FEBRUARY ARTIST OF THE MONTH: SAIDA SAETGAREEVA

Welcome to artist Saida Saetgareeva’s lavender twilight world as she explores futurism in her 3D designs. A full-time freelance 3D/2D motion designer, Saetgareeva creates futuristic art in her spare time as she ponders the ties between utopia and dystopia and the supernormal potential of a digital world.

“Why would I be so interested in futurism? Because I have anxiety about the future. Why do I have anxiety about the future? It’s a good kind of anxiety. I’m interested in what will happen and what we will do about it today. I think utopia and dystopia will happen at the same time, but how can we influence the future and make it unfold in the way we would like to see it?” says Saetgareeva.

She makes art to expand the imagination of how we can create the change we want to see in the world—lifting the veil of what we’re experiencing here on earth versus what we’re dreaming to see. “If I were to create my dream environment and world, it would always be twilight. That time of the day brings magic. There are sparkly lights; people are walking around the neighbourhood—everything is glowing in a purple fog. There’s this feeling I have that is very nostalgic to me when I’m walking through the twilight,” says Saetgareeva.

When you view Saetgareeva’s 3D art, this violet world brings a sense of wonder and calm while evoking the magic of something larger than ourselves. The movement in her pieces elicits transformation as if her art is being shaped and shifted before your very eyes. Perhaps this is Saetgareeva’s way of sending the message that you have the power to mold your future.

In addition to futurism, Saetgareeva’s work is also influenced by orthodox catholic art and the digital avatars we create of ourselves. “I went on a few trips across Europe and saw all these cathedrals in person. It was such a profound experience for me. Art makes me feel spiritual even though I’m fundamentally atheist. It’s almost poetic; it feels like you’re touching a god,” Saetgareeva reflects.

Saetgareeva brings this mystical notion of deity into the personas or avatars she includes in her pieces: “In a digital space, you can accentuate these characteristics and make yourself human but not quite human, something in between AI and being our human selves. It’s a very transhumanist kind of view on people. Everybody has this higher self about them, and that’s their version of deity…my work shows the avatars of me and the energy I have within me that I would like to materialize in a digital world.”

These days, the future can look bleak. Many of us are fascinated by the increasing depictions of dystopias in movies and shows, and how close it feels to our reality.

Saetgareeva’s art brings a sense of hope—that although there will always be reasons to worry about the future, we can influence our mindset and do what we can now to create our version of utopia. As Saetgareeva says, “it’s best to affirm what you want, rather than affirming what you don’t want.” She hopes to welcome you inside her lavender twilight utopia one day.

If you want to peek inside Saetgareeva’s awe-inspiring world, follow her on Instagram. You can also visit her website here.