return to sender
edition 1/1
5Ξ
This is my latest work to present itself as an NFT. I want to build some context as I move forward in this space and in general about how our world is transforming right before our very eyes.
We often miss the macro transitional moments in life, as these changes are gradual and thus, invisible. When we look back, life seems to never have existed without the iPhone nor YouTube, and as a whole, the internet itself. Monumental changes like these felt mostly discreet. There has been a toylike weirdness to some of the world-changing tech of the last couple of decades leading to a generally benign stance, maybe even a general optimism at their initial emergence into the consumer fold.
Occasionally, we witness the transition in a non-discrete way. To me, crypto and NFTs have never felt invisible nor have they had a grace period leading to the water cooler. Like much of everything else in modern society, polemics have formed around these emergent technologies and markets. There are strict, cult-like adherents & equally strict, dogmatic opposers. We witness this right before our eyes & ears. Social media is where these culture wars are fought day in and out. The invisibility of this transition, if there ever were to be one, was made completely visible by its timing with the ongoing two-year pandemic, which contributed second-order effects that propelled these technologies to the forefront of everyday life. One can argue that crypto itself has had years to mature in the shadows, however, just looking at modern UI & ease of use, it is still very much underdeveloped in relation to its outsized influence.
While artists must have a fearlessness and moral backbone, it makes no sense to hold dogmatic positions on things that are nearly impossible to comprehend where we currently stand. We are in this stage, a fork in the road, both leading to nowhere, everywhere, and most likely, as it relates to human nature, the same exact place. Time will reveal the truth, but for now, connect where you can is a simple heuristic the artist might follow. They may also feel dissonance at this tech, and they have every right to not engage. I don’t need to convince anyone of the merits, a bit of tinkering did it for me.
This brings me to my own work and justifications for bringing it into the digital. Art is an experience, communication & connection medium. In its origin point, the value lay as a descriptor of the experience of life itself. This is a priceless act and one that is without utility. We could not create trees themselves, thus we did the next best thing. This ideal still lives in the heart of most creators & outside of purely creating, human connection is tantamount.
My aim is simple, connect with those that want to connect wherever their preference may be; physical, digital, even the metaphysical. I don’t want to arbitrate this position, instead, I’m content as a human using my hands to draw beasts in a dark, enigmatic cave.
So, my pledge is simple….to keep creating new work. To work in the mediums that inspire, to never be afraid of the creative act & to reevaluate at any moment.
Now, here is “return to sender”. This is one of my favorite pieces. It tells the story of life as a mirror. It is a 1/1.
