Meet Asill Tantush, gamer extraordinaire! As a video game artist hailing from Libya, Asill has seen one too many life changing events, like the Arabian Spring, that have shaped his life and influenced his career. Having established his own non profit, Digital Box, that supports the local arts and artists, Asill has paved the way to create a space like no other that encourages young talent. Let Jejune Magazine take you through this refreshing interview with Asill Tantush.

Where are you based?
I live in Tripoli the capital of Libya, “North Africa”.

Can you tell us the state of life in Libya? Do you feel safe?
The political situation in Libya remains fragile and the security situation remains unpredictable. Uncertainty about when the postponed Libyan elections will take place is likely to heighten tensions throughout the country, which may lead to security incidents such as inter-militia clashes and oil blockades. As for me I don’t necessarily feel unsafe in my day to day. As a human beings, adapting to changing environments is crucial, we’re able to change our behavior to adapt to new situations and learn new ways to survive and stay under the radar.

What is it like living in a country in constant war?
People try to live “normal” lives as much as possible, but with great caution, fighting isn’t going on constantly, i.e., 24/7. There is, however, a constant dreaded silence with the occasional gunfire and/or explosion. People are more concerned about not staying in the open for too long in order to avoid getting caught in a crossfire. Also, common utilities such as electricity and access to tap water become scarce, especially in the more rural areas. But people are constantly worrying about the safety of their families and loved ones. Honestly, the saddest part is that you get desensitized to all of it and you’ll accept it as the norm.

What effect did the Arab spring have on you and your family?
The Arab Spring (Arabic: الربيع العربي) was a series of anti-government protests, uprisings and armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s. It began in Tunisia in response to corruption and economic stagnation, and continued to Egypt and Libya. The Arab spring in Libya started in 2011 when Libyans were inspired by the uprisings in neighboring countries, and began violently protesting against the government. The rebels were met with opposition from Colonial Muammar Gaddafi’s troops. More than 20,000 people were killed and many more were injured in the first Libyan Civil War. The second Civil War started shortly after between rival factions seeking control of Libya.

The aftermath of the Arab Spring has effected me and my family in every possible way. I was in my first year of high school when it started, so school was stopped for a while; electricity and water were On and Off, and the absence of law and order increased the crime rate. Too many lives lost; every house hold had lost a member or a loved one. Even though the Arab Spring had its positives, it also carried its negatives along with it for us to live through.

You have always dreamed of being a video game artist. What about this profession excites you?
It’s a career that involves the perfect mix of story-telling, cutting edge technology, and creativity, growing up. I played a lot of video games on my PlayStation and I’ve always wanted to bring my creative ideas to life. It’s also a profession that allows me to travel the world, share my skills, and even work remotely.

This dream seemed impossible so you decided to try being a pilot. Can you tell us why you decided to make this decision and what happened with it? Why was being a video game artist in Libya so hard?
In third-world countries, pursuing certain careers in arts or in tech is considered very risky due economical stagnation and the lack of opportunity. Libya doesn’t produce any video games; there are no video game studios here. Libya also is not that competitive in arts, film or television, not even in our region, so I learned very quick to separate between dreams and reality. I then ditched the dream of becoming an artist and decided to study Aviation abroad.

After everything you decided to move forward with your passion to become a video game artist. Can you tell us what made you take the jump and how you made it happen?
It all happened very organically, while I was studying Aviation abroad I was drawing and designing just as a hobby. I created an Instagram page and an Artstation profile under the alias “ Axill TNT “ to share my artwork. My work started to get some traction online. I started to get Commission offers and some bigger pages started to repost my work and tag me in it, which grew my followers. I continued being active online, and after reaching 5,000 followers, I monetized my online identity and started making money online just from art commissions. It wasn’t a lot of money, but it was an extra source of income. In 2021 I was approached by a big video game studio, and they offered me a full time job working remotely with them on a big multiplayer online game. I obviously accepted their offer, and this is how I made the transition.

What was the hardest obstacle you had to overcome?
There are a lot of obstacles to hurdle as an artist, but for me changing your “mindset” is the biggest one. Living in Libya there’s a lot of economical and cultural barriers that you’ll face, yet, still in 2023 there’re a lot of ways you can work your way around them. However, in order to do that you need to change the way you think about your limitations, your mindset plays a significant role in determining life’s outcomes. By understanding, adapting and shifting your mindset, you can improve life’s outcomes, and become more resilient to life’s challenges.

