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He mystifies nature from a distant digital galaxy that might be a relic from an earlier cosmological era. From an initial decline he displays a variety of objects that blossom in deep space with no exact place or pace. @josephtoereki is the digital alchemist.

In your 3D and AR renders you use a lot of organic fabrics, like flowers, stones, soil, moss. Where does your inspiration come from for those hybrid pieces of natural and digital fabric?

I think it all really started when I started with ceramics, it was super fascinating for me to see how clay was changing its color and transformed from liquid to solid by air and fire, I felt like a little alchemist.

At this point I also did a lot of research and experiments, I wanted to know how does oxides work and why this type of rock is melting different than this.

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And a lot of these answers were of course in the origin of ceramics, China, Japan, Korea, and its beautiful craftsmanship which always was and is a huge source of inspiration! From there my journey started, where are the limits of ceramics and how can you develop that further or translate it into a digital language. So I began to do my Neo ceramics, liquid glazes, growing and living glazes, something which would not possible in our physical world.

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How much symbolism lies in your work?

Very often its pure aesthetics and reflecting nature's beauty but also to draw more attention to it.

For the Neo ceramics it's a little different, I try to translate and reinforce the aesthetics, mindset and morals of physical craftsmanship into digital, in our increasingly fast-paced and consumer-oriented world.

I don't know if a generation grew up in a digital age will lose its connection to craftsmanship and nature, so maybe I can build a digital / physical bridge and reinforce that connection.

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If you had to describe your work to a blind person, what 5 words would you use to do so?

Liquid. Rock. Soft. Moving plants.

What is your favorite piece at the moment - and why?

These two vases.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKHGmAJhJrc/

They are relatively simple but if you look at it longer you discover this huge amount of detail. The always new, beautiful arrangements and deformations radiate calm, timelessness and natural beauty for me – even if its completely digital and simulated.

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What do you do when you are bored?

I recently started with field recording, I would like to play more with sounds in the future. So I go out and try to capture some.

You live commuting between Heidelberg and Berlin: How does it impact your work? How do you like the cities - what kind of inspiration do you get from both places?

At the moment I only live in Heidelberg, but I was there a lot for tattooing and visiting my sisters. It's cool to have the possibilities to change my environment. What you are missing in Berlin you get in Heidelberg and vice versa, I live like only 3 min footpath to a forest, so Heidelberg is very relaxing and quiet.