Interactive NFTs the future for sport, Vegas Sphere excites: NFT Collector
Greg Oakford, co-founder of NFT Fest Australia, is your guide to the world of NFTs from a collector’s and fan’s perspective.
Andy Murray x Wimbledon x Refik Anadol
A special open edition NFT collaboration between tennis star Andy Murray, Wimbledon and well renowned digital artist, Refik Anadol. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of tennis star Andy Murray winning Wimbledon.
The Exposition” describes itself as ‘a world first exploration into the marriage of fine art, high performance sport and data science’. In the teaser video it reveals how the artwork is a visual representation of points played including body movement across Murray’s illustrious career at the last remaining grass court tennis major.
At a price point of $147, 248 editions have been minted to date with the mint window closing on 16 July. Buyers can mint using crypto or via a credit card on Manifold. Holders of the token will also later be afforded the opportunity to buy a physical print edition of the artwork.
I believe what we are witnessing here is the early signs of a trend for where sports memorabilia and general fandom is headed. The collaborative nature of digital art/collectibles and the ability to layer utility on top is too big of a value proposition for sports administrators and athletes alike to ignore.
The future will start with digital first. Scalability and accessibility are huge drivers for sports that command a global audience. As NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said last week at NBA Con:
“Because our buildings are essentially full, we can’t scale our arenas, 99.9-something of our fans only experience the NBA through our media. Through technology, how can we extend beyond that — products like NBA Top Shot are ways to do it.”
US Women’s Golf Open ArtBall
Last week, golf followed in the footsteps of the Australian Open tennis grand slam’s NFT project the AO ArtBall, rolling out a similar concept for the US Women’s Open. Using the same name ‘ArtBall’ the USGA teamed up with some of the same architects on the project, which ties a piece of the surface area of the sports field to an NFT.
More than 3000 people minted an NFT for free that correlated with a plot of the 17th green at host course Pebble Beach. In the tennis version a match point landing on your area saw your NFT upgraded, but the US Women’s Open opted for a variety of ways to provide upgradable traits including ‘landing points’, closest to the hole and longest hole out. More here on how the mechanics worked.
The ArtBall concept is a strong one where we see the integration of existing highly sophisticated sports data tracking technology and a new way to engage with fans by blurring the lines between physical and digital experiences.
Kudos to artist Amy Goodchild who spearheaded the generative art on the golf balls. They look very clean and crisp. This is another example of sport and art blending together via NFTs.
UFC to integrate collectibles with a mobile-first game
The UFC announced a new multi-year partnership with Concept Labs to help build upon the already launched UFC Strike collectibles product built on Flow.
Cornerstones of the new deal include UFC Strike: Fight Camp — a mobile-first roster management game compatible with UFC Strike digital collectibles, holders will also participate in matchmatcher sweepstakes where you can meet UFC president Dana White to pitch a dream fight matchup, plus other exclusive digital and IRL fan experiences.
What’s hot in NFT art markets
Some big sales for Fidenzas at 75 ETH and 71 ETH, Ringers #514 went for 88 ETH and a Bold Chromie Squiggle sold for 28.5 ETH.
Also read: Fidenza: Tyler Hobbs wrote software that generates art worth millions
But the past week has really belonged to Terraforms by Mathcastles with more than 145 sales for the onchain land art project that launched in December 2021. By comparison, the previous week saw 50 sales. The collection floor moved from 1.2 ETH up to 2.17 ETH the past seven days.
NFT Creator: tjo
We meet a genius of mixed media artists, tjo from Quebec, Canada.
Who is tjo?
Originally introduced to NFTs by friend Wally Sajimi around the end of 2020, tjo’s truly unique art is an outlet for his diagnosed OCD condition and strives to shine a light on mental health. He minted his first token on 23 February 2021, saying he understood very little about NFTs at the time but found it “mesmerizing.”
“My own emotions and experiences with pure OCD greatly influence my art. I don’t want people to feel a particular emotion when engaging with it, rather I hope it forces them to look into a deep place within themselves and get out feelings that were always there.”
“I also hope that the people who have dealt with mental disorders feel better about their differences by sharing these experiences.”
tjo’s style and influences
With a background in physical paintings and photography, tjo, like many other artists minting works on the blockchain doesn’t like to be pigeon holded as a particular type of artist.
“I don’t particularly appreciate how we discuss style in markets like NFTs. It is weaponized as a vehicle for speculation without regard to historical context. If forced to pin down my art into a category, I would fall under mixed media. It is straightforward; I mix a variety of mediums and approaches, both digital and physical,” says tjo.
Greek mythology and anime are two big influences on his work.
“I get more and more influenced by Greek mythology. Something about those stories gets me fired up and curious. I also love anime like Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell and Neon Genesis Evangelion.”
“To find myself and a visual language I felt was proper to myself; many artists greatly influenced me, such as Francis Bacon (Irish-born British figurative painter), Jean-Michel Basquiat (American artist part of the neo-expressionism movement), Tim Walker (British fashion photographer), Frank Ockenfels (American photographer and artist of celebrities) Kazimir Malevich (Russian avant-garde artist) and many more.”
Rapid fire Q&A
What’s your favorite NFT in your wallet that’s not your own NFT?
“My Mathcastle Terraform. It is just a perfect crypto art piece.”
Is there an up and coming artist/s you think people should be paying attention to?
