.png?width=99&height=17&name=Logo%20(Black).png "Logo (Black)"){kind=small}
Curated Conversation:
Derech
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Derech’s work captures the essence of a haiku, transforming the brevity and depth of its structure into a cinematic experience. Just as a haiku distills a moment into three lines and seventeen syllables, Derech’s films channel the beauty of the mundane into three panels and 17-second cuts.
Derech romanticizes everyday moments, whether it’s the busy streets of Tokyo on a rainy night or the gentle flicker of a candle in a Kyoto temple. By slowing time and removing the bustling nature of modern life, Derech allows viewers to savor each detail, much like a haiku evokes powerful imagery through its simplicity. The work encourages a mindful appreciation of life’s small, often overlooked moments, transforming them into profound visual experiences.
Shinsei | 神聖
聖なる雪
囁き祝う
冬の祈り
Sacred snow descends,
Whispers bless the silent shrine,
Winter bows in prayer.
-
Beneath winter’s quiet breath,
the shrines rest, cloaked in soft white snow,
each flake a whispered prayer,
each step a frozen moment in time.
Yet in this stillness,
the orange paint of pagodas and torii arches
does not fade, but glows—
a warmth against the winter chill,
like embers held in the heart of the frost.
The snow may cover,
but it cannot dim the fire within,
its brilliance a reminder
that even in the coldest of seasons,
the spirit endures, shining brighter still.
-
Artist: Ilan Derech
Piece: "Shinsei | 神聖"
Year: 2024
Location: Hirosaki (弘前市, Japan)
Technique: Composite Cinematography
Equipement: ARRI Alexa Mini
THE INTERVIEW
An: You draw inspiration from haiku poetry, known for its brevity and depth. How does this art form shape your creative vision?
Derech: Art has to raise more questions than answers, each piece is a world in itself.
I like to think of each piece as a short, meditative experience—a movie with an open narrative that draws the viewer into the moment. Rather than being told the storyline, they step into the role of the main character, experiencing the scene as part of it, just like life is.
My love for haikus lies in their abstract nature, which allows them to carry different meanings for each reader. They invite personal interpretation, encouraging us to fill in the gaps with our own experiences.
This quality profoundly shapes my vision. Inspired by the haiku's ability to distill an entire world into just three lines, I aim to capture fleeting, everyday moments and elevate them through visual storytelling—a way to slow down and honor the beauty in what is often unnoticed or overlooked.
A: Your works distill moments into three panels and 17-second cuts. Could you share the significance behind this specific structure and how it seemingly limits yet empowers your creativity?
D: One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned from Japanese culture is the value of appreciating simplicity and limitation. Creativity often thrives within boundaries, and the three-panel, 17-second structure of my work is a direct tribute to the haiku form, embodying its brevity and depth. This structure challenges me to strip away excess and focus on the essence of the moment.
A haiku consists of 17 syllables and three lines, which I’ve reinterpreted into 17 seconds and three panels. Each panel in the triptych acts as a line in a haiku, guiding the viewer’s attention gradually from one scene to the next, allowing the imagery to breathe and unfold naturally. Far from restricting creativity, these boundaries create an experience that is both simple and profound.
In just 17 seconds, my goal is to transport viewers into the scene, encouraging them to savor every detail. This approach slows down time, introducing a meditative quality that invites a deeper connection with the small, often overlooked moments of life.
Echoes of Silence | 静寂のこだま
静かな雪
寺の門を抜け
冬の息
Silent snow descends,
Whispers through the temple's gate,
Peace in winter's breath.
-
In winter’s quiet glow,
Where temples stand so still,
Snow drapes the earth below,
A soft and silent thrill.
The breeze is but a sigh,
Through gates of ancient stone,
Each flake a whispered sky,
In peace, we walk alone.
The world, a frozen dream,
In crystal hush and light,
Where snow and silence gleam,
A temple, pure and white.
-
Artist: Ilan Derech
Piece: "Echoes of Silence | 静寂のこだま"
Year: 2024
Location: Hirosaki (弘前市, Japan)
Technique: Composite Cinematography
Equipement: ARRI Alexa Mini
A: Why did you decide to focus on everyday life scenes?
D: I grew up in Mexico, a beautiful country deeply scarred by violence. The chaos around me left a profound impact, driving me to seek peace—and I found it in art.
During my teenage years, I lost my father, a devastating event that consumed me with grief, frustration, and anger. Suddenly, I had to take on the role of leading the household and caring for my mom. The immense pressure eventually led me to a breaking point, where I faced suicidal thoughts. In that darkest moment, holding a gun, I found myself in a profound moment of introspection. Memories began to flood my mind: hugging my family, laughing with friends, and the everyday moments that revealed how much the small things in life truly matter.
