By Mika Bar On Nesher
Vexx’s first drop on SuperRare is a dynamic NFT merging the physical and digital mediums to create a hybrid work that will continue to evolve over time. Since starting out as a Youtuber six years ago, the 23-year old artist has accumulated 3 million Youtube followers and 825K Instagram followers. In his videos he provides viewers with access to his work process and unique worldview. He has a massive community supporting his work, and for good reason. People may wonder what the hype about Vexx is, until they watch one of his videos and realize his talent and individuality are undeniable. Never taking the obvious route, Vexx is constantly challenging his audiences to look at the world in a more creative light–he is a storyteller both on paper and on screen. He explains how before NFTs existed, artworks used to have a beginning and an endpoint. That’s all changing now as dynamic NFTs can be programmed to evolve long after they leave the artist’s studio.
“My first collection was an introduction for me to see what’s possible. More of animating my works on paper. The second drop, ‘METADRAGON,’ was a big one because it’s the first time I paired the digital with the physical. It was an eye-opening moment, seeing how art can come to life in so many different ways because of NFTs and the possibilities of smart contracts.”
Vexx
The NFT medium reinvigorated Vexx’s artistic practice, opening up new channels of experimentation and expression. Though he’s only been officially active in the NFT scene since April of 2021, his past drops have made headlines. His first 1/1, “METADRAGON,” sold for $41,000 and was paired with an accompanying sculpture.
Having stayed true to the physical format, Vexx is finding new ways to bridge the physical and digital works in his second 1/1 NFT, “MOON.” The NFT will feature original music from Belgium producer Chuki Beats. Like in his previous drop, the auction winner will receive a physical sculpture in addition to the digital artwork. A product of a months-long, labor-intensive process, the final digital statue is a colorful skull-like face, hand-painted with acrylics and sculptured with a laser cutting technique. In the place of the eyes are two paper-thin, 17-inch screens. Vexx has written his own smart contract that uses WiFi to communicate with the screens to show the real-time changing price of Ethereum and Bitcoin. Similar to a game, each animated eye of the sculpture represents a different coin, and when Bitcoin hits $100,000 and Ethereum hits $10,000 the lucky collector is programmed to get air-dropped two additional 1/1 NFTs. He has hinted at other future surprises that will be released alongside important crypto milestones.
Vexx describes the airdrops as another way the artwork continues to evolve past its point of purchase. By gamifying…
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