Maalavidaa is Alycia Rainaud, a French graphic designer and digital artist based in Montreal, Canada. Alycia's highly saturated abstract aesthetic finds its inspiration in Jungian therapy, colour therapy, and meditation. Her work aims to explore the complexity of emotions through creative introspection as a path to increase emotional intelligence and mental health sensitivity. She created Maalavidaa in 2016 as both a persona and an artistic mindset, while graduating in June 2018 with a Master's Degree in Graphic Design and a thesis dealing with the importance of psychology in design. Ever since, Alycia has been working as an independent creative director while mainly focusing on putting mental health and wellness at the forefront of her practice, defining herself as a designer of emotions. With this aim as a work thread, she founded Heal The Deal, Web3’s first emotional support club, a safe space driven by creativity and empathy, as well as a gateway to a new path in Alycia’s visual journey.

‍

Do you have a job title for your role in NFTs, Web3, and Crypto Art? If not, what is an approximation or newly invented title that sums up what you do?

Creator, Artist and Founder

‍

How would you describe what you do to a friend who isn't in this world?

I’ve been a creative for over a decade focusing on mental health and emotions, with a former master's degree in graphic design and 7 years of digital creation. I joined the NFT space in 2021 and founded the first emotional support club in Web3 called « Heal The Deal »

‍

Are you associated with an organization, company, gallery etc?

I am also a board member of the 0x Society Gallery here in Montreal where I help with creative direction and curation.

‍

NFT Magazine has teamed up with the Crypto Mermaids to help more people understand and celebrate cryptoart. We find there is often something technical or cultural that is a barrier to more people appreciating work in this space. What do you wish more people understood about NFTs, crypto art, or Web3 that would also help great work be properly celebrated?

As a creative who’s been navigating in-between worlds my whole life without a sense of really being able to belong anywhere, I can say that Web3 has really helped me and other fellow artists to finally be at ease just the way we are without constantly trying to fit in realms that have overlooked us for so many years. Web3/NFTs has enabled us to just exist and create without anxiously waiting for someone to pick us.

‍

What have you done in Web3, NFTs, or Cryptoart that you are most proud of and excited to share with our readers?

I wouldn’t be where I am now without Heal The Deal. I’ve always felt so alone on the web during my creative career. Struggling with the very same things that all artists, thinkers, builders and people deal with. For the longest time I’ve been dedicating my practice to raise awareness about emotional intelligence and mental health and finally being able to gather all these elements in a visual and collective journey has been one of the most enlightening and humbling experiences.

‍

What are you currently working on?

I currently just released my debut fully self-produced makeup palette which was a teenage dream of mine. While I enjoy this beautiful milestone, I’m currently brainstorming on a new experience I could provide for Web3 folks to open-up and reward them for their vulnerability.

‍

Let's dive deeper into a single work, share a work with us and let us know why you love it

This artwork I created in 2018 called « Cornerstone » has always been a staple in my portfolio. It’s been with me for so many years and resonates with so many different kinds of people. It’s especially heartwarming to witness this as this piece is a homage to one of the most important people in my life who took her own life when we were almost still kids. She showed me what it was to have a friend, to have someone that feels like home, to be loved, for who you are, for being different. I believe that’s also why this artwork is so distinctive from my other pieces in a way. I wanted it to be as special and eternal as she was for me.

‍

‍

When did you get into NFTs?

Late 2020/Beginning of 2021.

‍

How have your views on NFTs evolved since?

My perspective on NFTs is constantly evolving just like NFTs are themselves. I think my motto is to always observe first and I can say that I’ve gained a lot in terms of patience and maturity by doing so. It’s such a vast world that I think it’s important to give credit and attention to what resonates with you within this realm

‍

What are your views on "the traditional art world" and how do you relate to it, or not?

I reckon the traditional art world taught me a lot and I wouldn’t be where I am now without all the knowledge I gathered from it. Did I wish we could be more involved in it as digital artists? Yes. But I think the gatekeeping impression coming from traditional art definitely makes us stronger in creating things by and for ourselves. And for that I’m grateful.

‍

What are you doing to endure crypto winter?

Just focusing on going back and forth between digital and physical realms as I’ve always done. I don’t dislike crypto winter, just because it actually enables me to reconnect with the core of my practice and dream again.

‍

We are a new magazine, give us some advice on how to get great work understood and celebrated.

I think a great insight for a communication tool/community is to gather as many different points of view to fully understand the spectrum of a topic. Variety is key!

‍

What is an NFT you love and why do you love it?

I will always love the first NFT I collected from my close friends. It feels like such a privilege and honor to support them and their work. I will cherish these forever.

‍

‍