“There are thousands of artists people should be looking into, but if I had to point people towards a starting point, the Kula Collective and Making It are groups of amazing artists.”
Who is a notable collector of yours that makes you smile knowing they own one of your pieces?
“An OG that collected one of my early pieces was Path. I think that brought a lot of eyes to me, and I’m grateful that he still owns the piece he bought.”
Do you have any favorite pieces of your own work?
“I would say farther reaches, mon sanctuaire and my latest interactive artwork, “Prozac Youth“.
Vegas Sphere captures imagination of digital art enthusiasts
Las Vegas captured the imagination of the sports world last week with the debut of No.1 draft pick, 7’5” Victor Wembanyama in the NBA Summer League and T-Mobile Stadium playing host to UFC290 during international fight week. But for digital art enthusiasts the only game in town was the imagery coming from the Vegas MSG Sphere.
The $2.3 billion construction is the home of a new 17,500 seat stadium that doubles as the best interactive billboard you’ve ever seen.
As digital art continues to push the boundaries in a rapidly accelerating creative environment layered on top with provenance via NFTs, a big unanswered question remains of how to best display digital art to truly do the work justice.
We’ve seen the introduction of premium screens such as Danvas and digital galleries around the world like JRNY that just opened in Vegas and Oshi Gallery in Melbourne, Australia but it feels like we’re still scratching the surface. Well, what bigger surface area than 580,000 square feet of the Sphere.
Surely it’s just a matter of time until we see iconic digital art such as CryptoPunks, Fidenzas, Ringers, Chromie Squiggles, XCOPY having their moment on the Sphere, or maybe Jake Fried’s ‘Ball’. Could only imagine what a giant ball rolling down hill at you on the Vegas strip might look like as you jump into the Uber after a few drinks.
Tweet of the week
What do artists listen to when they create work: tjo edition.
Recently I have been listening to a lot of Violett Pi and Yves Tumor.
Several Democratic lawmakers have said that they will not vote to pass crypto regulations if potential conflicts of interest are not addressed.
Nick van Eck, co-founder and CEO of Agora, behind one of the stablecoins Anchorage said it would phase out, claimed inaccuracies and an inconsistently applied framework.
Sir Keir Starmer said changes to his welfare bill “strike the right balance” after making concessions to his backbench MPs.
The prime minister described the U-turn as “common sense” and said it means “we can now get on with the job”.
Politics Live: Starmer defends U-turn
Sir Keir faced a significant rebellion over plans to cut sickness and disability benefits as part of a package he said would shave £5bn off the welfare bill and get more people into work.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, he stood by his position that the welfare system needs reform as “it doesn’t work, and it traps people”.
He added: “We need to get it right. That’s why we’ve been talking to colleagues and having a constructive discussion.
“We’ve now arrived at a package that delivers on the principles with some adjustments, and that’s the right reform, and I’m really pleased now that we’re able to take this forward.
“For me, getting that package adjusted in that way is the right thing to do, it means it’s the right balance, it’s common sense that we can now get on with it.”
The concessions include exempting existing Personal Independence Payment claimants (PIP) from the stricter new criteria, while the universal credit health top-up will only be cut and frozen for new applications.
Analysis: Welfare bill U-turn a humiliating blow for Starmer
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“No leadership” in Labour says MP
More money will also be front-loaded into helping people find jobs, though it is not clear how much beyond the £1bn already announced.
The changes came after 127 Labour MPs signed an amendment calling for the cuts to be delayed and consulted on with disabled people.
Rebels feared the reforms wouldn’t actually help people find work while pushing thousands of disabled people and children into poverty, as per the government’s own impact assessment.
The discontent threatened to derail the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill when it comes before the Commons for a vote on Tuesday, on the week that marks a year of Starmer in government.
Asked what he would do about a “hole” in the public finances that the changes are said to leave, Sir Keir said the funding will be set out in the autumn budget “in the usual way”.
The concessions on PIP alone will protect an estimated 370,000 people currently receiving the allowance who were set to lose out following reassessment.
Economists at the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Resolution Foundation have both suggested that the changes could reduce savings intended in the original package by up to £3bn.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is also under pressure to find money to pay for the U-turn on cuts to winter fuel, which followed a drubbing at the local elections in May.
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‘This week is going to haunt the prime minister,’ says Sky’s Ali Fortescue .
Asked about the series of U-turns, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall earlier said: “Sometimes there’s strength in listening.
“I really believe that to be the case, that you end up in the right position when you talk to all of those with knowledge and experience and actually, if you want decisions to be the right ones and to last for generations to come, I believe that’s how you make the right changes.”
However, she would not guarantee the bill will pass next week.
Some 83 Labour MPs would need to rebel for the government to be defeated.
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Govt makes offer to rebels on welfare reforms
Last night Dame Meg Hillier, one of the leading rebel voices, hailed the concessions as “massive changes” to protect vulnerable people and involve disabled people in the design of future reforms.
However, not all the rebels have been satisfied with the changes, with several suggesting they would create a “two-tier system”. Sky News is aware of at least 20 MPs who currently intend to still vote against. Many others are undecided.
The concessions came after Downing Street publicly stuck to its guns while engaging in a frantic ring-around to get rebels onside, which further angered MPs.
Many have called for a reset in relations with Downing Street, as the fallout from the rebellion threatens to cause lasting damage.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the U-turn, saying the government’s failure to make “minor savings” on welfare showed they were unable to deal with major issues.
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