Lifestyle

Meet the Three Artists Representing Canada at This Year’s First Ever NFT BAZL

Published

4 years ago

May 15, 2021

With the increase in the sudden growth of the NFT market, Estelle Ohayon of EO Art Concierge Inc., has decided to partner up with Elitium, a blockchain wealth management specialist and GDA Capital, a digital asset investment firm to host NFT BAZL. NFT BAZL will host the world’s first physical NFT gallery, showcasing both physical and digital art using the blockchain to bridge the gap between the physical and digital art worlds.

Breathing new life into an antiquated market, renown artists including names such as Daniel Mazzone, Diogo Snow, and Max Jamali will exhibit physical and digital masterpieces side-by-side, welcoming collectors to an exhibition where onlookers can view artworks across a variety of mediums and bid by scanning a QR code. Each of these acclaimed Canadian artists have their own distinctive style and are eager to showcase their artwork to this new generation of collectors.

“When I started selecting artists for this event, I focused on a few criteria such as originality, diversity, talent and career trajectory. I have worked with Daniel, Diogo, and Max in the past few years and knew that they would be a perfect fit to represent Canadian talent in an international exhibit such as NFT BAZL. Their art compliments one another’s and each one already has a successful and established career. I see great things for all of them in the future and I am thrilled to be part of their journey “. Says Estelle

Today we take a closer look at these three Canadian artists representing their country at this first-of-its-kind display.

Daniel Mazzone

Daniel Mazzone was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. As part of an artistic family, he was surrounded by a world of visual concepts and expression. His mother was an art instructor and during his school days, teachers and fellow students alike saw his inherent artistic ability and potential. The youthful exploration of his artistic talents were pushed aside when he became homeless at the age of 15. Once Mazzone got back on his feet a few years later, he pushed himself to explore his true passions again.

In 2013, Mazzone began exhibiting at both the Canadian Heritage Art Company and at Hazelton Fine Art Gallery for the next two years. It was not until the Toronto International Art Fair in late 2014 where his artwork really caught the attention of the renowned Tanenbaum family, who are part of the top 200 art collectors in the world. Since then, Mazzone has been making waves nonstop across North America. In May 2015, he did his first show, “Torn Apart”, in New York City at the Carriage House Arts Center and in December made his official Art Basel Miami debut at 1 Hotel South Beach, “A Walk Through Life”, selling out his entire collection of 25 pieces at the show.

Mazzone continues his journey of creative exploration and pushing the envelope with his unique style.

Diogo Snow

Diogo Neves also known by his artist name D-Snow, was born and raised in São Paulo Brazil and currently resides in Toronto, Canada. The artist started his career early as a teen in Brazil with graffiti street art that grew into a passion. His style of art is a mix of urban with a twist of modern. Using a variety of materials such as spray paints, acrylics, diamond dust, prints, and resin, make his paintings unique and impactful. He has further expanded his portfolio to now include sculptures, cars, murals, boats and so much more.

D-Snow has made many custom art pieces for celebrities such as Drake, Fetty Wap, Sean Paul, Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, and many more. Early 2020 D-Snow joined Bieber Industries, becoming the brand’s art creator and actively designing logos and graphic art for the company. Some highlights of this artist’s portfolio include being chosen by Universal Music to create a tribute mural for Juice WRLD, becoming the first artist to spray-paint a Ferrari in Canada, and more recently collaborating with the Canadian coat company Woodpecker; for which he created a custom line of 100 one-of-a-kind spray-painted parkas.

With a tenacious devotion to his passion, Diogo continues to solidify his reputation as a star-studded artist for celebrity collectors.

Max Jemali

Max Jamali is a Luxury Artist based in Toronto, with an award-winning background in fashion photography, with his work showcased in Toronto, Miami, L.A. and Dubai. He is a mixed-media Artist famous for the use of Luxurious materials to create his Art. In contrast with other artists, Max’s work focuses on Luxury itself as a medium. Diamond Dust, Exotic Leather, 24K Gold, Sterling Silver, Crystals; he uses them all to create pieces that scream opulence.

In 2017, Max started combining the two worlds of Photography and Art through photorealism techniques and created his first private show in collaboration with Bisha Hotels. He later expanded his art in collaboration with luxury brands such as Lamborghini, Jason of Beverley Hills, Modern Sense, Ernst Benz Swiss Watches and hosted two exclusive events at SLS South Beach and Prestige Imports during Art Basel 2019. Since then, his art has been showcased in New York, Beverly Hills, Miami and Dubai.