Fortunately, I overcame that dark moment and decided to keep going—but this time, on my terms. Everything changed when my best friend gifted me a camera. Through its lens, the heavy fog of depression began to lift. The camera became my therapy, inspiring me to step outside, meet people, travel, and chase stories. Photography brought me back to life, teaching me to treasure the fleeting moments of beauty that I had nearly lost.
White Flower | 白花
白い花びら
神社に雪降り
冬の贈り
White blossoms drift,
Snow falls upon the shrine,
A gift of winter.
-
In the hush of winter’s embrace,
A graceful bloom, a tranquil face.
With silver strands like falling snow,
She dances softly, with a gentle glow.
Petals whisper in frosty air,
As winter’s breath weaves through her hair.
A shrine adorned in purest white,
Where dreams take flight in quiet night.
Each flake a kiss from heaven’s hand,
A fleeting touch upon the land.
In sacred stillness, she takes her place,
The white flower of the shrine’s grace.
-
Artist: Ilan Derech
Piece: "White Flower | 白花"
Year: 2024
Location: Hirosaki (弘前市, Japan)
Technique: Composite Cinematography
Equipement: ARRI Alexa Mini
A: Your work often takes the form of short movies. What inspired you to explore this video format of photography?
D: I believe my life is a movie in itself, unfolding in mysterious ways. One of my favorite films is Lost in Translation by Sofia Coppola, a movie I watched long before ever setting foot in Japan. Now, I feel as though I am living that movie in real life.
It was 2019 and I was shooting documentary photography around the world when suddenly COVID struck the world, and everything turned into uncertainty and chaos. I booked a flight back home from India to Mexico, which included two layovers, Tokyo for 2 hours, and Dallas for three more. While I was sitting down enjoying my Tamago Sando (egg sandwich) at the Tokyo airport the status of all the flights turned red, CANCELED. All the world had shut their borders and I ended up stuck in Japan for months which led me to explore the country and its people in a deeper way.
I was the only guest in a nine-floor hostel for months, and the staff became my adoptive family. They taught me the basics of the Japanese language, showed me around the city, and introduced me to haikus. They even lent me their bicycle, which I used to roam the streets with my camera and tripod, following no fixed route because that is how you get to know Tokyo, getting lost in its endless streets.
Later on thanks to photography, I met a girl who changed my life, she was looking for someone to shoot with and life brought us together, we would go out, shoot, chat, and eat food from the convenience store… one day while shooting, something clicked in my mind and I realized everything had slowed down, allowing me to focus on the subtle gestures of the scenes I captured—someone walking in the rain, a couple sharing a warm hug, or the steam rising from a bowl of ramen on a cold winter night. These moments came together beautifully in Unforgettable Nights | 忘れられない夜, collected by FlannelCapital, who described it as: “It just has this amazing, genuine, friendship vibe to it that transcends both time and place.”
Unforgettable Nights | 忘れられない夜
“In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.”
- Buddha
-
Those smooth yet powerful flavors that melt in your mouth, the warmth of handmade noodles meticulously seasoned by the ramen master releasing their unique smell through a cloud of soft steam, and a timeless atmosphere that has remained intact throughout the years...
『ゆとりを持って、深呼吸して、人生のはかない一刻を楽しんで』
"Slow down, breathe, and enjoy the fleeting seconds of life"
-
By: Ilan Derech
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Shot on: Leica SL & ZEISS ZM 1.4/35
Year: 2022
A: Why did you adopt a pre-order approach for your artwork?
D: It mirrors the mechanics of an omakase restaurant. In an omakase, diners trust the chef to curate a unique and personalized dining experience, allowing them to focus on the artistry of each dish. Similarly, I see curation as essential in my artistic journey. By knowing who my collectors are, I can share a long-term vision for my work and creative path.
This connection allows me to build deeper relationships with my collectors—engaging in conversations and learning about their lives, families, experiences, and memories. With this understanding, I can link the pieces I create to the collectors they resonate with, fostering an emotional bond that enriches the artwork's meaning beyond its visuals. Just as diners anticipate the surprises from the chef, my collectors can look forward to the unique pieces that reflect our shared journey.
One of my favorite stories is from the piece Feather Blossoms | 羽の花 collected by SuperRare Zack. One day during a video call, I noticed he had a tattoo of a swan that immediately caught my attention. I assumed it was significant to him, which inspired me to include a swan in his piece. After seeing his username, I also noticed his love for flowers, so I decided to include Sakura as well. When I delivered the piece, Zack noticed the swan and asked about its presence. I told him about the tattoo, and he shared that it was a memory of his grandfather, whose nickname was Swanny. This revelation transformed the piece into an homage in his memory.
