eepmon, Creative Arts & Design Award

Founder and Digital Artist, EEPMON Inc.
Computer Engineering Technology – Computing Science, 2003 and
Bachelors of Information Technology – Interactive Multimedia and Design, 2008

Eric Sze-Lang Chan, widely known professionally as eepmon, is a highly talented digital and NFT artist who has garnered significant acclaim for his innovative and captivating creations.

His works have been seen in fashion, comics and museums, and exhibited worldwide.

For the uninitiated, NFT (Non-Fungible Token) art is essentially a type of digital art format. It leverages next generation Web3 / Blockchain technology that authenticates digital artworks as one of a kind.

This is new and leading-edge technology.

In 2021, Chan launched his CityLights series in Times Square as NFTs and sold out in less than two hours.

His alter ego, he explains, “is a silly name for an ape man”. Chan was born in the Year of the Monkey in the Chinese Zodiac.

“I really align with the spiritual monkey and the philosophy of the monkey and what it stands for.

With a unique blend of technical expertise and artistic vision, he has made a lasting impact on the digital art landscape.

Born and raised in a creative environment in Ottawa’s east end, Chan developed a passion for art at a young age. Combining this talent with his computer skills learned at Algonquin College, he found himself drawn to the possibilities offered by digital tools for artistic expression. This fascination became the catalyst for his journey into the world of digital art.

If it wasn’t for Algonquin College, Chan says he wouldn’t have learned the necessary programming language to discipline himself to be where he is today.

“I have to thank Algonquin College for that,’ he said.

“We don’t know what it’s going to be like going in, but when I went to Algonquin College it was like almost a redemption for my bad marks (in high school) because it actually fit my style. I’m a very hands-on person and at Algonquin College you see the results right away. I learned by trial and error. It’s not like I have to absorb everything in this book and instantly have everything memorized.

“The applied approach is just a different way of learning. That’s what it was. But back then (before attending Algonquin College) there was only one way of learning. But now there are so many ways.”

“I would recommend Algonquin College to students who want to look into how they can merge artistry and technology together. To fully understand it, it is not just theory. You have to be in there and that’s what I learned from my experience at Algonquin College.”

Chan is very honoured to be recognized with the College’s Alumni of Distinction Award for Creative Arts and Design and the Premier’s Award nomination.

“For me it really ranks high because I went to a school where the school understood how I work, how I do and see things. By learning and understanding the applied approach is just as important as any other form of education. It was a eureka moment for me. I’m very, very honoured to get it. I’m a new breed of artist and Algonquin played a major role in that.”

Chan loved to draw as far back as he can remember. He recalls being obsessed with traffic lights when he was younger. He would create “these crazy collages” with traffic lights. His obsession would turn to Transformers and Nintendo characters.

“During elementary school I was the go-to guy to draw characters. Chan-man was the guy who could draw all these characters.”

His path to one of the world’s most recognizable digital artists has been unorthodox and unconventional, he admits.

“Because when I was going through school, there was two trains of thought. One is, book theory, or there was applied.”

He bought into the book theory part and that didn’t turn out great at all, he acknowledged.

“I realized I was very hands-on. I needed to understand what I was doing. I needed to really have my hands into the application or whatever it was. When I started, I kind of knew that computers were cool, because of my Nintendo days. But I told myself, whatever it was I was going to do, it had to have some kind of computer component. But I didn’t know what it was.”

In order to really understand the computer side of it, he really needed to understand the inner workings.

One of the distinguishing aspects of eepmon’s work is his mastery of digital tools and techniques. He utilizes the power of software programs, digital brushes, computer code, and 3D rendering to breathe life into his creations. His ability to merge traditional art principles with cutting-edge technology sets him apart as a pioneer in the field of digital art.

This unique talent has garnered him widespread recognition and accolades within the art community and beyond. His artwork has been featured in numerous prestigious exhibitions and galleries worldwide, captivating audiences with its stunning beauty and thought-provoking concepts.

His contributions to the digital art domain have earned him several awards, establishing him as one of the foremost digital artists of his generation, inspiring a new wave of artists, who strive to emulate his style and push boundaries of digital art further.

Chan’s artistic journey has not only left an enduring mark on the digital art world but has also influenced the broader artistic landscape. Through his work, he has redefined the possibilities of digital art, demonstrating its potential as a powerful medium for storytelling, self-expression, and pushing creative boundaries.

With his unique vision and technical skill, eepmon continues to inspire and challenge artists and enthusiasts alike. He is always pushing boundaries to ensure his legacy will endure, shaping the future of digital art for generations to come.

“I like to think the moves and the paths that I have made have influenced a younger generation of creators that they can create whatever they want, be empowered to use whatever tools they want without any rules and limits.

“The world is your oyster, really. But you really have to go out there and get it. It’s out there. The opportunities are out there. And it’s not because ‘I have to do it’. It’s because I want to do it. It’s because it is part of the adventure.”

Chan is guided by a deep sense of curiosity and a desire for continuous learning. He embraces the unknown, challenging conventional boundaries and conventions to push the limits of what is possible. With a dogged dedication to his craft and an insatiable appetite for new ideas, eepmon symbolizes the spirit of artistic innovation and creative evolution.

“It’s the entrepreneurial marketing aspect of myself. It’s the curiosity. The monkey is always curious. I always want to know how far can I go. How far can I push myself? I said to myself when I started out, ‘I needed to succeed in my own way. I need to do things myself’. So, I needed to have my own moniker. I needed to have my own artist’s name. Then I went out there and I went into the deep end to see what happens and what doesn’t. I just kept on doing it.”

He graduated from Algonquin College’s Computer Engineering Technology – Computing Science Program and the College’s joint program with Carleton University’s Bachelor of Information Technology – Interactive Multimedia and Design.

These programs introduced him to the world of computer programming.

He says coding is a fundamental skill he believes develops discipline, critical thinking and problem solving.

What Chan loves most about coding is that it is a holistic exercise to design systems.

In some ways, he says it is similar to drawing pictures.

He believes there are many varieties and methods to learning.

Chan is a very hands-on learner. In other words, he learns by doing, he says.

Algonquin College supported his learning style encouraging him to apply himself to new scenarios and problem-solving challenges. Today, his career is driven by merging both computer code, digital art, and design.

His fusion of art and computer code, the traditional and the modern, as well as the artistic and the commercial, he says, demonstrates a unique ability to create in the ever-changing landscape of modern, contemporary society. His peers point to him as a pioneer in paving forward new innovative creations in the digital arts sector.

The path he has taken to fame, and success, has been unorthodox and unconventional.

“If it wasn’t for Algonquin College, I wouldn’t have learned the necessary programming language to discipline myself to be where I am today,” he said. “I have to thank the College for that.”

His style is characterized by its blend of vibrant colors, intricate details, and surreal elements. His creations often transport viewers to imaginative worlds, where reality merges seamlessly with fantasy.

Digital art is his anchor allowing him to continually discover new boundaries.

“It allows me to explore this, explore that. Digital art and fashion. Digital art and video games. Digital art and product design. Digital art and Web3. Digital art and art in itself. There are all these different dimensions to whatever career you choose or whatever niche you have. But don’t let that be the be all and end all. By diversifying, it allows you to be very flexible to move into different spaces.”