Poem by Ana Maria Caballero Sells for 0.28 Bitcoin at Sotheby’s Auction
Last week, Ana Maria Caballero’s poem titled “Cords” was sold for 0.28 Bitcoin or $11,430 at Sotheby’s auction called Natively Digital. The auction aimed to explore the world of NFT-like Ordinals on Bitcoin and featured significant early inscriptions. In addition to the poem, the buyer will also receive a signed print of the artwork.
First Individual Poem Sold by Sotheby’s
Michael Bouhanna, VP and Head of Digital Art at Sotheby’s, confirmed that “Cords” is the first-ever individual poem sold by the auction house. This sale excludes manuscripts and books. The significance of this auction is not lost on Caballero, who sees it as an opportunity to affirm the inherent value of written poetry.
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The Value of Language and Poetry
Caballero views the sale of “Cords” as a statement that words, language, and poetry have value on their own. She believes that the text of the poem itself holds worth without any additional visuals or experiences attached to it. “Cords” will also be featured in Caballero’s upcoming book titled Mammal.
Natively Digital Auction Artists
The Natively Digital auction included various artists such as FAR, XCPinata, Nullish, Rudxane, Jennifer and Kevin McCoy, Popoki, Shroomtoshi, Des Lucréce, and Claudia Hart. One inscription from the Quantum Cats collection was sold for over $250,000.
An Exploration of Archeology in the Blockchain
FAR suggested the curatorial theme for the auction to be archeology in the blockchain. Caballero was invited to participate and contribute a poem to the sale. She has previously won awards for her writing and co-launched the digital poetry and NFT gallery called theVerseverse in 2021.
The Villanelle Poem “Cords”
“Cords” is written in a poetic form called a villanelle, consisting of 19 lines and five stanzas. It explores themes of motherhood, pregnancy, and embodiment. Caballero chose this centuries-old form of poetry to pay homage to Bitcoin’s complex chain that launched the cryptocurrency revolution.
Hot Take: Poetry Finds Value in Bitcoin’s Blockchain
The sale of Ana Maria Caballero’s poem “Cords” at Sotheby’s Natively Digital auction highlights the inherent value of language and poetry. This historic auction marks the first-ever individual poem sold by Sotheby’s, emphasizing the significance of written poetry in the art world. Caballero’s choice to use a villanelle form pays homage to Bitcoin’s technical complexity as it explores themes of motherhood and embodiment. This sale signifies that words alone can hold immense worth, separate from any visual or experiential elements. The Natively Digital auction showcased various talented artists and their unique contributions to the blockchain art movement.