Feather Blossoms | 羽の花
羽の花 [Hane no Hana]
- 白鳥は湖を滑り、
羽は桜と共に舞う、
富士は静かに立つ。
- Swans glide on still lakes,
Feathers drift with sakura,
Fuji stands serene.
- In the stillness of a dawn so clear,
Where cherry blossoms start to appear,
Swans glide softly through the mist,
Their feathers kissed by twilight's twist.
Mount Fuji stands in serene repose,
Crowned with snow as the daylight grows,
While sakura petals dance and drift,
In a timeless, gentle lift.
A tranquil dance on nature’s stage,
Where beauty flows from age to age,
Swans and blossoms, snow and stone,
In a world where dreams are sown.
- Artist: Ilan Derech
- Piece: "Feather Blossoms | 羽の花"
- Year: 2024
- Location: Mount Fuji (富士山), Japan
- Technique: Composite Cinematography
- Equipement: ARRI Alexa Mini
A: Could you walk us through your creative process for producing pre-ordered pieces, especially given the unpredictable nature of capturing authentic moments?
D: Everything happens when it’s meant to happen, at the right moment, at the right time. My life has been full of unpredictable events that have brought both the worst and the best moments—getting unexpectedly stuck in Japan, stumbling into web3, meeting the love of my life, getting married, and dedicating myself to my art.
I want my work to reflect this journey, so I decided to let go of control and embrace uncertainty as part of my artistic process. Each piece is a serendipitous encounter; I never know what I’ll come across when I step outside with my camera. It’s a matter of sharpening my senses and paying attention to everything happening around me, as in The Girl & The Swan | 少女と白鳥 collected by tina 194. A piece in which I was serendipitously approached by swans that gracefully swam right in front of the reflection of Mount Fuji, turning those moments into unforgettable memories as if created by Hokusai himself.
The Girl & The Swan | 少女と白鳥
富士を見て
少女は白鳥に
風の湖
Beneath Fuji's gaze,
A girl whispers to the swan,
Lake sighs with the breeze.
-
By the quiet lake she stands,
A girl with gentle, open hands.
The swan glides close, soft feathers bright,
In her gaze, the world feels light.
She whispers secrets, calm and low,
To the swan, the lake, the mountain's glow.
Mount Fuji hears in silent grace,
A timeless bond in nature’s space.
The swan replies with ripples wide,
Mount Fuji bows, the clouds divide.
In whispered winds, her voice is known,
A girl, a swan, a mountain grown.
-
Artist: Ilan Derech
Piece: "The Girl & The Swan | 少女と白鳥"
Year: 2024
Location: Mount Fuji (富士山), Japan
Technique: Composite Cinematography
Equipement: ARRI Alexa Mini
A: Tell us about the significance of “timeless moments” in your work.
D: Classics deeply inspire me—from art to watches, cars to movies, and more. The one factor that makes them memorable throughout history is their timelessness. Finding moments that feel as though they could have existed today, 20, or even 100 years ago amazes me. By blurring the boundaries of time and minimizing visual cues that hint at a specific year, I can transport the viewer into a moment suspended in time, allowing the piece to exist within its own unique timeframe.
A few pieces that exemplify the essence of timelessness include:
Shinsei | 神聖 - collected by Austin Grier
Daimon | 大門 - collected by Daimon.eth
This approach makes each piece future-proof, as it doesn’t require any specific context for the viewer to connect with it. This ensures it retains its impact for future generations.
Daimon | 大門
Haiku | 俳句
Great gate stands silent,
Mortal and sacred part ways,
Whispers of the divine.
-
Amidst winter's chill,
Great gate guards realms apart,
Mortal and sacred in icy embrace.
Snowflakes dance, a silent ballet,
Whispers of spirits linger,
As frost-kissed air reveals the sacred way.
-
- Ilan Derech
- "Daimon | 冬の愛"
- Year: 2024
- Aomori (青森市), Japan
- Composite Cinematography
- Leica Q2
A: Your art descriptions are a form of art in themselves—poetry. How do you craft these descriptions to accompany your visual work?
D: Haikus enhance the visuals of each piece, as they are open to interpretation, much like the artwork itself. Writing a poem or haiku allows me to immerse the reader deeper into the world created by the piece, setting the tone for introspection and interplay. In some cases, the text enables me to introduce personal details about the collectors, often inspired by what I learn during our conversations.
