Two years removed from his time at UVM, multimedia artist Nyiko Beguin has created a portfolio that ranges in mediums from film and music to painting and photography, all while working his day job as a banker. His stage name, NYIKO, is taken from the language of the Shangaan people of South Africa and means ?gift.?Beguin said both his art and music have developed over the years to compliment each other. His latest album, ?Always Always,? even comes with an art book attached. Beguin?s exhibit ?Erase Head? will be on display at UVM from March 11 through April 9. The opening reception will be held March 12 in the Livak Fireplace Lounge inthe Davis Center. His work can also be found at Nyiko.com.Vermont Cynic : What can we expect to see from your work that is being displayed at UVM? Nyiko Beguin : These paintings are a series of paintings that explore the concept of time and perceptions by obsolete media formats. What is the origin of and the real function of something if someone is perceiving it in a different way? It?s mostly VHS tapes, vinyl and cassette tapes.VC: What first inspired you to make art?NB: I grew up in a community in southern New Hampshire with artists and I started making music at seven years old. It was not a conscious thought, it just started happening because it was available to me. I started on a serious and time-consuming level in high school when I started repurposing plastic and other formats that aren?t standard canvas. VC: What are some struggles you have faced as an artist?NB: The biggest struggle is balancing being able to do artwork while also being a person who generates income for himself. I work in banking and it?s a very different world than the art industry. The hardest thing is to tap into the creative side after spending all day in the sterile side of life. It?s also exciting because it keeps me on my toes. Working in that way I think is really valuable and I take some of the things I do in my day job or artwork whether it?s conscious or not. VC: How do you think your art has changed?NB: I think that it started out as a representation of scenes or objects that are recognizable like an animal, a person or a landscape. It has become more abstract. I think some might be more emotional and less of replicating what I?m seeing. VC: What has been your most challenging project?NB: The most difficult project that I?ve ever done was a painting assignment in a course at UVM. When you create an image and then you replicate that image by painting it, it?s a great thing and I think you should be able to do it, but it?s definitely the most time consuming and the least inspiring at times. ?Erase Head? has been challenging in the time that I spend on it. It might even be more challenging to switch gears after work like that. VC: What do you think about the art scene in Burlington? Has the community influenced your art?NB: It?s a great art scene and very supportive to artists. [Burlington has] a lot going on as a variety of young artists that are still really exploring and then more established artists that have been in the community for many years. I had the opportunity to intern at Burlington City Arts, which was very valuable to me as an artist and to someone working in business.