— Issue #6
​Read this newsletter in 'light mode'

For a long time, I've wanted to share my thoughts on the concepts of 'The Moon' and 'The Dot' with you. Both symbols appear in my artworks often, so today I want to talk about the meanings they have for me, and why use these recurring shapes.

To tell you the full story, I need to start with Creative Workaholic, one of my earliest artworks in web3 using "omentejovem" as artistic name. I created the artwork in Photoshop on my brother's computer at night, when no one was around or even awake.
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However, the moon kept me company. I still remember the countless times I’d take a break from work, step outside just to see her and the silence, then come back to my desk and finish what I was making. It felt like the moon was watching over me, and guiding me in my process.

I gave this title, Creative Workaholic, to represent the countless hours spent awake at night, working on my designs and artworks. The question mark “?” in the work symbolizes a ear— but also the many doubts I had (and still have) about my career, future, desires, and goals.

In Childhood’s Remark, the moon appears very literally as well, with perfect shapes and straight lines. Then there's the central star, which was one of the first 'dots' I made in an artwork. This central start represents me, while the four other stars are a homage to those who helped me and had the patience to listen to or try to understand my strangest ideas as a child. Most of them are, unfortunately, no longer here, but they are still stars up in the sky. They identified me. I came to realize here that I'm a little dot, roaming around the world, but there are others watching over me, and other elements - like the moon - that have an effect on me.

'The Moon' in it's abstract shape - instead of it's very clear representation - was born in this artwork, Late Night Love. I made it during a trip to São Paulo with friends and I vividly remember the big city being full of movement, with people everywhere, and everything happening at once. But even in all that chaos, I felt you can still find love; I guess this is the love you carry within yourself, taking it where-ever you go.

Late Night Love shows a large moon taking up half of the work, with everything unfolding under her greatness and strangeness. When I made this, I loved it so much that I made 'The Moon' from this artwork my profile picture, and I never changed it since.

Orange Moon is the name I gave to this fragment. Even though the moon itself is actually black, what happens in the background is what defines it: orange. It gives me a feeling of high vibration and optimism.

For a long time, I forgot about the small dot behind/besides the moon. Honestly, I added it just because I liked the slight imbalance of having the moon off-center. The dot was already on the same layer as the moon, so when I framed this fragment into a square, it automatically became part of it.
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But thinking more and more about it, I came to realize a lot about what 'The Dot' signifies for me... It is me, the core of me.
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And for you, I hope it's you.

Years ago, I had a conversation with a friend who asked me why the dot was so tiny and disconnected from 'The Moon', yet still there. At the time, I was so focused on work (and, to be honest, I still am in some ways) that I neglected many other things in order to pursue omentejovem as an artist. My career began to feel bigger than my life, bigger than the other things I loved to do. That whole part of me is 'The Moon'.

But that is also why I like to think of 'The Dot' as an essence, the identity in a way. It's that raw, emotional, unfiltered core of the self that cannot be changed. It doesn’t negotiate and it doesn’t care for coherence, context, or any form of approval. It simply is, like instinct before logic. So 'The Dot' is always there, but often way smaller than 'The Moon' since this represents the Superego that takes you to different places in life - the changes in habits, environment, people, focus etc.

How I externalized my symbol:​
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Before late 2022, most artists were minting on platform-shared contracts instead of using Manifold or Transient Labs. I had created 24 pieces on SuperRare’s contract before minting 'The Dot' as an artwork.

With this new option, I made a commitment to prioritize one-of-one minting on my own contract through Manifold. To give 'The Dot' the notoriety and respect it deserved, I wanted to create a complete concept and artwork around the symbol and make it the very first token minted on the OMENTEJOVEM ERC-721 contract.

I am Where You Aren't is part of the 'Stories on Circles' series, released through SILK Art House, and this work is very telling for how I view the duality and energy between 'The Moon' and 'The Dot'.

Special about this work is that the viewer/collector can flip the artwork to show the other side of it. Here, I'm showing one side and highlighted both characters on the work with a zoom circle. One is acting as 'The Moon' and the other as 'The Dot' (you can see the dot in the face). Both are participating in the duality of choice and desires; the identity (ID) and Superego at a war for the whole of the character at that moment in time. Because I see it like this: you have your identity (dot) always with you somewhere, but the status of your superego in the form of wishes, goals, thoughts, belief etc. (moon) will sway this to a certain direction, which can change again over time.

