Art world disruptors first collective exhibition
Date: March 26, 2021
Location: UCCA北京
Name: “Virtual Niche — Have you ever seen memes in the mirror?”.
Curator: Sun Bohan, CEO of BlockCreateArt (BCA) and Asia’s first crypto art brand
The First Major Institutional Crypto-Art Exhibition will unite for the first time artists and collectors from the Bitcoin community (Polkadot and Kusama communities ) and it is expected to be one of the most innovative events, announcing the entry of the New-Generation on the Fine Art Stage.
The location is also iconic – UCCA Lab (北京), interdisciplinary platform of one of China’s most prominent museums).
Featured works include Robert Alice’s “Portraits of a mind” , the first ever NFT artwork sold by Christie’s auction house.
In addition, 20 works by Beeple will make their first-ever debut appearance.
In addition, well-known artist from the crypto world will participate such as: Alida Sun, Alotta MoneyArtonomous, Bronwyn Lundberg, Tiger Cai, Baoyang Chen, Ellwood, Dabeiyuzhou, deadmau5 and Mad Dog Jones, Fewocious, Hipworth, CryptoZR, June Liu, Maalavidaa, Marble Mannequin, Mario Klingemann, mbsjq, Pak, Refik Anadol, Reva, Robbie Barrat, Sun Bohan, Suryanto, Sun Yitian, Wu Jianan, Wang Weisi, Creators of First Super (Alotta Money, Blackboxdotart, Coldie, Connie Digital, Hackatao, Josie Bellini, Matt Kane, Mlibty, Rutger van der Tas, Shortcut, TwistedVacancy, VansDesign, and XCOPY.
Elliot Safra, Partner at AndArt Agency comments: “As generational tastes shift, we felt it important to support an exhibition that showcases a demographic’s interest that has had little previous institutional examination. We hope this exhibition will help propel the dialogue surrounding crypto-art from the fringes into the mainstream.”
The exhibition, “Virtual Niche — Have you ever seen memes in the mirror?” intends to historicize and cement the development of crypto art as a legitimate fine art category.
By displaying crypto art produced in different socio-economic and cultural settings, the exhibition will also discuss the practical significance of crypto art as a category in today’s digital economy.
By placing crypto artwork in a physical, immersive setting with interactive aesthetics, “Virtual Niche” also is curated with the intent of building a deeper understanding and connection to crypto art.
‘World’s First Major Institutional Crypto-Art Exhibition’ coincides with the NFTs Boom, and all the hype and buzz around it, due to record sales of Beeple, or other celebrities such as Grimes.
More over, it might seem to be a momentum for debates around what is art, ownership of digital assets, digital collectibles.
A long-awaited event by the entire crypto artists community, something done at the right time seems to be not only welcome but necessary in today’s Art Marketplace.
“Virtual Niche” will then continue its tour in Shanghai from April 9th to April 11th
SELECTED WORKS
“Portraits of a Mind’’ by Robert Alice, is a series of 40 giant paintings composed of Bitcoin’s source code, constituting the largest work of art in blockchain’s history.
Block 21 from Portraits of a Mind made $131,250 in Christie’s First Auction of Blockchain-related artwork in 2020.
Block 8, the one shown in the exhibition belongs to Jehan Chu, co-founder of Kenetic Capital.
Portraits of a Mind series, Robert Alice, 2019
Everydays — The 2020 Collection”, by digital artist Beeple, achieved a new sales record of $3.5 million for the most valuable artwork auctioned off on Nifty Gateway. After acquiring 20 pieces of Beeple’s artworks, Metapurse launched the B.20 bundle to share ownership of all works — along with the VR monuments it lives in.
Everdays Home Planet, Beeple, 2020
“Boxing Men”, by Wu Jianan, associate professor in the School Experimental Art of the CAFA. This is his first fully digital art piece, inspired by “cut-outs” of animals, mythical creatures, faces, and figures.
“Do Androids Dream of Electric Cows?”, by Chen BaoYang, poses key ontological questions concerning the real and virtual world — can androids perceive and feel the world as humans do?
The metaphor of hierarchy and power is hidden in the VR’s maze, creating a puzzling and electrifying experience.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Cows?, Baoyang Chen, 2017
First Supper is a milestone work of programmable Cryptoart. Instead of being a static work of art, the painting consists of 22 layers and constantly changes in form according to alteration in user-defined layers owned by a number of artists and collectors.
The top 6 winners’ pieces of BCA & Kusama Network’s Digital Art Competition will also be featured in the exhibition.
Some info about event AGENDA
what do we know about?
The 14-day dual city exhibition also includes a variety of activities, including a VIP preview, curator’s guided tour, opening ceremony of Kusama Network’s Chiba Gallery, cryptoart workshop jointly organized by BCA and Kusama Network, after-party and themed museum’s nights supported by Dandy Room and Pernod Richard.
Bohan Sun, Founder of BCA, Curator and Producer of the Exhibition
“From a historical point of view, every important change in art history is closely related to the development of technology. This time, with the rise of blockchain technology, cryptoart movement has emerged. On this basis, BCA, first Asia’s blockchain-focused brand dedicated to the promotion of Crypto-art, is constantly looking for breakthroughs, and bringing everyone a true cryptoart exhibition and unalloyed visual joy.”
Qinwen Wang, Producer of the exhibition,
Web3 Foundation China Community, Polkadot Network Council Member
“Technology and art seem to be two opposing fields, but the logic behind them is surprisingly consistent — — both are driven by curiosity and imagination. Science seeks truth and art seeks aesthetics; both require constant research and creativity. I hope this exhibition brings out the beauty of technology and art combined in the era of Web3. It will also be the first time that China’s Bitcoin community and Polkadot’s community intersect.”
Gavin Wood, Founder of Polkadot & Kusama network, CTO of Ethereum
“Kusama is quite heavily supportive of the art world.
There are a few projects that Kusama is funding within the art world to try and bring a bit more knowledge about blockchain.”
(RealVision interview with Gavin Wood)
Ge Yuesheng, CEO of Matrixport
“Both blockchain and art represent visions for a better future, and I believe that the combination of these two will definitely bring better things to mankind.
Xiao Ge, Co-founder (VP) of Phoenix TV
and Phoenix Art, Editor-in-Chief, Art Director
“ Everyone is an artist>becomes possible thanks to the integration of blockchain and technology.
Cryptoart is changing the way of creating, presenting, and trading in the art world, which is the most creative artistic movement in the 21st century and a new aesthetic of the future. ”
Exhibition director:
Ziwei Lou
Exhibition Executives (By Alphabetic Order)：
Ashely Zhang, Chris Chen, Elodie He, Eva House, Guo Zhenyao, Joey Hou, Wang Shuai, Wei Jia, Wang Zengchen, Wen Zihan, Xiang Shuainan, Xiao Yuxin, Zhu Ning, Zhang Julong, Zhang Wanqi
The exhibition is curated by BlockCreateArt (BCA)’s CEO, Sun Bohan, and co-hosted by Digital Finance Group and Winkrypto. Additional funding is provided by the Kusama Network Treasury and Bitmain.
Producer: Qinwen Wang.
Adviser and Facilitator: AndArt Agency
For more info please contact youandme@andart.agency