About Daniel
Daniel Ignacio (DKAISM \DEE-kézəm\) is a Filipino-Canadian contemporary artist based in Toronto. In 2011, he painted using the acrylic medium. In 2014, as he was about to graduate from University of Toronto, he developed an interest in the digital medium so he started learning some basic digital art techniques by himself. He was also working as a writer and a photojournalist at the time. In 2017, he fully promoted his work by getting active in both the local and global art community through art exhibits, collaborations, and ultimately, through social media art circles. Daniel is also known on the TikTok creator platform as "Danbasic". In real life, many simply call him "DK".
Daniel creates fantasy landscapes and painterly urban environments. The Finelands Series, usually described by the viewers as "the lone man aesthetics," is a subject and style that gave him the opportunity to showcase drama, simplicity, and storytelling–a means to express himself and what he wants to communicate to the world. This series is highly influenced by minimalism, surrealism, romanticism, mythology, expressionism, fantasy, and science fiction.
The Contemporary Urbanscapes is a separate series that features a subject matter that he has grown to love. Aside from the photojournalistic influence, it is his way of honouring such seemingly "everyday", "ordinary" places. It originally started as an artistic exploration of pan-Asian marketplaces and shantytowns. Eventually, the range of subject matter branched to mystery-filled streetscapes, abstract-looking alleys, slice-of-life setting, to even scifi dystopian cityscapes. This series is influenced by a different set of art genres, such as post-impressionism, maximalism, concept art, cyberpunk, and post-apocalyptic futurism. For Daniel, the urban space is home to life, diverse cultures, strangeness, flavour, creativity, high spirit, connection, sonder, energy, and meaningful interaction.
"Streets, without words, will speak to you–stories, secrets, traces, and histories–yearning for you to explore its heart, ready for you to fall in love."
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Features
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2016 Behance Illustrations, "Fine Lands"
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2017 Displate Featured Artist
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2017 Ello x Smiling Gecko: Through the Eyes of the Artist
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2018 Ello x Fumogallery - Call for New Talent
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2018 MrSuicideSheep - “We Collide” by MitiS, Featured Artwork
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2018 Arts & Times, Friday Feature, Toronto
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2018 RedBubble Blog, Featured Artwork "The Daughter"
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2018 Ello x Digital Decade, Shortlisted and Featured, "Future Fest", London UK
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2018 Ello x Unvael
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2018 Ello 3D Art Category
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2018 RedBubble Features: "This is My Calling", "The Daughter", "Ancient Titans" & "Ancient Spirit: The Owl"
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2018 Artstation Community Page (December 2018)
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2019 Ello Homepage, Trending Artists (March 18, 2019)
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2019 MakersPlace, Featured Creations (Jan-Mar 2019)
Awards
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2016 Photographers Without Borders Achievement Award
Artist Interviews
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2018 ThatChannel.com Presents “Liquid Lunch”, LIVE INTERVIEW
Publication
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2018 Toronto.com & The Mirror (Scarborough) Interview for Birkdale Art in the Park
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2019 SXSW Conference, MakersPlace Interview, Featured Artist
Past/Upcoming Exhibits
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2018 RAW Artists Toronto Presents "ENVISION"; Feb 22-23
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2018 The Tyler Effect, Inaugural Charity Event; Mar 20
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2018 RAW Artists Toronto Presents "MAGNIFY"; May 17-18
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2018 Vibe Arts Festival, Gallery Exhibit; Jun 8-10
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2018 Birkdale Art in the Park, Public Art Fair; Jul 8
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2018 Gallery 1313 presents "The Landscape" Art Exhibit (Withdrew)
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2018 Ontario Society of Artists: Emerging Artists Juried Exhibition; Oct 4
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2018 Lawrence Park Art Show; Oct 12-14
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2018 Vibe Arts Holiday Fundraiser, Featured Artist; December 2018
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2018 Birkdale Art in the Park @ Artists Walkway, S.G.H., Toronto, 2018-19
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2019 Toronto Public Library, Agincourt Branch; Jan 1-31
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2019 Birkdale Arts Festival, June 22
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2020 Pancakes & Booze Art Show via Makersplace Feature, Jan 18
