To NFT or not to NFT, is it a question?
So, immediately we are thrown in the midst of discussion of relationship between a unique historical significance and its monetary equivalent, crypto or otherwise, also known as commodification. Anything of course can be commodified, and consumerized, as it is in this wild wild world, but there is a specificity to the NFTs and the way it is now permanently attached to the artworld.
There is also this: “Today was supposed to be my second CryptoArt release on NiftyGateway. Considering the insane and unnecessary waste of electricity involved, I’ve decided to cancel the drop until the issue is addressed.” Joanie Lemercier
With the NFT craze raging round us, we feel it is our duty say a few words and consider a few actions on the subject matter. Without clutching those old brushes, and cursing the day blockchain technology and cryptocurrency invaded the pure and pristine artworld, let’s have a look at the real implications. Some argue that art is not turned into currency, as the code is not buried in it, only in the token itself, while the original file stays intact.
However, we do need to recognize it for what it is. 1. Code is buried in the file, as soon as it’s ‘tokenized’, as it should be able to be blockchain traceable. 2. You don’t have to ever turn it into money, it can sit in your ‘wallet’ and change value depending on the ethereum fluctuation just as any other currency. Nothing especially bad about it, as whatever is bought for ready money is also gaining ‘value’. Not sure that cryptoart is a term here, the art/as much as non art is turned into currency – NFT. Not much different from corporate collectors keeping their possessions in a vault, but a blockchain supported provenance, i.e. nobody will ever will make a fake, and you will get royalties on re-sale.
