THE WHOLE ENTIRE UNIVERSE w/ Anik Malcolm – X Spaces v1 ft. SEAisMEDICINE

Anik:
Aloha. B to a Bitcoin, Aloha—C is medicine. How are you doing, Naomi?

Naomi:
I’m doing great. I’m wearing a cape.

Anik:
Is it a BTC Aloha cape?

Naomi:
Of course.

Anik:
(laughs) What, really?

Naomi:
Yeah.

Anik:
I’ve been really looking forward to this one. From moment one, you were my official introduction to the vibes. And we haven’t spoken for ages—we do chat occasionally, but it’s been a while. It’s really good to catch up.

Naomi:
Yeah. Maybe I should just become Director of the Vibes.

Anik:
That honestly feels like the correct title.

Amsterdam & Conference Work

Anik:
I’ve been meaning to ask you—how was Amsterdam?

Naomi:
It was great. I got to see Hansel, Rebel, Bart, Zetra—it was really cool. There was live art, which I loved. I think interactive and live elements are something we should do more of.

Anik:
What was your role there? I actually don’t know.

Naomi:
I was on the programming team, helping create sessions and panels. I also managed the second stage—the Orange Stage.

Anik:
That must’ve been fun and hectic.

Naomi:
It was fun. I used to do production work, so it was in my wheelhouse.

Anik:
I forgot to add that to the intro. That’s on me.

Travel & Europe

Anik:
You were in Europe doing other bits as well, right?

Naomi:
Yeah. I visited my sister in Ireland and spent some time on the coast—about a 30-minute train ride from Amsterdam. It was super cute, kind of like a gingerbread house town.

Anik:
That checks out. I grew up in northern Germany—not far from there. Trains are amazing. Was there still a lot of graffiti?

Naomi:
Not much on the trains themselves, but definitely in tunnels and underpasses.

Anik:
I’ve been thinking a lot about travel and Bitcoin. I’ve never crossed the Atlantic or Pacific by boat. I’d love to try slow travel—working while moving.

Naomi:
That would be so much fun. Just make sure the “boat tipping club” isn’t around. Leave your keys at home.

Art Origins

Anik:
I always like to ask this: how did you get into art? What are your earliest memories?

Naomi:
Like most kids, I think I was always creative. I loved drawing and making things. I had a big imagination and loved books—especially photo books and picture books. Art was really the one place I consistently did well. It was an outlet.

Anik:
Did you ever have a moment where you thought, I want to be an artist?

Naomi:
I always felt like I was an artist. I also wanted to do fashion—I used to design clothes, draw them, make things.

Anik:
Did you go to art school?

Naomi:
Not formally. I did mentoring and apprenticeships. If I wanted to learn something, I figured out how. I apprenticed in high-end custom furniture making for a couple of years.

Anik:
A lot of sanding?

Naomi:
A lot of sanding.

Film, DIY, and Props

Naomi:
I didn’t go to traditional college, but I learned filmmaking through friends. A teacher let me sit in on classes. We worked with old optical printers—frame-by-frame animation, very hands-on.

Anik:
That “proof of work” feeling is coming back strong.

Naomi:
Yeah. I grew up very DIY. No one was going to save me—I had to figure things out.

Naomi:
Later, I moved to Hawaii. There wasn’t much theater, but there was a lot of commercial production work. I joined art departments, did props, built things—even large projects for children’s education departments.

Anik:
I really need to redo your intro.

Photography Practice

Naomi:
I studied photography with Paul Chesley, and later with David Ulrich, who studied under Minor White. Photography became a mindfulness practice for me—how I see, how I move through the world.

Anik:
Your portraits—especially the project with blind people—are incredibly respectful and calm.

Naomi:
Thank you. Photography is spiritual for me.

Naomi:
A project I’m interested in next is photographing natural birth.

Anik:
That’s powerful. It requires being present without interfering.

Naomi:
Exactly—being a witness, not changing the energy.

Collage Practice

Anik:
How did collage enter your work?

Naomi:
I’ve always made collages. Paper scraps, punk flyers, postcards for friends. It was communication as much as art.

Anik:
Do images come first, or words?

Naomi:
It depends. Sometimes an accident creates the idea. Sometimes it’s about energy and balance.

Anik:
Your collages range from calm to chaotic—each feels intentional.

Naomi:
Each one is its own little story.

Naomi:
The ocean became central for me, so surf magazines are a big source now. Lately I’ve even been inspired by sardine packaging.

Anik:
As long as it’s clean first.

BTC Aloha & Wearables

Anik:
There’s a great video where a collage becomes a bag.

Naomi:
Yeah—paper collage, digitized, then printed.

Anik:
What’s your approach with BTC Aloha?

Naomi:
Surfing and Bitcoin overlap—freedom, decentralization, flow. I wanted high-quality pieces, so I experimented until I found what worked.

Anik:
That silk shirt was incredible—briefly.

Naomi:
I want to decentralize production more long-term and do limited editions within the Bitcoin community.

Direction, Miami & Preservation

Anik:
What’s next for you?

Naomi:
Having a stable job in Bitcoin right now is grounding. I’m helping with conferences, developing clothing ideas, and working on new collages.

Naomi:
I’m moving to Miami—putting down roots again.

Anik:
Full circle.

Naomi:
Yeah. I’m not chasing big waves anymore—just flow.

Naomi:
I’ve been thinking a lot about preservation—culture, skills, connection. Even hospitality concepts that support local economies and Bitcoin usage.

Anik:
That’s what art does—it preserves humanity.

Closing Verse

Anik:
I’ve started a tradition—writing a verse for guests. Ready?

Naomi:
Let’s hear it.

Anik:
She’s a professor in,
so get some fresh Aloha beachwear and don’t be hesitant.
You’ll feel the effect once you finally step in,
Bottom line—yeah, C is medicine.

Naomi:
That’s amazing.

Final Notes & Sign-off

Audience / Una:
What products are available right now?

Naomi:
Aloha shirts, silk shorts and pants, bags, towels, dresses, men’s shorts. Orders placed soon should arrive before Christmas depending on location.

Anik:
We’re at the 90-minute mark. Naomi, thank you—this was beautiful.

Naomi:
Thank you. I loved this.

All:
Bye.