I know how other 'girls' love hearing about it, you know what I mean. The crypto landscape is full of a bunch of people who love the smell of their own farts :)
she cancelled you? so sad, cancel back, jealousy is not a good look and Kim Kardashian culture can suck my invisible dick cause if I had a dick it would be enourmous and from what little I know about you your ivisi'dick or mega ovaries which is more apt would be large like mine................ that's such a sad word salad of bullshit thrown at you for what amounts to imho...envy, well, go break the internet ;)
That is a real man's comment! - I like it...
thanks, yeah nothing says female empowerment like cancel culture to one another, quite bullshitty op/ed ;) pretty much just looks like someone got jelly of the O.P. and spun it all fancy worded or something, dunno cause us womYn's get to bleed like a week a month and live to tell the tale!!!!
lol..... thanks for commenting. yeah, well, i am not one to really consider my gonads as anything special....BUT i did create a life form once. THAT is worth something.
ahhh late, haven't been on just saw this. yes creating life is def. worth something. I did an NFT a couple weeks back for shits and giggles maybe I'll do more and then hopefully not get "cancelled" for whatever b.s. reason the crypto community tends to make if God Forbid you aren't in lockstep with the unspoken rules op/ed ;)
True and I entirely get and agree with your art. Lol she probably just want to play safe as she probably felt guilty of doing the opposite thing of what your art is about. Dunno, that's how I see her
yeah, it just showed me that she's not an art authority and probably doesn't have any business running a show on artists! There is a difference between the art and the artist, but she appears not to understand this! LOL
intresting reading, indeed. and a convincing piece of contemporary art.
thanks for reading and commenting.
Excellent post, reading this opened my mind too the real truth of artist and their kind of art. I like the fact that you don't filter your ideas because it expresses the real you, also truth changes everything and only few people are welling to accept it.
#I_RESPECT_YOUR_WORK
thanks so much for your kind words
Your welcome. I learnt from you anyways.
Influencers regardless of the niche live and die by their perceived Branding it’s nothing personal it’s all about what’s going to get the biggest bang for buck, it’s a business!
NFTs are just the hot topic of the moment that hype cycle will fade for soemtbing new and she like the other influencers will follow the next hype trail
Everyone’s just severing their own self interest and that’s all of us, we human selfies
My very first art show ended up being banned because a woman who was viewing it had a seizure.
RESPECT!
THANK YOU
It's sad how soft some people are when it comes to things they aren't comfortable with. In a way I'm glad she decided not to host you on the show. It shows how insecure she is with things in her life. She doesn't want to rock the boat with things in her show and life. It's her choice but it was a flawed one in the end.
I'm glad you made the piece and continue to create art based on your choices not the choices of the people who want the art. That is what art is supposed to be. Artistic inspiration not artistic suggestion.
Lol it’s all about curatorship of an image that’s the brand that’s the IP that’s what influencers are selling so the protective of it because it can and will go up in smoke, any fame is always fleeting
This "influencer" shit is such a joke lmao. What happened to credibility? This attention economy is such a load of junk!
i agree 100%
I'M glad she decided not to also. It would have been miserable. Josie Bellini is way better and she is such a decent person!
I am decidedly not a fan of the selfie obsessiveness that seems to go hand-in-hand with the preexisting obsession with appearance in pop culture. Apparently Billie Eilish (spelling?) caught flak for being photographed with a perfectly normal physique instead of hiding an anorexic skeleton under her baggy clothing. I have seen so many appearance-obsessed people nearly destroy themselves in pursuit of a flawed ideal, and so many women came themselves in cosmetics for what?
yeah that thing with Billie Eilish is truly disturbing! I love how she wears baggy clothes to cover up herself. Her body is her own business, not the business of others!
Yikes! onwards and upwards! The show must go on :_)
Just do your thing and dont try to agree with someone who has different point of view.
Not all the crypto peeps are the same :)
I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it...
thanks you!
I have this same thing!! I can’t tell you how relived I felt when i read that.
Thank you for sharing the story around this. I appreciate you & your work.
yeah! many of us are like this i think. thanks for reading and giving your feedback
I resonated with this so much. Creative role model is my archetype, but my life path is all about people seeing me do it my way and they either join in what I am defying against, or defy me. (If these metaphysical ideas are interesting, I can help you find yours; if not, I understand. I was staunchly atheist/materialist in my former season)
I am really intrigued by NFTs, I've been gravitating toward digital art as the medium that I create in most often. I love the change, the process that the works can explore. I was hoping to explore makers place, but do not have an invite code. Would you be willing to share one?
interesting but not too surprising I guess, good art can force people to confront their own feelings and insecurities !
To add, you reminded me of a time I made this hideous sculpture and a woman came into our store, picked it up, looked at it, walked around then came back and bought it. She told me it was so disturbing she had to have it, LOL, it really is the best compliment to make someone FEEL something.
that's hilarious!
You sound very interesting! And this was a great post. The whole thing is a piece of art, and an excellent introduction to you.
AND THIS...
is maybe why crypto is a man's game.
You females bring unnecessary drama really. This whole story (not your personal one) is just embarrassing. Plus that fake poptart @cryptofinally is no crypto influencer. That's laughable. She'll sell herself for as little as 1Hive. Her content is so cringe and gets little views. She demonstrated how little independent thought she has by her reaction to you though. She's only thinking about how others will perceive HER due to your piece.
lol same finger you use to clean your sphincter I bet.
It's OK to be open about these things.
lol !OPEN!
🤣
hahahahah, thanks traci.
uh. no.
crypto is for everyone.
It is and I never said it's not for females. Just that males don't seem to do that type of drama. Oh except for that clown @berniesanders/ @xxxxxxxxxx who is unanimously known as the most embarrassing clown of steemit. Is apparently leaving Hive with his tail between his legs now.
oh there is plenty of drama among males. I'd say there is an equal amount.
Disagreements between humans is natural. Show me where you see dramatised and completely emotional driven disagreements between males like the one you had over the validity of an entry piece to a contest?
Wow muy instructivo y exelente publicacion muchas gracias por compartir.
Wow exelente post, muy instructivo y muy bien explayado, gracias por compartir.
So much resonates for me here and needs to be said. About women, perceptions, "branding" and the profound impact of what happens to/with us in our teenage years. Forever shapes who we are.
Thank you.
glad you found something familiar to you
You both extraordinary women.
I wouldn't get to read this girl without your post.
I guess each one of you has its own stage and audience.
I respect your respect to this young woman.
thanks
"Kill the Selfie" is indeed brilliant and horrifying ... like folks down South say, "everybody ain't able" to handle art like that. You'll find those who are able. Keep doing what you are doing.
thank you!