Decoding History in the Age of Blockchain: Inside the Vi

As we navigate the threshold between past and future, the evolution of technology continues to shape our social fabric, presenting both new possibilities and challenges. Among these innovations, blockchain technology has not only served as a digital ledger for cryptocurrencies but as a transformative force capable of reshaping the way we organize, share, and perceive knowledge.

Robert Alice, a multifaceted individual, is known for his artistic contributions, background in art history, curatorial work, authorship, and trailblazing efforts in the fields of crypto art and NFTs. He was the catalyst behind the inaugural NFT event coined “Natively Digital” in 2021, at Sotheby's auction house.

BABEL, an exhibition by Robert Alice at Monnaie de Paris, is one of the pioneering solo NFT showcases in Europe and across the globe. It creatively reinterprets the short story of Borges’ “Library of Babel”, within modern-day contexts. It establishes its foundation within the historical context of La Monnaie de Paris, the world's oldest operational coin mint established in 864 AD. This institution, with its centuries-old heritage of minting physical currency, is still actively minting Euros for France, and has opened its doors to the disruptive force of digital art and blockchain technology. The exhibition embodies a groundbreaking conversation between an artist steeped in digital innovation and a venerable institution rooted in monetary history.

Interestingly, the world of blockchain can be compared to Jorge Luis Borges' creation - the “Library of Babel”. In Borges' story, the library is an immense collection of interconnected hexagonal rooms filled with books, representing an infinite source of knowledge. Similarly, a blockchain consists of a continuous chain of information blocks extending into infinity.

This comparison between Borges' library and the world of blockchain sets the stage for our exploration into how blockchain technology is changing the way knowledge is organized and shared in the digital age.

VIRUNGA (Robert Alice, 2023)

The exhibition sparks conversations that are both abstract and narrative about contrasting philosophies of governmental and crypto networks and their potential coexistence in the future. It presents contrasting concepts such as ornamental systems versus modern minimalism, physical 'stability' versus digital 'instability'. The exposition deeply roots itself in crypto history, paving multiple pathways for audience interpretation post-engagement. The works explore diverse themes like cryptography history, libertarianism, and draws inspiration from foreshadowing texts that anticipated the blockchain revolution, such as Timothy C. May's "Crypto Anarchist Manifesto" and the ancient wisdom of Chinese philosopher Laozi. Alice's BABEL project ventures into the realm of concrete verbal poetry that evolves with every Ethereum block.

At BABEL, Alice's artistry is revealed through his varied techniques. Some pieces reinterpret traditional history paintings using modern subjects associated with blockchain. Alice embeds written codes and cryptographic elements into his art, highlighting cryptocurrency technology. His works depict the evolution of blockchain networks from Bitcoin to their potential for transforming multiple sectors, providing a visual depiction of blockchain's diverse applications.

Alice's endeavor to intertwine disparate historical narratives through his art invites viewers to reconsider their perceptions of technology's role in shaping human history and the future. His artistic devices encourage deep contemplation beyond conventional boundaries, envisioning a world where past and present coalesce through the lens of blockchain.

"I like this idea of recontextualizing codes, of colliding histories." - Robert Alice

Alice's innovative approach represents a dialogue between the historical and the futuristic, using blockchain as a medium to explore themes of decentralization, power dynamics, and the vast corpus of human knowledge.

These characters form ever-evolving compositions by recontextualizing codes and merging histories together. They seek to understand the underlying meaning and hint at the text's primary role in blockchain and the broader digital cultural environment where NFTs exist. In Borges' Babel, it's written that any character combination already exists in divine Library's secret languages with profound implications. Similarly, for Alice, characters aren't merely characters but heroes.

“Taking these drawings as a starting point, they have been interwoven with diagrams, patents, network maps, literature and digital aesthetics taken from the history of blockchains to present imagined structures that present the collision of these two, competing systems of thought - the centralized and the decentralized.” - Garden City (Robert Alice, 2023)

Alice's works in BABEL navigate through themes of centralization versus decentralization, the evolving relationship between state power and cryptocurrencies, and the historical progression of crypto networks. These themes are brought to life through a variety of artistic techniques:

History Painting Reimagined: Alice's pieces revisit the genre of history painting, incorporating contemporary blockchain-related symbols and narratives.
Text-to-Blockchain Art: Integrating cryptographic codes and written elements, his artworks emphasize the foundational technology behind digital currencies.
Abstract Forms and Blockchain Concepts: Some works adopt an abstract approach, using visual elements to evoke the theoretical and emotional dimensions of blockchain.

The Need for Institutional Recognition: Validating Digital Art in Museums

The need for institutional recognition of digital art in museums is a pressing matter in the contemporary art world. Digital art forms, with their innovative approaches and creative use of technology, are pushing the boundaries of traditional aesthetics and challenging the conventions of museum exhibitions. As digital artists continue to innovate, the call for their work to be featured within the respected confines of museums becomes more pronounced.

Why is it important for digital art to be recognized in museums?

Cultural Legitimacy: Museums grant a level of cultural legitimacy that is unmatched. By showcasing digital art, they acknowledge its importance in the ongoing narrative of art history.
Educational Opportunity: Museums serve as educational pillars, providing context and commentary on exhibited works. Digital art's inclusion would open dialogues about technology's role in creative expression.
Archival Stability: Traditional museums offer a degree of permanence in preserving art. As institutions begin to validate digital works, they also contribute to developing methods for preserving this relatively ephemeral medium for future generations.

In an interview with Decrypt, Alice says he hopes that any future buyer will let the museum display it forever. "It’s an amazing context, and I hope a collector would be interested in putting a bit of crypto and blockchain history in an institution like this to stay and educate the public,” said Alice. “And therefore have a foothold in the history of money here."

As society evolves to embrace digital realms, historical institutions hold the key to bridging past traditions with future innovations. By advocating for the presence of digital creations alongside classical masterpieces, not only do we expand our understanding of art but we also enrich the tapestry of human creativity.

About Chain

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