10 Questions with Asmae Mouayn

Asmae Mouayn, alias ‘Asmyn’, is a Moroccan fractal artist based in Marrakesh who is currently completing her master’s degree in Architecture. She discovered fractals two years ago and was captured by it. Her artwork is an attempt to demonstrate that science and art go hand in hand, and that equations can be set up to an artistic visualization. By using mathematical formulas, she creates unique and exceptional fractal art pieces.

Her main goal is to introduce the viewers to an unfamiliar world in which every image or video will transport them into a different universe. She wants to arouse the public’s sense of curiosity and push people to imagine the narratives and stories behind every fractal.

asmyn.art

INTERVIEW

First of all, introduce yourself to our readers. You are currently studying Architecture; when did you become an artist? 

My name is Asmae Mouayn, I was born and raised in Morocco, and I am based in Marrakesh. I am a final-year student currently enrolled in an architecture school and also a fractal artist. I came across fractal generators two years ago, and I was awed by them, which led me to experiment with mathematical formulas and generate different images and animations at the time. However, it wasn't until 2022 that I made my art public. To be honest, this delay was mainly due to the fear of not being enough and not fitting within the art community, but thankfully, today, I overcame my fear, and I am more than ready to prove myself. 

Do you remember when you first got interested in art? And how has your relationship with art developed since then? 

I grew up dancing ballet and playing guitar, so I always showed an interest in art since I was young. But I believe that my bond with art grew stronger when I got into architecture school. I feel like, besides the art classes I have attended for five years, the artistic environment and the people I surrounded myself with did stimulate my brain and boosted my creativity. It taught me to see more and be more open to other mediums. As a result, I started experimenting progressively until I found my niche and became an artist. 

As a future architect, what role does art have in your life? And how do you incorporate and mix your art with your architectural projects?

As a future architect, art is part of my life because architecture is regarded as a form of art. I am convinced that every architect capable of imagining, creating, and designing a building should be looked upon as an artist. 
Personally, my artwork was an inspiration for several architectural projects. I have based many of my school projects, and landscape projects in particular, on fractal shapes. Even though there isn't a Mandelbulb 3D - Architecture Software file converter, I still try to create an approximative 3D model of my fractal in an effort to use it in my projects. 

How would you define yourself as an artist? And how did this definition change over the years? 

It was only until recently that I started defining myself as a fractal artist due to the fact that my art teachers, my peers, and even my family didn't see fractals as a form of art, so I was never referred to as an artist, but rather 'the girl that does fractals'. I would be lying if I said that it didn't have a negative impact on my self-esteem and that it is the main reason why I have always kept my work to myself and couldn't consider myself an artist. However, this year, I realized that I cannot expect people to see me as an artist If I do not see myself as one. I decided that I didn't want to hide in the shadows anymore and that it was time for me to face the light and step into my greatness. 

Let's talk about your work. You primarily reflect on the concept of fractals. Why did you get interested in this subject? And what does it represent for you?  

Fractals first came up during a conversation I had with my father, a mathematician researcher, 3 or 4 years ago about the complementarity of arts and sciences, in which he introduced me to Mandelbrot and the Julia Set. I remember being astonishingly captured by the Julia Set to the point that I grabbed my laptop immediately and started looking for fractals generators. And it was at that moment I discovered Mandelbulb3D, which I didn't explore at the time but put it in the back of my mind.
In 2020, I had an art assignment while I was on an exchange in Paris, and -for some reason- I chose to talk about fractals and started digging deep, and the more I learned, the more interesting it got. It is something about the curves, the infinity, and the shapes that makes them mesmerizing and attractive to the human eye, especially while diving in the Mandelbulb3D navigator. Here is how I see it: In fractals, math is not a tool like the golden ratio, for example, it doesn't help you with your composition, it is the composition, the main source, the producer, and I think that the fact that 'mathematics produce beauty' is what truly makes them interesting to me and engaging. 
Ever since I started working on Mandelbulb, it has become a sort of escape to a fantasy world. Every time I am diving into a fractal, I try to guess and imagine the back story: Am I in Wonderland? Narnia? The Matrix? It is like I am being detached from reality for a moment, and I enjoy every second of it. 

What was the most challenging part of your project? 

On the technical side, one of the challenges I am facing is the rendering time on the fractal generator. In reality, It might take up to 5-7 hours to render a single photo or 20 days to upload an animation of 30 seconds, which slows down my computer and prevents me from working on other art pieces at the same time. However, it teaches patience, and the results are always worth it. But the most challenging part of my project is proving that fractal art is a real form of art. Actually, many people didn't, and still don't, take my art seriously. I have to say that it is mainly because they believe that software facilitates the production of artworks. For them, fractal art doesn't require a mastery of techniques nor a unique set of skills. Some people do not realize the amount of effort and skills it takes to find the right mathematical formula, make the correct calculation, and use the right colors/lighting/camera angle…, not to mention the post-production done on other softwares. 

What do you see as the strengths of your work, both visually and conceptually? 

One of the strengths of my work is its uniqueness, which is due to the fact that every fractal has a unique formula. The chances of another fractal artist generating the exact same formula are almost nil. Another strength -although some may disagree- is offering a variety of fractal sets instead of keeping a consistent one: I want the next image to look nothing like the previous one and to transport the viewer directly into another different world. I also consider that the color choices, the lighting, and the right angles give my work a lot of strength, thus, making it pleasing to the eye. Finally, I assume that my work arouses curiosity and engages the audience. It makes the viewers try to understand what exactly it is, how it was made and what is the story behind it, eventually, bringing them closer to the concept of fractals. 

Your works are primarily digital; what do you think of Crypto art and NFTs? 

I think Crypto art is the future, and I am definitely considering becoming a crypto artist. I also believe that I need to understand the core of NFTs before stepping into it, do some research about copyright, and learn more about the concepts to choose the right platforms for minting and selling.  

And how has your perception changed now that the Crypto market is having a significant crash? Do you still believe NFTs will be the future of art? 

I am not a crypto market expert, but I still believe NFTs are the future of art. NFTs are taking over, empowering artists, and I am convinced that more and more artists are going to join the community in the next few years. 

What are you working on now? Do you have any new projects or series you are working on?

I have shifted my focus to fractal animations for the moment. I am planning on adding at least one new video to the Frac-Tec Project before the end of the year, and re-render some of the already existing animations for better quality. As for the new projects, I am thinking of a new series of exploration videos because I would like to offer the viewers other experiences of fractal navigation. 

Finally, as we are getting closer to the end of the year, what was your 2022 like? Is there anything else you would like to achieve this year? 

2022 was a remarkable year because, on the one hand, I overcame my insecurities and gathered enough courage to share my work with the world, and on the other hand, it made me rethink my career. So if there is one thing I would like to achieve this year, it would be transitioning from an architecture career to an art career. It is sad to admit that my family isn't supporting my choice, but it is making me even more motivated to take on the challenge.