In this work, 'The Dot' appears larger than 'The Moon', while the sun figure dominates them both by radiating light and presence. I also noticed a figure here, as if someone is signaling something with their hands.

At the time of making this work, a lot was clouding my mind. I didn’t know which path to follow — the one others expected, or the one my heart was actually asking for. I felt something hanging below everything, a heavy weight, as if joy itself had fallen there and was lost in all the overthinking about things that actually add little value. The only thing that remained for me then was the focus to keep working, to stay committed, and to build a body of work I could be proud of in the future. So my identity (dot) was certainly there in wanting to create art, but my ego (moon) didn't really know where to go. Luckily I had the sun to make me feel warm and to keep be believing even though I didn't really know where I was going.

I created Purple Moon with the intention of making it one of my largest editions — a way to welcome as many people as possible into my world. The piece itself is quite simple: a different background color and a mirrored version of the Orange Moon design.

I like the dialogue between purple and orange and the sense of duality they create. I see orange as leadership and voice, and purple as the other side: a complement, a different vision of the same story. They are the same, yet shaped by different perspectives, motives, and reasons.

One thing that caught my attention while reviewing the artworks I selected to show you here is that 'The Dot' rarely appears in a prominent way (only in Look at The Sun, Look at The Moon). But even when it’s not visible, its presence can always be felt in the meaning of the works, because it is within me, and you. Let me show you:

'The Moon' appears at the center of the composition here, connected to a black circle (below right) where a fingerprint can be seen. I created this work while I was in the process of moving — leaving Rio de Janeiro and returning to my hometown in the province. So 'The Dot' in this case can be seen as going back to my roots, my core identity.
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You can read the full artwork's description on SuperRare.

In my most recent artwork, 'The Dot' is almost invisible since so many other things are happening. However, it appears above everything else, connecting everything in the image, all the other circles together, and forming the full source for the get-together. In the end, I feel everything comes from our inner desires, ideas and believes. So this work basically resembles a cult of 'dots'.

In Out of Babylon 'The Moon' appears as a central element in the composition, drawing almost all the attention, besides sharing it with the flower, the explosion, and the larger story. Even though 'The Dot' doesn’t appear visually here, it remains part of the work’s essence. The piece reflects, or maybe even reveals, a big part of what 'The Dot' - the 'ID' we have - represents for me.

To keep this newsletter lighter, I’ll invite you to read the full description of the artwork here in order to understand my thoughts on 'The Dot' in this piece.

He Left as a Dot description:
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For omentejovem, art is a mirror. One that reflects the artist’s intentions, but also shows the viewer’s own memories and desires; your mental shape. Though the whole ‘Stories on Circles’ series carries the imprint of personal creation, the artist finds greater meaning in how others receive it: in what they notice, feel, or quietly project onto the work. This exchange feels profoundly human for him, and a necessary way of bringing us all together, to know we are not alone in the wild and bittersweet journey of life. If you allow yourself a moment to linger, just noticing the work, something unexpected may emerge; perhaps less in the artwork itself, but actually more within you. “This is the last artwork in the collection. It doesn’t ask to be understood, but to be felt.”
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So 'The Dot' is about feeling your inner self — taking the time to look inward and see through to the other side.

To close it off, I hope you get it now, this artwork speaks about my gratitude - and my need - for the support and faith of my collectors next to having my identity (dot) and ego (moon). Their trust helps me to keep achieving good things through my creative passion and craft. I believe an artist can’t build a legacy alone. Without relationships, without shared energy, it’s impossible. When our forces and faith come together, good things happen. None of us are truly independent from others; it simply wouldn’t be natural.

I don't think I could ever create another artwork doesn't portray 'The Moon' or 'The Dot', or at least signifies their ideas. The meaning they hold in my world, in my expression, is very important to my (visual) language as an artist. 'The Dot' is always there, however invisible, and 'The Moon' signals for paths to take. I need 'Ether-Mans' to support me, and this is how my art keeps on living and my soul is feeded as well. Through the cactus, through the flowers, through the silent night, through every obstacle.
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Thank you so much for reading this long analysis and being part of my journey.
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— omentejovem