In an interview with Cointelegraph, artist and NFT proponent Kenny Schachter reflects on the intersection of blockchain and art, discussing his recent exhibition Slow Food at The NFT Gallery in New York City. He argues that despite the recent boom and bust of NFTs, the technology offers practical applications for the art world beyond hype, revenue, and new audiences. For example, blockchain can create an irrevocable record of provenance, which could foster greater transparency about artwork ownership.
Schachter also discusses his own artistic practice, including his collaborative project Open Book and his blockchain-based game Pop Principle. He emphasizes the importance of community-building in the NFT space and downplays the role of money as a motivator. Despite resistance from some in the traditional art world, Schachter remains committed to exploring the possibilities of blockchain in art.
Slow Food Exhibition
In his recent Slow Food exhibition at The NFT Gallery, Schachter showcased his most recent blockchain projects, including Open Book, Pop Principle, and a sculpture about dinosaur bones being sold through art auction houses. Each artwork was accompanied by an NFT, underscoring the connection between blockchain and art.
Community-Building in the NFT Space
Schachter emphasizes the importance of community-building in the NFT space, noting that NFTs offer a way to expand his audience beyond the narrow-minded art world. He discusses his collaborative project Open Book, which features contributions from 20 artists on their stances regarding NFTs. The project is meant to be an evolving rumination on the intersection of blockchain and art and will be available on NFT market Async Market.
Pop Principle Blockchain Game
Schachter’s blockchain game Pop Principle pits teams of vocal NFT supporters and detractors from the fine art world against each other. Each round introduces new teams with new characters, all available to mint in open editions. Collectors mint as many of their favorite characters as they can afford to in order to support that figure and their team. Schachter emphasizes that the game reflects the fact that life – in art and beyond – has been reduced to a popularity contest, measured by likes, followers, and money.