Arnold Shakirov

Artist Statement

I am an artist who combines technical skills with creative expression, focusing on 3D modeling, animation, 2D design, and audio production. I use my background in computer science to view art as both an experimental process and an organized system. At its heart, my work is about integration; I explore how art can move beyond being purely aesthetic to embody technical excellence as well.

All my projects begin with curiosity and intention, guided by a strong vision of the final product. I use Maya and Unity for modeling and world-building, Photoshop for texturing, After Effects for animation, and audio software such as Logic and Audacity for sound design.

Yet these programs are meant to be combined into a cohesive aesthetic statement, because the true point of my work is art making. Creation drives everything I do, no matter the medium or form. While my technical skills provide structure and flexibility, my focus remains artistic: creating works that are both precise in execution and deeply personal.

My work is influenced by multimedia art forms that bridge art and technology. I am inspired by how artists in gaming, film, and digital installation create artworks that provoke thought and emotion. Like them, I want my work to resonate with audiences not just visually, but emotionally. I see each project as an opportunity to build environments that connect logic and creativity, programming and imagination.

Artist Bio

Arnold Shakirov is a Russian digital artist working across different media: game design, 2D animation, 3D modeling, and audio production. His work explores human perception and how one’s view of the world can make a difference. His recurring themes are grief, human connection, and reimagined worlds.

This summer, he completed research at FIEA that strengthened his workflow and teamwork. He has produced podcasts and created audio for games and 2D animations. Arnold builds projects in Unity, Maya, and Logic Pro. Recent projects include Elizabeth Hall: Reimagined, a 3D replica of the building, and Crossover, a dimension-shifting puzzle game. He is currently expanding Crossover and developing other creative projects.

Project Statement — Crossover

Crossover is a puzzle adventure set inside one house that exists in two forms: a 2D world and a 3D world. I designed the game so you switch between these views to solve problems. What you do in one view changes the other — open a path in 2D, a door unlocks in 3D. You can also collect items in one dimension and use them in the other.

The medium is an interactive game built in Unity with C#. I model props and rooms in Maya, create 2D assets in Aseprite/Photoshop, and implement cutscenes using After Effects. I guide attention with lighting and cutscenes instead of long text. I collaborate with composer Luke Paxton on the original score and implementation so that the music supports the atmosphere of the game. The audience will play a short, replayable demo at the Hand Art Center, with a poster and framed concept art showing the vision behind the game.

I made this project to explore perception — how the same space can feel different depending on how you choose to see it. Influences include Portal, where a player rethinks familiar spaces, and Deltarune with its emotional depth. I want people to leave noticing how their own viewpoint shapes the world — and to try looking at it from different angles.