South Beach Bound
This year BitBasel will takeover the entire Sagamore Hotel in Miami South Beach for the entire week. The last show I was a part of with BitBasel was still held in the Miami Bitcoin Center in 2019, so returning to exhibit with these pioneers is precious. I had also no idea just how predictive my keynote back then was going to be about what is going to be shown now. It’s groundhog day with bananas and a repetition of Dante’s circles of hell, while trying to help humanity out of inverse mode. A worthy fight. Legends only 🚀
As crazy as this journey has been since the early days, needing to repeat some fundamentals time and time again, while the ETH scene erodes further, luckily there are people who see what I do and support the perspective to be a part of it all. Much gratitude for Lecks and Scarlett for including me in the 2024 show.
Back to the Future
Notice what is on screen during my lecture about all things decentralised in 2019 at BitBasel
Back then, I was commenting a lot on how the world is on fire, how we need to fix the monetary system, the origin story of creativity, how AI will replace most low-end lawyers, accountants, etc., within five years, and how the banana fuckery of the art world couldn’t possibly sink any lower. Man, was I wrong—again—on that one. It seems the art world has found new ways to hit rock bottom in the Web3 space. At least then, SuperRare was still just taking off with hope. My naive self still believed back then that blockchain was going to bring more transparency to the art world. LOL.
Anyhoo, both the divine touch and the banana were featured in my slides during the presentation, and now they will be part of the 2024 BitBasel as a combined artwork. The piece comments on how the West has lost its way and explores what we can do to revitalize it. The reverse of the great inverse is the avant-garde, and I keep being here for it. Eventually, this will be seen by everyone and recognized as self-evident. In the meanwhile, I gotta double up as an artist as well as a culture critic. It’s a weird position but someone’s gotta do it.
I’m Potency
I’m Potency will be on show, infamous now from the precious SuperRare debacle.
The NFT comes with a physical canvas print, painted over with acrylics, which launches an AR animation.
I wrote an article here called “Proof of censorship” recently on the substance.
Here is the longer original tweet as my “submission” for the competition.
Price 6 ETH
BitRam!
See if the scanning works via the Artivive app!
The second piece on show is the live version NFT of the BitRam artwork re-imagining the animal lore of Bitcoin a bit. BTC keeps trucking along, breaking new number heights, but most importantly fighting to have an alternate space marked safe from the fiat inflation machine.
The animation original piece comes with a 2/3 physical, hand finished canvas art piece that launches into an AR version via the Artivive app.
Price: 9 ETH
BitRam physical re-paint (sold 1/3) on show in Switzerland at the Swiss Web3 Conf earlier in 2024 during Art Basel. 2/3 is now available and married together with the 1/1 animation NFT on sale at BitBasel.
Renaissance 360
Lecks also asked me to get some metaverse material on a screen, which I was happy about. The compilation video of some of the best made thus far through Asvoria (launching soon), Superworld and Cornerstone Land will be presented as part of a larger metaverse reel.
Why are we not allowed to ask, in art, the most basic of questions. Why can’t we be inspired by excellence, beauty, harmony and the spirit? Time after time, we just revel in this mud like pigs with no future. At least the pigs derive some nutrients and skin care from their play, whilst we just reduce ourselves to animals with no instincts.
Program schedule and links:
BitBasel Miami Art Week 2024, scheduled from December 3 to December 8 at the Sagamore Hotel South Beach, offers a dynamic fusion of art and technology. This week-long event features a diverse lineup of activities, including exhibitions, panel discussions, and immersive experiences.
Event Highlights:
- December 2: The week commences with the ActNowXR Summit, focusing on art’s role in sustainability and impact, followed by the BitBasel VIP Vernissage showcasing fine art masterworks.
- December 3: “Beyond A.I.” explores the future of creativity, delving into artificial intelligence’s influence on art and technology.
- December 4: The Creative Tech Investor Summit brings together leading minds in finance to discuss investment trends at the intersection of art and technology.
- December 5: A day dedicated to special events, offering opportunities for brands and partners to host their own activations within the BitBasel framework.
- December 6: “Mooon.Party Vol.2” celebrates art and technology with an unforgettable night featuring top DJs and live performances.
- December 7: The 23rd Iconic Sagamore Brunch presents “The Future of the Arts,” featuring immersive live art, panel discussions, and performances by the South Florida Symphony. Later, the Jayne Pierson Runway Show blends high fashion with artistic innovation.
- December 8: The event concludes with the 305 Pool Party, a vibrant gathering celebrating local impact and community, featuring music and poolside fun.
Ready to be touched by God?
Throughout the week, attendees can explore “The Gallery,” a curated space showcasing cutting-edge creative expressions in fine art, digital masterpieces, and space-bound art.
For more details and ticket information, visit the official BitBasel website.
Proof of Effort
T(r)opical from 2017 was the first Miami specific work I ever made. The 2/3 re-paint is still available now priced at 1 BTC. I kept the idea I had that some of the early works will keep the thread to the 1 BTC price, when bought from me. Of course, I needed start making others without it, as about 10k remains the constant “fuck you money” that people in the scene use for art. These piece are historic though, so if you want in on that action, I solute you! I saved it here as the last thing, so it’s only through proof of collector effort, that you even get to them.
Also, forever respect for Moe Levin, the founder of the North American Bitcoin Conference, for giving me my first ever spot to showcase my art in January 2018. Cool to have a fren also in Joel from the Bad Crypto Podcast, who is lurking there in the background 😂 The 1/50 signed print was given to Moe as a gift.
At 100k, the 6×3 foot re-paints are still cheap to what some of the earliest holistic works will eventually cost, once the dust settles a bit.
VESA
Crypto Artist, Speaker, Consultant, Writer
All links to physical, NFTs, and more below
