The Prince of the Abyss
“Creating is an act of love and service; we were created by the infinite, therefore creation is the most intimate form of communion we can experience with it.” – _xo
the_descent_of_mount_sinai, Beneath the Bright Morning Star series, by _xo
Since 2022 on objkt, Underscore has been a full-time artist, with all the joys and struggles that come with it. With a distinctive line, colors, and effects, the artist uses AI as a bridge between the abstract and the tangible:“It helps me visualize ideas and gives me a structural foundation to build on. It shifts my focus from what I want it to look like toward what I want to feel when I look at it,” he explains.
We talked about his recent drop on objkt, Beneath the Bright Morning Star, his inspirations, and how being digitally native influences his work. You can read our conversation below:
Raquel Gaudard - As a Gen Z, digitally native artist, have you worked with analog mediums, or has your practice always been entirely digital?
_xo - I was born on the internet, so it’s always been digital. I’ve fallen in love with the process of developing a unique voice through the infinite possibilities digital offers. While I haven’t explored analog yet, the door is never closed.
before_the_bright_morning_star, Beneath the Bright Morning Star series, by _xo
RG - You also use AI at certain stages of your process, correct? How do you approach this tool?
_xo - I use AI as a bridge between a floating thought and a tangible visual reference. It shifts my focus from what I want it to look like toward what I want to feel when I look at it. While it’s part of my workflow, it only makes up about 20% of it; the majority is still hand-drawing and digital production. In other words, I could do without it, but I can do more with it. At one point I asked myself: am I making art to showcase my ability, or am I making art to create the best work possible?
met_by_a_blazing_dawn, Beneath the Bright Morning Star series, by _xo
RG - How do you build your stories? And who is the Prince of the Abyss?
_xo - Underscore is the Prince of the Abyss. His origins are unknown, but what we do know is that he lived as a lone nomad for many lifetimes until one day the ground opened up beneath him. Now he resides below—fitting for the lowest character on a keyboard.
The stories are my life experiences transmuted through the living myth of Underscore.
cleansed_by_fire_and_flame, Beneath the Bright Morning Star series, by _xo
RG - Could you tell me a bit about the series you recently released on objkt?
_xo - Beneath the Bright Morning Star is the story of a man who was drowning in his past, afraid of the light that lay ahead—not because of its brightness but because of what it demands. The climb upward is his evolution from someone who feared the light to someone willing and capable of holding it.
It is the story of the past couple of years of my life, what it has been like, and who I’ve become because of it. In better words, it’s a testimony of God’s goodness in my life: the love I have experienced, the trials I have undergone, and the journey through it all.
RG - Your work has a strong visual identity. Do you see yourself exploring other visual directions, or will this character remain central for now?
_xo - The living myth that is Underscore will always remain. Not only do I live through him, but I survive because of him. While I am always the input, he will always be the output. That being said, I remain unbound. My style has evolved enormously over the years, and I doubt that will ever come to an end.
the_stare_of_blinding_light, Beneath the Bright Morning Star series, by _xo
RG - Beyond the screen, do you imagine your work existing in physical formats or installations?
I’ve envisioned an entire world for Underscore. Installations will serve as windows into the abyss for others to look through. I carry a vision that extends far beyond the screen, and the physical world is an integral part of it.
RG - What are your main artistic references in digital art, literature, and music?
_xo - Botticelli and Doré are the two biggest references in my work. They both have an incredible innate ability to capture myth with such elegance. In the digital space, there are numerous people who inspire me, but a few who come to mind are Apocalypse Art, ACK, Karborn, Neurocolor, Rust, and Xer0x. They constantly pull and stretch the bounds of what art can be, and they always leave me with a burning desire to create. I don’t read nearly as much as I should, but music has always been a part of me. Artists who have shaped my world are Alice Phoebe Lou, Bashfortheworld, Drake, Frank Ocean, Joji, and LUCKI. Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of piano; my two favorite songs are I Hate Sundays by Murr and Sylvan Echoes by Jacob Lavallee.
echoes_of_the_past, Beneath the Bright Morning Star series, by _xo
RG - How did you first discover the objkt platform?
_xo - My very first collector, Amtwo, introduced me to objkt in 2022, and I haven’t looked back since. It opened the door to a new world where my work could live, grow, and thrive. I'm excited to continue forward on this journey, and objkt will always be a part of it.
RG - You’re quite young. Are you a full-time artist, or do you also work other jobs to support yourself? And what advice would you give to artists just starting out in Web3?
_xo - I’ve been a full-time artist since 2022. It’s an artist’s job to allow creation to consume them and to live through it fully. That means letting yourself feel everything—the incredible highs and the magnificent lows—not running away, but confidently facing all of it even if you’re afraid. Creating is an act of love and service; we were created by the infinite, therefore creation is the most intimate form of communion we can experience with it. But above all, have fun, and don’t take yourself too seriously.
glimmer_of_hope, Beneath the Bright Morning Star series, by _xo