Statement of Intent

My very first post

November 23, 2023

"I’ve been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand"1

But does that guide have a name? I'm tokyo_nomad_, a digital artist based in Tokyo working mostly in the realms of glitch art, but also with cyberpunk, vaporwave, and body horror leanings. Think Neuromancer meets a punch to the face.

I've written elsewhere, quite recently, about my desire to start writing about my art more (hello Tumblr blog2 ).

With the current social media landscape the way it is (take from that what you will), I'd like to branch out and experiment with new formats to get my work seen and attempt to find a better sense of community. Leaving my digital handprints everywhere like a sticky, indulgent child unrestrained after a visit from the Easter bunny.

So what is the point of this post? I guess this is a chance to lay out how I'm intending on using this space going forward. 

I'd like to start creating a monthly newsletter where I share what I'm working on, what I've published on other parts of the Internet (or in the real, flesh and bone, bricks and mortar, paint and canvas world).

I guess that’s why I'm here. Social media has become fractured over the last couple of years and there are too many spaces where I'm doing different things, so I'd like to have a space where I can bring all that together. I think we're also in the final days of quite a few social media sites, so I'd like to have a bit more control over my published work before the plug gets pulled and everything just gets sucked into a big black hole. One way of doing that is by better utilizing newsletters and my website.

But I'd also like to use this space to create discussions with like-minded (or unlike-minded) people about issues surrounding art, the art industry, technology, or whatever I'm preoccupied with that month. So I'll also be posting once a month my thoughts on different topics, and hopefully I can use that as an opportunity to learn and discover new things.

I've found writing about my work on Tumblr to be a little slower than I'd originally anticipated. Or should I say, I've found publishing my work slower than anticipated. I've done lots of writing, but a lot of it gets stuck in the editing phase and remains there after I move on to writing the next thing. I want this place to be a little more rough and unfiltered, but with a focus on consistency. And if that means I make mistakes or look like a fool, well I'll just have to deal with that.

So, I've set myself a couple of rules to follow for my writing here:

Rule 1: It's important that this is all my own words. In a post-AI world, authenticity will be valued. Aside from that, one of the major points for starting writing over on Tumblr was to start using my brain muscles more. Writing makes my brain hurt, but I think that might be a good thing. So unless otherwise stated, everything will be my own words.

Rule 2: Consistency. It's important to make sure that I'm writing and posting consistently. At least twice a month. I commute for 2.5 hours a day so I need to make the most of that time. So to start out with, this is going to be my posting schedule:

  • Blog post: Fourth Monday of the month

  • Newsletter: Second Monday of the month

But I don't want to make this just about me.

I'd like share cool things I found too. Whether that's other artists, resources, blogs, podcasts, books, whatever.

So whether you're an artist, thinking about becoming an artist, or just someone who enjoys glitch art, cyberpunk or technology, then consider subscribing to this newsletter.

And if you're interested in seeing my art, here's a link to my Instagram page where I usually post my stuff.

"Take my hand and I’ll show you what was and will be"3

1  Joy Division - Disorder

3  Joy Division - Atrocity Exhibition