From the infamous and endless flow of new metaverses to the growing sector of augmented reality (AR), we see the continued deep saturation of virtual reality as part of our new normal. One artist leaning into this expanding world is the popular creator of TikTok AR Piper Z.Y.. As part of his series, 100 days of augmented reality artPiper ZY debuted her one-of-a-kind “Day 12” creation that sent the platform into a frenzy: AR nails.

That’s right, move on duck nails, it looks like AR nails might be the next big thing. The Chicago-based artist and self-proclaimed futurist sat down with Screen Shot to break down his latest creation as well as all things AR in art and fashion.

Why get real fake nails when you can get fake fake nails?

The AR manicure that features a bustling small town on the nail – complete with miniature cars, skyscrapers and even an orbiting moon – was the latest concept from an artist who is not bound by the material obstacles of the world. real. In fact, it was the limitless potential of virtual space that inspired Piper ZY to develop the “City Nail Project”. “I think a new form of visual luxury will be the level of detail possible outside of physical constraints,” she said.

She touched on the notion of the metaverse in her explanation of the inspiration behind her AR manicure, citing that she imagines it as a space where there would be a shifting sense of scale, easily deformable materials, and endless room for the details. “There are so many amazing and detailed nails, makeup jewelry, [fashion]and hair art there, and I realized that could also be detailed with AR and then animated,” the artist continued.

It’s the breadth of these virtual realities, for expressive and inspired creativity, that led Piper ZY to describe herself as a futurist – someone deeply fascinated and dedicated to the possibilities of the future – and fueled the creative flow behind the manicure. AR, “I have the constant feeling of an alternate world, slightly different from reality, and I always want to materialize it.”

“I love creating things that I’ve never seen before that I imagine are based far in the future. There’s something poetic to me about distant realms that we can’t [possibly] imagine To do exist, but time is distance. My goal is to express a feeling and a moment in time, whether it’s 2021 or 2221,” she continued. This fascination with reality distortion has become Piper ZY’s artistic calling even before his entanglement with AR.

She described her childhood interactions with creativity, including one in which she mentally produced music videos and fashion shows to the sound of her favorite songs. It was the seemingly groundbreaking, reality-pushing artists she grew up with who inspired Piper ZY to make the switch herself: “I like artists who push the boundaries of reality and create a moment from an alternate timeline. After focusing on distortions of reality in oil painting, in 2016 I started creating augmented reality outfits and concepts for my own small music video projects, but with traditional editing software. “, she explained.

For those of us who aren’t visionaries like Piper ZY, it can be hard to imagine such overwhelming future realities — I mean, every time I see a metaverse-related title, I spin in circles. Without forgetting that I am always not 100% sure what NFTs are or how they work. It is therefore not surprising that I am confused by the skills and technical development of AR. And if you can also understand this, don’t worry, the AR artist told us the complex process behind the physical development of the “City Nail Project”.

“The project uses a target tracker to place an AR element on a real image or a flat surface. Usually the target image needs to be a bit larger than a fingernail and completely flat to work well,” she disclosed. To overcome this, “I had to pop the acrylic paint out to create an illusion of flatness on the target nail for it to work, and use a thumb,” Piper ZY continued. Once she got the tracker working efficiently, she was able to add the necessary details for her city: including buildings, moving elements, and any aspects that needed animation. “From there, the highlight of the city appears when the camera is pointed at the original highlight.”

The AR artist’s most popular creation to date has amassed around a million views and many supporters on TikTok, with many calling for more nail designs and suggestions for the creator to enter the NFT realm. But what makes the world of AR so captivating for users? What is the secret formula of its popularity? Well, Piper ZY thinks she has the answer.

Why is the world of AR so popular?

“Augmented reality expands the type of statements we can make and helps us create a mood. It brings in a cinematic, dreamlike element, and I think that’s why a lot of people liked that concept,” she said. Piper ZY also noted that the balance between technology and concept is important, not to alienate an audience, “I like art that can do [the above] without AR, and in AR, I think the challenge is not to overuse the technology of the medium and focus on the concept, especially when it’s still a medium that’s not fully understood or known.

However, his anonymity may be short-lived, according to Piper ZY. For the designer, AR is absolutely the future of fashion and design, the one she predicted almost six years ago. “I love science fiction and wrote a short story in 2016 about an augmented reality future with all aspects of our appearances, communication and advertising editable and tweakable, seen through direct input taking control of the visual cortex of our mind,” she revealed. .

Ahead of the curve, it sounded like science fiction to the creator at the time, but since then, she noted, technology has accelerated so rapidly that it is quickly becoming a very real phenomenon. . Its increased use in industry is reminiscent of the “layer[s] ethical and philosophical questions [both] technology and fashion,” she continued. However, for Piper ZY, there is also undeniable untapped potential for the sustainability of AR in the fashion world.

Augmented Reality and the Metaverse

Speaking of worlds, AR fashion and art will emerge as a big presence in the virtual realm of the metaverse – I mean, even celebrities like Rihanna and justin bieber let’s get official metaverse avatars. For Piper ZY, the Metaverse provides the perfect environment of uncharted territory that will position artists at the forefront of this exciting new movement. “I think it’s a beautiful time in art history where the ideas of artists and developers are so needed as designers and architects of metaverses,” she explained.

Despite the wonderful potential, Piper ZY reminded us that the Metaverse isn’t entirely an unlimited utopia for artists and designers. Instead, there are risks associated with protecting your work as well as the very accessibility to create AR art. She detailed these concerns to Screen Shot, “I hope augmented reality can stay focused on artists and creators as a resource… I think enabling artists to protect their work and build their careers will depend in large part of how the tech giants organize this economy.”

There are, however, promising signs. Accessibility is there for those who have the technology. “I created the ‘City Nails Project’ with a full cost of a subscription to the program, but it could have been avoided and it can be done for free with just a typical phone or computer, which I find amazing,” she shared. Like the endless list of new career options that have followed the rise of social media, Piper ZY predicts the same transformation will occur with the implementation of AR and VR.

So, that’s what the scary future holds. But where does this upcoming talent lie? What is Piper ZY’s plan? Well, she has some interesting ideas up her sleeve. “I want to expand my concepts and create larger experiences, combining as many of my interests as possible,” she said.

“I think we, as creators of AR, have an incredible opportunity to create new, immersive and interactive forms of artistic media – in a way too abstract to name now, but one that will be part of our daily lives in the decades to come.”