French Artist John Hamon Uses NFTs to Symbolize the Death of Contemporary Art
For just .03 Ethereum (about $50), you can purchase an NFT of a photo depicting a coffin in front of the Centre Pompidou. And for another .03 ETH, you can buy an image of that coffin engulfed in flames. These NFTs are part of a performance art project by French artist John Hamon titled “John Hamon Killed Contemporary Art.” The project, which began in 2020, symbolically stages the death of contemporary art.
The Performance and NFT Collection
In addition to the NFTs, Hamon released a 70-piece NFT collection on Foundation capturing scenes from a film centered around his performance. The film itself was also minted as a distinct NFT and exclusively sold on SuperRare.
The Conclusion of Contemporary Art
Hamon believes that contemporary art, which has its origins in the 1950s and aligns with capitalism, has reached its conclusion. He sees blockchain and cryptocurrency as catalysts for a financial revolution that is reshaping art. The rise of crypto art and other innovative forms diverges from the previously centralized perspective of art.
Fiery Evolution and Early Adoption of Blockchain
Hamon has a history of creating provocative artwork. For over two decades, he has been posting posters featuring his ID photo around the world. He even projected his image onto landmarks like the Eiffel Tower. His minimalist approach prefigured the rise of social media avatars and later NFTs.
Exploring Blockchain Art and Future Projects
Since 2015, Hamon has been exploring blockchain and Bitcoin. He became an early adopter of NFTs and helped establish one of the first museums in the metaverse. He continues to use blockchain for his artwork and is planning new projects, including a collaboration with Nouns DAO and a new part of his “Hamoney” project.
Hot Take: Blockchain’s Potential to Democratize Art
Hamon believes that blockchain has the potential to democratize art by shifting to a decentralized exhibition approach. He sees this as an important change in the art world that can make art more inclusive and varied.
Source: Decrypt
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