A great example is Dawn's Whisper | ドーンのささやき, the first 1/1 piece gifted by j1mmy.eth to his newborn baby girl. This piece incorporates the names of family members and reflects elements such as the color palette, mood, and season in which it was captured. These details were reinterpreted from our previous conversations, where he shared memories and personal stories. Having the honor of meeting his family further enriched the creative process, allowing me to weave in subtle, meaningful touches unique to their story.
Dawn's Whisper | ドーンのささやき
In Tokyo's night,
Alice dances 'neath Dawn's light,
Snowfall whispers bright.
-
Inspired by the timeless scenes of classic cinematographers like Akira Kurosawa and Wong Kar Wai, with a neon twist from Ridley Scott, “Dawn’s Whisper” was created during a very rare snowfall that struck Tokyo by surprise. The neon signs shining bright illuminated the ethereal snowflakes that were reminiscent of bright whispers of light shimmering in the sky, turning Tokyo into a nostalgic wonderland that only happens once a year.
-
- Piece: "Dawn's Whisper | ドーンのささやき
- Year: 2024
- Location: Tokyo (東京), Japan
- Technique: Composite Cinematography
- Equipement: ARRI Alexa Mini
A: Are there particular scenes, themes, or subjects you find yourself returning to frequently in your work?
D: Rainy nights are my Achilles' heel. As seen in Raindrop Serenade | 雨粒のセレナーデ, collected by Von Mises, I am captivated by the mysterious and poetic beauty of Japanese nights. The reflections of neon lights on raindrops crashing onto transparent umbrellas, the rippling motion of puddles, and a solitary character lost in thought, smoking a cigarette on a cold night—all these elements come together to create a nostalgic and mesmerizing clash of moments. These scenes transform the streets of Japan into a fusion of Blade Runner, In the Mood for Love, and Lost in Translation, evoking the impressionistic atmosphere of Monet's ethereal works.
Raindrop Serenade | 雨粒のセレナーデ
Tokyo's raindrops fall,
Girl's serenade with the rain,
Nighttime love's embrace.
-
- By: Ilan Derech
- Location: Tokyo, Japan
- Shot on: Leica Q2
- Year: 2023
A: Japanese culture plays a significant role in your art. What aspects of it resonate with you the most, and why?
D: Ukiyo-e has had a huge influence on me. I've always found it fascinating how it can capture so much beauty in simple everyday moments, so I pursued that approach in my own work. When I arrived in Japan, I realized how the buildings, roads, people, and signs all seemed to have a rhythm—from colors to motion. It felt like heaven for an artist like me. After living in Mexico for nearly all my life, Japan calmed my mind, allowing me to focus and see beyond the obvious. I began finding those moments of inspiration that some of my favorite artists had also discovered while living there.
A few great examples of the subtle things that make Japan my muse are Sacred Wind | 聖なる風 collected by Batsoupyum, and Echoes of Silence | 静寂のこだま and White Flower | 白花, collected by Racing Ralph and Stefanie Schmid. These pieces took a year to complete. After several conversations and even the pleasure of meeting the collectors, I knew they had to be winter- and sacred-themed works, reflecting their humble and embracing personalities—qualities that resonate with me, as well as with personal memories.
Sacred Wind | 聖なる風
Haiku | 俳句
Sacred breeze whispers,
Shrine's tranquility unfolds,
Divine whispers flow.
-
In winter's silent shroud, where time slows its pace,
The sacred wind whispers with delicate grace.
Through fields of snow and branches stark and bare,
It carries secrets ancient, beyond compare.
In hues of monochrome, the landscape lies still,
While the sacred wind weaves its mystical thrill.
With each gentle sigh, it paints tales untold,
Of forgotten wisdom and dreams of old.
In the slow march of time, beneath the frosty sky,
The sacred wind's whispers softly fly.
Through valleys and hills, it dances and sings,
A timeless melody that forever clings.
-
- Ilan Derech
- "Sacred Wind | 聖なる風"
- Year: 2024
- Aomori (青森市), Japan
- Composite Cinematography
- Leica Q2
A: How do you hope your collectors experience your work after they’ve collected it?
D: From the moment I envisioned these pieces, I knew they were meant to be experienced on screens. They are digitally native, and I created a format that fully takes advantage of the medium, transforming the screen into a canvas. From the aspect ratio to the rhythm of the soothing motion and the color grading, every detail is designed for the digital frame.
A: What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are entering the Web3 space?
D: This space is full of incredibly smart and kind-hearted people. Focus on building long-lasting relationships with collectors that go beyond the transaction. Make sure to put your best work out there, a body of work that will become your legacy. Think long-term, and never forget to be grateful.
