Sigg Foundation, TAEX and Tezos combine to showcase NFTs at the Digital Art Mile in Basel

As a seasoned crypto investor and art enthusiast, I’m thrilled to witness the fusion of digital and traditional art forms at this year’s Art Basel in Basel. The Digital Art Mile has truly outdone itself by showcasing pioneering NFT artists, collectors, and curators alongside renowned galleries and platforms.


As a analyst, I’d rephrase it as follows: This year in Basel, The Sigg Art Foundation, Digital Art Mile, TAEX, and Tezos are showcasing their Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) to underscore the burgeoning significance of digital art within the international art market.

At this year’s Art Basel, a renowned international art fair with a rich history, The Digital Art Mile made its debut as an exciting new platform for digital art. This innovative marketplace brought together NFT artists, collectors, and curators in the elegant setting of Switzerland, marking a significant milestone for the digital art community.

As a researcher studying the cultural scene in Basel, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand how Rebgasse, located just a stone’s throw from Messeplatz, underwent a remarkable metamorphosis during a recent event. This transformation saw the area become a bustling platform for both contemporary and historical digital art.

As a crypto investor and enthusiast of the digital art world, I had the pleasure of participating in the inaugural Digital Art Mile event from June 10-16. This groundbreaking occasion brought together some of the most esteemed players in this burgeoning industry, including Objkt, fx(hash), Fellowship, MakersPlace, Cinello, RCM Galerie, ArtXCode, Office Impart, TAEX, Danae, Sigg Art Foundation, and GENAP Collection. Each of these exhibitors showcased their unique offerings, providing a diverse and captivating display of the limitless potential of digital art.

As a crypto investor and art enthusiast, I recently came across an intriguing exhibition at the Sigg Art Foundation’s booth. Established in 2020 by esteemed art collector Pierre Sigg, this foundation showcased the pioneering works of four groundbreaking digital artists: Grégory Chatonsky, Justin Aversano, Ben Elliot, and Bernar Venet.

I analyzed Venet’s presentation at Sotheby’s EVENT, which featured a collection of 500 algorithmic artworks. This was a significant aspect of the digital showcase, as it echoed the same exploratory theme in many other technological offerings on display.

Chatonsky, a trailblazer in merging artificial intelligence into modern art, unveiled an updated rendition of his installation, “Terre Seconde.” Previously showcased at the Palais de Tokyo in 2019, this interactive piece is born from countless data points – images, texts, and sounds – harvested from the internet. The result is a versatile, malleable representation of our world that retains familiarity while presenting an intriguing new perspective.

As a crypto investor, I appreciate the innovative AI-driven approach taken by Chatonsky. Meanwhile, I’ve recently returned from a global journey where I sought out and documented stories of twins from various corners of the world. At Basel, I showcased some of these distinctive photographic pieces.

Enhancing the foundation’s display, Elliot presented ” Metaone,” an advanced virtual reality creation from VIVE Arts, backed by Esther Schipper Gallery in Berlin. This masterpiece explores a futuristic virtual utopia where history, nature, technology, and science intermingle, providing a groundbreaking perspective on the development of artistic environments.

During this period, the Tezos Foundation launched two significant platforms within its community: Objkt and fx(hash). These platforms aim to bring the physical world closer to digital art by encouraging interaction and exploration. They do so by means of innovative curation in the realm of generative art.

The Swiss platform Objkt played host to the “Matter & Data” exhibition, showcasing pieces from 17 international artists. Moreover, in a unique collaboration, Objkt teamed up with Brazilian inventor Analivia Cordeiro, renowned for her cybernetic choreography, to create an engaging exhibit. Here, visitors have the opportunity to convert their movement into distinctive NFTs on the Tezos blockchain through interactive means.

As an analyst, I’d rephrase it as follows: Among the other artists showcased at the booth, supported by Tezos’s new arts head at its Trilitech division, are Regina Silveira, Auriea Harvey, ThankYouX, Oona, Leander Herzog, Zancan, and Qubibi.

fx(hash), a generative art platform, curates code-based artworks that demonstrate cultural and technological linkages between digital and physical formats and proposes rethinking them in light of contemporary and historical urgencies. In collaboration with OFFICE IMPART, the platform presented ‘Bit Operations’, a visual examination of computer foundations through bit-shifting operations, by Swedish artist Jonas Lund. Lund’s project included a long-form generative collection that collectors may access online through fx(hash), as well as curated limited edition tangible works combined with the generative output shown during the fair.

As an analyst, I had the opportunity to explore the offerings of various exhibitors, one of which was TAEX, a digital art platform and agency. They showcased the mesmerizing “Digital Zen Landscape” from the Continuum project by artist Krista Kim. In response to the overwhelming distractions of technology, this captivating creation transforms digital screens into tranquil spaces for mindfulness and reflection.

I analyze a set of 10 distinct NFTs taken from the Continuum artwork. These NFTs offer collectors an opportunity to interact with soothing visuals that subtly change. They draw inspiration from the peaceful Ryoanji Temple Garden in Kyoto, aiming to help viewers find tranquility once again through digital platforms.

During its most daring project at the Digital Art Mile, a spacious 300-square-meter venue, Fellowship showcased an unprecedented exploration of AI’s impact on art history. This groundbreaking exhibition, titled “Collaborations with the Artificial Self,” pays homage to Harold Cohen, the pioneering artist who first integrated AI into his work. The event features Aaron, Cohen’s renowned painting machine, creating its only self-portrait.

In 2015, Elman Mansinov’s pioneering AlignDraw algorithm gave rise to the first wave of innovations that later evolved into DALL-E and Stable Diffusion.

I’ve observed an astonishing transformation in the realm of digital art over the past decade, with artists like Botto, Mario Klingemann, Helena Sarin, and Robbie Barrat showcasing their innovative creations. The application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in art has significantly expanded creative possibilities. At the recent TAEX conference, I had the privilege of listening to thought-provoking presentations from visionaries like Refik Anadol and Sasha Stiles, who further highlighted this revolutionary shift.

At Rebgasse 25 and 31, the Kult.Kino Camera presented captivating exhibitions as part of the art fair. Moreover, this esteemed venue played host to daily conferences. These thought-provoking gatherings delved into intriguing themes such as generative art, blockchain’s role in art creation, and museums embracing Web3 technology. Engaging debates ensued, shedding light on the evolving significance of digital art within the broader context of art history.

The European debut of the documentary film “What the Punk!” Was one of the week’s highlights, which took part within a conference program arranged by Yuga Labs and Rug Radio, while rounding out the digital focused events was a video exploring the extraordinary story of Matt Hall and John Watkinson, two Canadian software engineers who revolutionized the world with Cryptopunks and sparked a new cultural movement.

Read More

2024-06-14 19:40