Every one of Max’s artworks is created with his “M” logo that symbolizes Luxury, handcrafted from Python Skin.

Estelle Ohayon

Estelle Ohayon is a secondary art market specialist and curator bringing together an electric group of renowned artists to take part in this revolutionary event in an ever-evolving art world. With a global art network, we are able to source off-market exclusive art pieces directly from collectors across a broad spectrum of artists spanning time and genre.

GDA CAPITAL X ELITIUM

JOIN US FOR THE FIRST-EVER

NFT ART EXHIBITION

THE TEMPLE HOUSE – MIAMI

JUNE 2ND, 2021

https://nftbazl.com/

Lifestyle

Confronting Propaganda: Street Smart Documents Honest Reactions to Gaza Indoctrination Footage

Published

3 days ago

November 6, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Street Smart

Byline: Michelle Langton

In a recent project, the Street Smart team gathered 20 strangers and presented them with propaganda footage from Gaza that has circulated widely online but remains largely unfamiliar to many audiences. The aim wasn’t to provoke outrage or test media literacy in a classroom setting. It was to capture raw, unfiltered emotional reactions to material that reveals how narratives are formed at the source. The resulting video offers a candid look at how people process shocking content and how their perceptions shift when they see what is rarely shown on mainstream platforms.

The Structure of the Experiment

The format was simple. Participants were seated and shown a series of clips from Gaza, including children’s programming and broadcasts containing intense ideological messaging. No background information was provided, and viewers were not instructed on how to interpret what they were seeing. After watching, they were asked for immediate reactions.

The footage elicited a wide range of emotions. Some viewers were stunned by the content, admitting they had never seen anything like it before. Others expressed disbelief, questioning why this kind of material isn’t more widely discussed. A few were visibly shaken, saying the experience fundamentally altered their understanding of the situation.

By presenting the footage without narration or added commentary, Street Smart allowed participants’ genuine responses to emerge. The experiment revealed how propaganda can affect an entire generation. It can shock, unsettle, and force people to reconsider their assumptions.

Why This Project Matters

Sage Fox and Dorani aligned the purpose of this experiment with Street Smart’s broader mission of challenging prevailing narratives and encouraging critical thought among younger audiences. In an environment where footage spreads rapidly across digital platforms, propaganda can shape public opinion long before context catches up.

By showing the Gaza Indoctrination footage in a controlled setting and recording uncoached responses, the team aimed to expose the emotional and cognitive impact of this type of content.

“The first reaction is often the most revealing, because it shows how powerful images can be without context.”

The Range of Reactions

While each participant brought their own perspective, several themes emerged. Some expressed sympathy with the imagery itself, saying it was emotionally powerful.

One participant said, “It makes me question what I see online every day. How much of it is shaped this way?”

Their comments highlight how propaganda resonates differently depending on prior knowledge and exposure. Many viewers have simply never encountered such footage directly.

Street Smart’s Approach

This project continues a pattern established by Sage Fox & Dorani’s earlier videos. Rather than relying on experts or lengthy analysis, Street Smart focuses on real people and their honest reactions. The approach is simple but effective. Present potent material, listen to what people say, and share those moments with a wider audience.

The Gaza Indoctrination footage experiment fits this model. It doesn’t attempt to draw final conclusions or offer political commentary. Instead, it documents how people respond when they’re exposed to narratives that are usually filtered through intermediaries.

Implications for Media Literacy

Beyond its viral potential, the video raises broader questions about how people interact with powerful imagery online. Propaganda operates on emotional reflexes. As this experiment shows, those reflexes are often unexamined until they’re brought to the surface.

Sage Fox & Dorani hope that projects like this push audiences to think more critically about what they see and share.

“The purpose is not to tell people what to believe. It is to remind them that every image comes from somewhere, and that source matters,” they said.

Next Steps for Street Smart

As Street Smart’s platform grows, Sage Fox & Dorani plan to conduct similar experiments in different contexts. They intend to use their direct, street-level approach to highlight how people react when presented with challenging material.

The Gaza footage project is one piece of a larger mission. The team uses simple methods to shed light on complex issues. By focusing on authentic reactions, they continue to build a unique space in online media that blends cultural investigation with raw human response.

A Window into Unfiltered Thought

“We showed 20 strangers real propaganda footage from Gaza — and filmed their unfiltered reactions” is not a dramatic exposé or academic study. It is a clear, unmediated record of how individuals respond when confronted with material designed to persuade. In that restraint lies its strength.

By documenting these moments, Street Smart shows how awareness can begin with a pause. A brief space between seeing and believing.