Dot.Events - “Virtual Niche” - the world’s first largest Cryptoart exhibition to be held in China

• The exhibition is hosted by BlockCreateArt, funded by Kusama Network Treasury, Bitmain, and co-hosted with Digital Finance Group and Winkrypto.
• It will be the first time for China’s Bitcoin and Polkadot & Kusama community intersect thanks to the artworks that represents both community culture, also to launch of the Chiba Gallery as a part of Kusama Network NFT strategy.
• Christie’s first time sold NFT artworks, Portraits of a mind from Robert Alice and 20 pieces of Beeple’s NFT art from Metapurse, will make its debut appareance in China.

Artist List：Alida Sun，Alotta Money，Artonomous，Bronwyn Lundberg，Beeple，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，Robert Alice，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)

“Virtual Niche -Have you ever seen memes in the mirror?”, the first largest offline Cryptoart exhibition will take place at UCCA Lab, an interdisciplinary platform at one of the most prominent museums in China from March 26th to April 4th, 2021. It will subsequently be held in Shanghai from April 9th to April 11th. The exhibition is curated by Sun Bohan — — CEO of BCA, Asia’s first Cryptoart brand.

With the NFT(Non-Fungible Token) market being tripled in size in 2020, the exhibition aims to connect art and blockchain communities by demonstrating the rich use of blockchain technology in artistic creation and establish a dialogue between the traditional art world and Crptoart world. It will be the first time that Robert Alice’s and Beeple’s artworks are unveiled in China, they are the first two NFT artists who have their artworks sold at Christie’s. 30 artists with more than 60 iconic crypto artworks will join the group exhibition.

The exhibition, “Virtual Niche — — Have you ever seen memes in the mirror?” is centered around the development of Cryptoart. By displaying Crypto artworks produced in different socio-economic and cultural settings, the exhibition discusses what practical significance that Cryptoart has, and how popular culture is intertwined with this new emerging art category. While providing interactive aesthetics and immersive experience, it is based on the premise of building a deeper understanding of Cryptoart.

Lighting design by NIKO EDWARDS

The predecessor of Cryptoart is often referred to as memes valued for their accessibility, interactiveness as well as ability to spread among the large public at an unprecedented rate. As a new creation in the virtual world, memes represent the main characteristics of internet culture in the 21st century. Empowered by blockchain technology, memes develop into non-homogeneous and inseparable tokens such as Cryptokitties and CryptoPunks. As the integration of blockchain technology and artistic creation deepens, Cryptoart induces in-depth reflection on the definition of digital ownership, the relation between the present and future, and the boundaries between virtuality and reality. If the virtual world is seen as a mirror of the real world, when a new realm is created in the mirror, what does this realm signify?

By red and blue lighting, the exhibition is divided into two parts. While the artworks in red light show the most primal aspects of the Cryptoart emphasizing more on the visual impacts, those in blue light present encryption as a new artistic language of Cryptoart — an emerging art movement. Many artworks that leave a deep imprint in the history of Cryptoart are featured in the exhibition. The followings highlight some of the artworks in the exhibition.

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.

Everdays Home Planet, Beeple, 2020

Boxing Men by Wu Jianan, associate professor in the School Experimental Art of the CAFA 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

Master image of “First Supper” at <22: 24,22 / 05,2020>, a collective work by Shortcut, Josie, blackboxdotart, mlibty, Vansdesign, Alotta Money, TwistedVacancy, coldie, Hackatao, XCOPY, MattKane, Rutger van der Tas, ConnieDigital

The Crypto artwork First Supper by is a milestone work of programmable Cryptoart. Instead of being a static work of art, the painting consists of 22 layers and constantly varies according to changes in user-defined layers owned by a number of artists and collectors. The top 6 winners’ pieces of BCA& Kusama Network Digital Art Competition will also be featured in the exhibition. The 14-day dual city exhibition also includes a variety of activities, including 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 breathtaking 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

Special Thanks：

Sun Ming, Jehan Chu, Cao Yin, Qinwen, Flamingo and Metapurse Fund, API Gallery, Daniele Sileri, Candice Zhao, Parity Technology Chiba Gallery, Chambers Fine Art, Dan Forbes, Suvi Dong, UnderlineArtSpace, Raster Eyes, Joe, LD Capital, NIKO EDWARDS

Source: Blockcreateart