FUTURO X ELLEN DE - NFT Revealed

FUTURO

When you purchase FUTURO are you getting a complimentary NFT artwork?
OR
When you purchase an NFT by Ellen De are you getting a complimentary magazine?

Such is the shifting sands of our reality. Value is moving between the “real” world and the “digital” world. And one day soon, this idea of a curtain between the two worlds will seem quaint. We will no longer ask if it’s “real”. It’s all real. Welcome to the future.

In partnership with INFTSPACES
THE LAB MAG is proud to be the first ever printed publication to offer free fine art NFTs when you purchase a copy.

Three artists have joined our project.

MEET ELLEN DE

As we proudly reveal her NFT artwork Future Memories published in FUTURO (this could be yours!)

Tell us how did you become an artist?

To start with, I dislike categorizing myself. I feel like a sponge that absorbs everything from external inputs and surroundings. During my childhood and youth, I was often surrounded by creative people, many of whom were photographers, and I believe that had a significant impact on my persona. (To mention some of them: César Lucas, César Lucas Abreu, Maysun, Guillem Valle, Wim De Schamphelaere)

It took me some time to discover that photography was the medium that flowed most naturally in me. During that journey, I experimented with sculpture, mixed media, collage, music, writing, and more. Since childhood, I was in an inner search for the medium of expression that felt most natural to me, experimenting here and there. Nowadays, in my opinion, I still have a long way to go to learn and improve my craft and skills, which is why it's difficult for me to label myself as a "photographer" (I have great respect for the profession and in recent years, perhaps due to social media, I feel that the term "photographer" is being somewhat misused).

Creativity is a language that is more present in some people than in others; that's why, in my opinion, one doesn't become an artist but is born that way. One can have perfect technique but still lack genuine creativity.

Can you talk about your process, a day in your life?
My working process begins much earlier than the moment when I'm taking the photographs.

Firstly, I conduct extensive research on Brutalist, Soviet Modernist, and utilitarian architecture, as well as abandoned and decayed buildings. These searches can take me days or weeks, and it's an ongoing task since I'm always eager to discover new locations and embark on new adventures. The second part is to create maps to pinpoint those locations and organize my "catalogue." As these spots are scattered everywhere, I organize myself to travel to various countries to scout the buildings.

Travelling is an integral part of my creative process; it provides insights and context about the structures I intend to portray, enriching the final body of work. That's also why, as a side pursuit, I'm committed to learning languages so I can gain a deeper understanding of the cultures I interact with—their past, their worldview, their dreams, hopes, and fears—to later reflect and capture it with my camera. Every journey is a significant adventure that often leads me to remote and sometimes perilous places. I'm never certain what I'll find or in what condition my subject of representation will be (or even if it will still exist). I'm also forced to adapt to varying weather and lighting conditions, which is why, most of the time, I never capture the exact picture I had in mind. This compels me to find creative solutions to achieve a satisfying result (although I don't always succeed). Another major challenge is not always being able to travel. When this happens, I use my time to document my projects and concepts. These moments of introspection are essential for my work.

What fires your passion for NFTs?
It's the community, the opportunity to connect with others, to be inspired by them, and to inspire in return. The speed of the space, I fell in love with how hectic it can be.