Today we’d like to introduce you to Nitzan Saar.
Hi Nitzan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Six years ago, I came to Los Angeles from Tel Aviv to work as a film editor but over the years, I found myself making more visual art than editing movies. I had a chance to get into music production and learned Ableton Live. But instead of making beats, I started doing live visual sets as a VJ using projection mapping. Doing the live shows opened a whole new world of visual art for me. I had the opportunity to meet new crowds and show my art in live settings. My skills as a video editor helped me dive deeper into animation and visual effects, and presenting the art in a live aspect excites me.
Flash forward, Covid happens. Like many other artists, our main presentation to the world starts in a physical connection between the art/artist and the crowd. Quarantine started and there were no more live events so I started to use projection for photography and visual effects. I experiment with the projector and collaborate with other artists. One of my collaborations created Ni x Ni studio- a creative space for photography, video production, music, and live projection art. The studio is owned by my partner NiiON and myself and I am very excited about all the projects that will come out of there. I’m proud to say that it’s a black & woman-owned business and we are located in the art district of downtown Los Angeles.
One of our bigger projects will come out in January, an NFT release of an EP by NiiON that will come out with new animation videos and a collection of clothes. Another big project that will come out early next year is the movie “Winter in Pluto ” that I did the visual effects for and edited. It is an independent creation about a myth of a goddess who rebels against traditional romance and falls in love with herself. This is an experimental musical, it was written and created by Natalita and Riley Teahan and it is definitely one of my best works.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was very hard to find work as a female with a foreign name. On top of that, I arrived with a portfolio that was made entirely on the other side of the world. No matter how good my skills are, it is still not easy to get jobs in this industry. Needless to say that I’m not actually a foreigner. I was born in New York. My family is not American and I grew up and studied in Israel. I brought here with me some (or a lot) middle eastern mannerisms/accents and an alien’s point of view that is very hard to get rid of. Even after six years here, I still feel sometimes alienated and misunderstood.
Only when the #metoo happened studios were looking to hire more females. I got a job in my actual profession, but the changes were slow. It feels like the pandemic turned the clock a bit backward.
It’s exciting to use my skills and knowledge at my own business to create an environment that produces new ways of experiencing stories. I am also hoping as a business owner to be able to give opportunities to diverse professionals and artists.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The thing that is connecting all my specialties is probably storytelling through an experience. I like to create an experience that tells a story even if the story is the moment itself.
I am specialized in tools like editing, compositing, and projection mapping, and I am using a big variety of programs and tools.
I feel at this point that editing is part of my body, and it feels very natural for me to project the art that I am creating. I am VJing my original work in live shows, DJ sets, and exhibitions.
I love the excitement of arriving at a new space and trying to place digital art in a physical world.
Especially if you add to it live music and create a true audio-visual experience, it’s like a shot of adrenaline and gives me huge satisfaction.
Today, I also started creating art pieces that go directly to AR and VR platforms. Those artworks are encrypted as NFTs and are presented in AR apps like Superworld or VR platforms like Metaverse.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
It’s a little bit tricky to give advice as an artist, but if anything I would advise people to not be afraid of learning new tools, programs, and workflows. It is great to be a specialist in a specific program for example, but it also makes you think even more creatively if you keep learning new ways of doing what you do. It is never too late to learn something new and it is never too early to start taking your ideas to life.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.nitzansaar.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nitzu_/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nitzansaar
- Other: https://www.nixni.art/
Image Credits:
1. Personal Photo- Personal Photo_Nitzu_3 – Photo of Nitzu shot by NiiON. 2. Additional Photos- artwork_Nitzu_1 – Projection art by Nitzu, Performing artist- Natalita, shot by Zohra Banon. 3. Additional Photos- artwork_Nitzu_2 – Art piece created by Nitzu. 4. Additional Photos- artwork_Nitzu_3 – Photo created by Nitzu. Performing artist- Ajshane. 5. Additional Photos – Personal Photo_Nitzu_1 – Photo of Nitzu shot by NiiON. 6. Additional Photos – Personal Photo_Nitzu_2 – Photo of Nitzu shot by NiiON.