“What you believe about yourself impacts your success or failure”.

Can you tell us about your stint with Hollywood film WETIKO?
Before my work on “Wetiko”, I worked as a VFX artist on a commercial for “WNDRVR” Wind River Software with movie Writer/Director Kerry Mondragon and producer Michael Hoff, who later offered for me to work with them on the film Wetiko with some of the same other crew members. I honestly had a great time working with the team. I hadn’t worked on a movie before; so, seeing the work process and the difficulties was very eye-opening for me, and made me have a lot of respect for the industry. To tell you more about the film WETIKO, it is a mythopoetic adventure film about a Maya teen who ventures into the jungle as he attempts to define his identity in the modern world. We had our first premiere at New Orleans Film Society, and the film had a lot of good reviews.

What project, that you have been on, are you most proud of?
I’ve worked on a lot of very cool projects that I’m both proud and grateful for, but, honestly, I’m most proud of my personal project “Cyberpunk: Build a Human” characters, because it got me my recognition and my start in the game industry. I’m planning on releasing my own video game. It’s still a work in progress but I’ll keep everyone posted on my social media.

What advice would you give novice who want to become professional video game artists, inside and outside your country?
Having a good self-marketing strategy and keeping up with the newest game engines updates is very important. But my advise as an artist is harnessing the power of social media sites like Instagram and Artstation are definitely a resource I wish I knew about earlier in my creative journey. I wish I had more confidence in my work to show to people online and build my platform. Social media is redefining how the art world does business. Never before has an artist had the power to get into a conversation directly with their audience, artists no longer have to rely solely on galleries and the art world elite to validate their success. Today artists can use social media as their own art gallery, playing both dealer and curator while their fans become critics and collectors.

We see that you have an incredible repertoire in terms of social work. Can you tell us more about the Rawahil Foundation and your work with them?
Rawahil Foundation is a non-profit organization aiming to empower, inspire, and mobilize young Libyans to better themselves and to make a positive difference in their communities.

Can you tell us a bit about your work with The UN mission in Tripoli, Libya and Development human rights organization Libya?
The UN mission includes supporting Libyan transitional authorities in "post-conflict efforts", providing mediation in implementing Libyan political agreements, supporting key Libyan institutions, and monitoring and reporting on human rights.

I’ve worked with a couple of non-profit organizations to help educate and motivate millennials and Gen-Zers Libyans to find their passion and get rid of their own mind barriers, so they can reach their full potential.

You are working on your own non-profit, Digital Box? What aspect of social work does it intend on working on? What is your goal for this group?
Digital box Group is an independent local team of advertisers and art finance experts, our Art Group is a collective of talented local artists offering original works. Harnessing high tech technology digital art, and paintings in oil, acrylic, mixed media, giving platform to upcoming local artists. We will support them at every level of the art market including: advisory, art finance, sales agency, investment, and appraisals. Our work as a nonprofit is to educate local young individuals, increase their knowledge on programming and digital art, adapting a better mindset, and teaching them about alternatives online sources of income that they can aspire to achieve.

What do you think is the importance of children learning computer science and art?
STEM and computer science are future-proof. With a world that’s moving toward robotics, artificial intelligence, self-driving cars, and space exploration, it’s no wonder that the field is burgeoning. It’s already being estimated, for example, that computer science graduates will have 17% higher chances of employment than the current average — and this is today. By the time our children grow up and step into the job market, this number will have gone way up. Learning something like coding helps them break down a problem into smaller chunks and find a logical pathway to possible solutions. Consequently, they learn to think on their feet, which is a skill that always comes in handy later on. That’s why I think our young people should begin learning computer science as early as possible. This will prepare them for a world of advancement ahead, and equip them for their future.

It has been a rough few years, especially in a war torn country, how have you been staying positive during these times?
Having family, friends, and loved ones in my own Garden of Eden.

What is your motto in life?
Treat yourself like someone you care for. Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today. Perfection is the enemy of success.

To learn more about Asill, please follow his platforms below:
Instagram: @AxillTNT
Artstation: Axill TNT
LinkedIn: Axill TNT
Youtube: Asill Tantush

Building Alternate Realities With Asill Tantush