Artist Vivian Fu on “Fight!” and the importance of NFT artwork

NFT artists can be polarizing figures within the traditional art space. But Vivian Fu, along with thousands of others who believe digitally native art can (and should) live online, is betting on creating works in Web3. An LA native who remains based in the area, Fu creates highly personal, at times sweet and simultaneously aggressive, portrait photography that represents the performative nature of existing, both in the real world and on the Internet. Through her images, Fu—who by day works as the creative content producer for the Web3 arts marketplace Foundation and also co-hosts the JPEG2000 podcast with her co-host, Noah Kalina—considers her place in the world as a young Asian American woman. Her latest work, titled Fight!, was commissioned by Friends With Benefits, an internet-based collaborative known as a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) founded by Trevor McFedries, who also created the first CGI influencer, Lil Miquela. This year, the organization held Friends With Benefits Fest, an IRL festival that took place in Idyllwild, California in August. OpenSea—an NFT marketplace—partnered with FWB at the event to put $100,000 toward commissioning NFT artwork by up-and-coming artists in the Web3 space, including Ezra Miller, Petra Cortright, and Fu.

IN Fight!, Fu wears “a badass muscle suit—it’s literally pantyhose stuffed with pillow stuffing,” the artist tells me over Zoom during a trip to New York City, “but I’m wearing this pink, hyper-feminine, Valley bimbo look.” Below, Fu discusses Japanese photo booths, why weightlifting has become a priority in her life, and her favorite NFT artists.

How did this project come into your life?

I had previously taken self-portraits in Purikura photo booths that functioned as performances. A lot of the personal photography work I’ve done in the past has been about performing yourself: taking pictures with the knowledge that someone will look at them later, and navigating with the knowledge that people will be able to tell that I’m Asian , because they have eyeballs. It’s about exploring Asian American identity, performing Asian American identity, and performing expectations of femininity.

You seem a little nervous to talk about this.

I’m squirrely. [Laughs]. It is difficult to talk about work that can be influenced by identity without identity becoming the center of the conversation. Although in a sense it is the center of the conversation. I don’t want to imply that all my work is about being Asian, because when I talk about the work like that, it assumes that I’m making this work to educate the audience, which is presumably white. And that’s not necessarily what I’m trying to do.

Why did you choose Purikura stalls as your preferred set for these works?

These photo booths are such a charged space that is steeped in Asianness – watching people go into them and see the photos they take, how they pose, is really interesting. They make the Korean heart with their fingers and throw the peace sign. Asian culture is trendy: Asian skincare, Korean cinema. I’m not trying to say anything special, but I’m just wondering, what is it about?

How does such a question inform Fight! Specifically?

The piece is called Fight! because I’m trying to fight, quietly. I’m pissed because people interact with me a certain way because of their perceptions or assumptions about Asian femininity. Part of me is like: If you think I am, then I’ll act it out, but I’m also angry about it. I will do it for you, but I will also fight against you. This is another reason [my concepts] are difficult to talk about, because they feel like two very different things that are actually in the same thought.

The event which Fight! was commissioned, Friends With Benefits Fest, highlights the concept of blockchain supporting emerging artists by paying royalties. As an NFT artist yourself, is this a real thing you’ve experienced?

Yes. The royalty structure in Web3 art is particularly interesting. I like that there is an opportunity for art that is digitally native to be sold in a digital way. For example, my piece Fight! is a gif – how would I sell a gif in a more traditional art world? If I turned my piece into pictures, would it be as impactful? I don’t have experience selling things on secondary – meaning that after my piece is sold to a collector, the collector can sell it, and every time it sells, I get paid. But I still think it’s sick. Your work always accrues value, and you get to maintain that. I think in the traditional art world, you wouldn’t get any of those sales.

This might be a stupid question, but what do you do with it after you buy a piece of NFT art?

I just let it live in my wallet.

Do you scroll through them, like your camera roll?

In a way, yes. I use Context, which is a way for you to follow people’s wallets in a visual way. There is a link to my contact profile, which follows my wallet, and you can see what I like and what I’ve bought. I’m not a flipper, although I probably should have taken a profit.

The questions about the cultural diet. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

Depending on how stressed I am, I’ll listen to a Headspace. I find that it calms me down. Even if I wake up and don’t feel stressed, I try to get into the habit of just doing it. But usually I turn and look at my phone and tap several apps before drinking coffee.

What is the last piece of art you bought or had your eye on?

I have just bid on this piece by the art duo Hypereikon, the title is Weird symbol. It’s GAN art – or AI art – of flowers, and it’s very pretty. I hope no one else outbids me.

What are your favorite social media accounts to follow?

Not to link to more NFTs, but that’s the name of this project Allstarz. I like following Allstarz because there’s this community I’m a part of and they make cute little memes for their projects. My friend Maya, who actually bought my piece Fight!, did this art block project referencing Instagram infographics about self-care. Every time she posts I get excited.

What’s the last song you had on repeat?

I’ve been listening to Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer”. It’s a really good song for stomping around, or walking, or driving on the highway or deadlifting at the gym.

Are you a weightlifter?

Yes. That was also why I wanted to Fight! to show me as a buff person. Because the thought is: Oh, Asian girls, you’re all so small. And I actively try to be massive and scary looking.

Are you interested in astrology?

I like astrology and I like being a Leo because it confirms things I want to be true, like you have good hair and everyone loves you. I’m actually a double Leo: I’m a Leo sun and a Leo rising. So I’m not like other girls.

What TV shows have kept you up at night?

What is comforting to me is King of the Hill. I watched everything King of the Hill during lockdown and then I finished it and I got depressed. I tried watching other TV shows and none of them made me feel comforted so I just watched again King of the Hill.

What is the last thing you do before bed?

Be annoying to my boyfriend.

How does it look?

I pull a lot of pranks before bed and they aren’t even funny. I’m going to try to fool my boyfriend into thinking I fell asleep, so I slow my breathing and maybe snore a little, and then I jump up. He gets annoyed and says: You have to stop. And I go, okay. I’ve pushed the limits far enough. So it is actual time to go to bed.