DarumaKAI-NFT

The Daruma Doll is an old-world artifact of luck that continues today. First created in Takasaki, Japan, in the 1700s, the Daruma Doll was created as a mystical charm to call luck to oneself. As time has passed, it has become a personal symbol - a talisman to help focus the will of an individual who creates their own luck with hard work and determination.

I started the DarumaKAI-NFT project in January of 2022. I am a graphic designer and illustrator, and I had been reading about nfts and what they were doing with the art world, as well as the paralleling technologies that were coming together with the space – most interesting to me was the idea of generative art.

The collection includes 6,000 dolls generated from more than 600 hand-drawn elements. So, there is a great deal of variety within the 6,000. There are many colors, patterns, eyes, mouths, eyebrows, skin and hair colors. The round bodies, large eyes and faces, and symmetrical bodies make them 'cute' and relatable without losing a sense of substance. The object itself is large in the frame and a bold focus. They were created to be both visually-pleasing and highly symbolic.

One other item to note is the use of texture and depth. This is somewhat different from the general trend for modern nft art – especially projects that look like a pfp style. I wanted this to stand apart a bit, giving it a sense of singular character and a feeling of age, connecting with the idea that the Daruma Doll as a tradition with history.

In the end, I tried to create a system that made dolls which were all visually pleasing, and had a range of styles for people to connect with. Some are simple, some look more complex with patterns and accessories, some look fierce and some apprehensive, some look sophisticated and some silly, etc. Connecting with a doll visually increases the potential for focus – which is at the heart of what the project means.

Ultimately, I went with the Daruma Dolls concept because of what they represent traditionally. Traditionally, they are thought to be lucky. They definitely embody the idea of determined and consistent focus. While I cannot completely discount the idea of luck as a real force, I believe that luck is most often made by people who are focused on their goals and consistently work toward them. People who are constantly focused begin to see opportunities around them – where others may not.

While I consider the Daruma Doll to lend itself well as a private artifact for focus and representation, it also works well as a visual artifact in community spaces. I do not think of this as a pfp project, though it does have elements of that, but more as purposeful art. As people display their DarumaKAI-NFT in public spaces, a culture can be built to start conversations around the dolls. "I see your DarumaKAI-NFT – what are you working on?", "Hey, my DarumaKAI-NFT is also about losing weight, how are you doing it – any tips?", "This year, I intend to reduce my trash output to be better for the environment, and my doll helps remind me to make better choices when I'm shopping." It can connect personal focus and goals with others in the community.

Finally, the name of the project – DarumaKAI-NFT. Daruma is the traditional westernized name for the doll. The word Kai, in Japanese, has multiple meanings depending on the written characters and context used. Two separate meanings that stood out to me were "community" and "value" – both of which are common ideas in the NFT space.

I really hope that people connect with both the art and the ideas behind the project. I feel this could be a positive addition to the NFT space, fitting with what many communities are trying to create but with a visual concept that is traditionally and culturally based on focus and connection.