Who is Tropikiller
Nero Campisi is a senior at Columbus College of Art & Design, where they are working on completing their BFA in Illustration and anticipates graduation in 2024.
As an illustrator, they can draw various styles and aesthetics. There is an unlimited potential of work that can be created. Every endeavor Nero undertakes is an opportunity to take advantage of this and do their best to test the “limits” of the art they produce. Their art is designed to go against the norm and simultaneously cause the viewer to feel conflicted. They choose to illustrate pieces that revolve around morbidity and mental illness because Nero feels that we are entering an age in which these themes are seen as “taboo”.
While in this modern day, we do acknowledge mental illness, it is still heavily avoided. Matter of fact, most “darker” subjects tend to be neglected until they begin to cause problems. In a way, art may be an easier way to process and understand these grim topics and possibly help bring proper awareness to them.
Nero strives to develop video games and characters with compelling and unique yet relatable stories. We are all struggling but, in a way that is distinct and personal to ourselves. Therefore the characters and worlds they create should be the same. Nero aims to make certain that whatever audience they someday captivates, feels seen and understood in some way that is special to them.
While mental illness inspires much of Nero’s work, so is music. Many songs influence their color choices, atmospheric designs, stories, and more. Visual inspiration only goes so far but, to Nero, music truly helps to streamline the process and aid them in creating fully flourished illustrations with dynamic scenes.
Nero’s art has mature and violent themes but, these topics must be brought to light and they chose to pursue this endeavor with their illustrations. While not all of Nero’s work encapsulates these subjects, they do try and make a consistent effort to delicately handle them in a way that is unique to their artwork as an illustrator.
My Art
My artwork illustrates how I interpret morbidity and mental illness. Through worldbuilding and character development, I convey feelings of loneliness, sadness, and hopelessness throughout my pieces. Besides designing recognizable characters, creating a compelling atmosphere that tells a story by itself is my goal. While these themes in my work may seem gloom-ridden, I represent an unseen and unheard group of individuals who need proper symbolization in media. I find as someone who consumes artwork on social media, seeing illustrations and such that revolve around mental illness comfort me, that I am not alone in my suffering.
I aim to normalize embracing negative emotions. Far too many people who suffer feel as if they are supposed to be strong and are unable to express how they feel due to this stigma - mental illness makes you unlikeable. My ultimate goal with my illustrations and stories is to provide the understanding that we are only human, we suffer, and it can be scary but, we are not any less for it. Although my art may be “unconventional”, that is what makes it so special and why each piece's story is unique. Negativity does not always equal pessimism. Those of us suffering from depression, anxiety and such simply want to be seen and shown that there is a light at the end of the tunnel - we are in this together and we will heal.
