FEBRUARY 25TH, 2022
Each week artists are commissioned for a piece of art through the UNDRGRND Grant Program. 100 NFTs are minted and are randomly airdropped to UNDRGRND Membership Cardholders. To find out how you can be featured as an UNDRGRND Artist check out our Discord.
Dead End is a total dead end: a blank wall, a cul de sac. Lily has thrown countless music papers into the trash but still hasn't created a single piece. Every note sounds off-key; everything seems so discordant and out of tune. The darkness and silence of the room are not helping at all. Frustrated by the doldrums, Lily decides to get out of her gloomy lair with her beloved cat. She has to find a new ambiance.
Lily drives her car slowly, enjoying the morning vibe of this whimsical city that resembles the atmosphere of urban Japan. The traffic is not too heavy; only a few cars pass by. The sidewalks are still empty, though several pedestrians have been seen walking down the streets to start their day.
The air conditioner in her car isn't turned on. The 20-year-old girl wants to breathe in the fresh morning air while feeling the gentle breeze against her face. Turning onto a minor street, there stood a place very familiar to Lily.
A simple street coffee shop with a cheerful color palette. Besides its delicious taste of coffee, Lily is also very captivated by the establishment's design. A sense of delight appears every time she sees the color combination. The pink bubble gum color of its wooden front side immediately evokes a feeling of joy and happiness in Lily, positioned against a French blue wall which displays a calming effect; serene, friendly and welcoming, balancing cool colors with a touch of warmth. The dark brown pantry brings more warmth and wholesomeness. And the orange-brown signboard fizzes with vitality that creates a lively feeling. The harmonious color fusion is energetic and uplifting, slowly it begins to calm Lily's nervousness. Unknowingly, she begins to smile.
Lily gets out of her car and walks casually towards the coffee stand, accompanied by her lovely golden-white cat, who is clinging to Lily's head adorably. As if it is saying to Lily, "Don't worry, I'll always stay by your side. Just clear your head from everything that's weighing you down and relax for a moment."
Lily sees the waitress smile warmly at her from a few meters away. Her friendly greeting welcomes Lily's arrival. "Hi! The usual Mocha Latte, huh?" Lily smiles back while nodding firmly, responding to the waitress who knows Lily's order by heart.
While waiting for her order, Lily deeply absorbs the mood around her. It is a bright morning. Although the sun is still peeking shyly behind the clouds, its warmth has already exuded into Lily's body. The soft breeze blows gently, spreading a cool air all around. Luckily Lily is wearing her favorite brown parka. The jacket, made out of cotton twill, doesn't overheat Lily but is still enough to withstand the occasional cool breeze.
Lily's vision begins to wander. She glances at the street situation, the pedestrians, and several skyscrapers. However, despite the many exciting visualizations surrounding her, a magical pull brings Lily's focus back to her favorite coffee shop. No matter how often she visits this place, Lily never gets bored of looking at the design and various interesting objects.
While scanning the area, her eyes fall on a round object near the door. The bouncing red ball reminds her of a nostalgic video game called "Bounce." In that game, the player controls a red ball to go through all hoops. The ball can also become big, allowing it to float in water. Lily smiles, reminiscing about that sentimental game from the early 2000s. What a blast from the past! Her favorite leisure time activity back then had to be played with focus, thoroughness, and patience, just like the process of creating an artwork.
The smell of creamy mocha latte begins to saturate the air, and a trickle of ideas slowly seep into Lily's mind. As she inhales the softness of the aroma, Lily turns her gaze to another quirky object: a hovering dice beside the waitress. Somehow the object reminds her of life as a whole, which is indeed a gamble. There are always new and unpredictable things in this life. We never know the result until we roll a dice and play with it. Just like the world of NFT, which she's just starting to explore. Still a bit puzzling, but well worth a try.
The sunny weather, the unique objects she sees, and the luscious coffee aroma she inhales seem to work hand in hand to unravel the tangled threads in Lily's head. The dots begin to appear and connect. Lily's smile blooms wider as an "aha" moment occurs in her brain, along with the swift flow of ideas and inspirations. The creative and imaginative mind of this music lover grows wild. The sun starts to shine brightly, illuminating the day and Lily's mind and heart. Sometimes, we need to blow off some steam to regain the gleam.
