I met Yusi in 2015 when we began our bachelor degree. Now she is studying painting at Shanghai Normal University. As following is a brief of our conversation.
Crypto Art
Yusi had heart about NFTs and Crypto Art, but only a bit. She thinks she would be in the top per cent of the Chinses, cause rare students would talk about it, and even the tutors didn’t know about it. Mostly they got news from their friends who are studying abroad.
So I introduced the concept and the big news in the Crypto world to her.
Some problems we found that could not solve immediately for Chinese artists :
Language
Having no idea where and how to upload
Expensive gas fee
For collectors:
Why need to buy it?
The Wechat program Pingmujian (started from 2017) is a similar model logic as the platform for crypto Art, but seldom people buy in
Still a big question left in traditional art world, especially Chinese, only the minorities spend money on it
Where would Chinese spend money most
Designer toy like Takashi Murakami, Kaws
Digital prints for commercial purpose
Reflection
From Yusi’s perspective, promoting the digital exhibition could be a way that promotes crypto artwork. In China, most people do not know about Crypto art yet, which means there’s also a huge space to do something.
During the conversation, we also talked about our views towards Chinese and “western” painting. We both agree that they are so different that will appeal to a different audience. Though personally, I like the Chinese style more, because of the typical Chinese aesthetics, while Yusi would prefer the “western”, due to the creative expression. This is a big topic and we discussed it a lot but this is a crypto blog so I won’t talk more. Anyway, it’s good to know the different attitudes.
For the next step of my intervention, I shall focus on the promotion of digital art. Also, let more Chinese artists know more about Crypto art.
A decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) is an entity with no central leadership. Decisions get made from the bottom-up, governed by a community organized around a specific set of rules enforced on a blockchain. DAOs are internet-native organizations collectively owned and managed by their members.
Yuxin is my CSM classmate, she currently is working at BCA as a curator.
BCA is a full-category blockchain art NFT platform that integrates blockchain art creation, investment collection and education output. It is centred on MetaOpus and is committed to creating a person Encrypted art ecosystem where everyone can participate.
As following is the summary of our conversation:
BCA
30-40 staff members
Mainly young artist (millerals, and gen Z)
Top artists: Dabeiyuzhou, Zhiwei Zhang (acution)
Aiming to develop young artists
Bohan Sun
Founder of BCA
The current development of Crypto art is inseparable from the construction of infrastructure
To cultivate a group of collectors
The current crypto art auction payment process has a high threshold
There is still a gap between the current national aesthetic perception level and foreign markets, we need to find ways to participate in this industry with more Chinese or local characteristics
MetaOpus
80k+user, 500+ signed artitsts
Chinese > users from other countries
Reflection
I used to believe that some people criticize that digital art is not “real” art, but who decides what is “real” art? After the conversation with Yuxi, also the study of Bohan, I will first propose that physical art is not real art, real art only exists in digital In the world. In fact, art is art, and it can appear in any form. The reason why art is amazing is that it does not need to be widely admired, it is only created for creation.
BCA is a pioneer organisation in China, it is so lucky for me that being Yuxin’s classmate. She told me a lot of information about the BCA that I couldn’t share here, but it is so important for me to understand more about the Chinese crypto industry.
Artists development, like MCN media, cooporate with emerging artist
Model: 2/8, no gas fee
MetaOpus homepage
Virtual Niche Have you ever seen memes in the mirror?
The world’s first Cryptoart exhibition
Featured works include Robert Alice’s “Portraits of a mind”, the first ever NFT artwork sold by Christie’s auction house. In addition, 20 works by artist, Beeple will make their first ever debut appearance in China.
Aim to showcase artists using blockchain technology as a medium for creating dialogue and connection between the institutional art world and the crypto community.
Virtual Niche exhibition post
BCA Gallery
Online (wechat program) and in-person exhibition (pop-up)
BCA Gallery wechat program screenshot
2. NFTcn
Service
Mint
promotion
Trading
Put on SuperRare, Rarible …
Characteristic service
All Chinese
No background knowledge needed
No digital wallet needed
Process of submitting works
Application
Waiting for customer service contacting
Upload works
Waiting for the buyer or send it as a gift to collector
Sold
10% commission fee
RMB & Cryptocurrency accepted
Chinese only problems solving
Not familiar with blockchain, digital wallets, etc.
No need to understand blockchain, digital wallets, etc.
Not familiar with how to generate NFT works on overseas NFT platforms
Simultaneous sale of overseas NFT platforms
Lack of exposure and no trading volume after the works are on the chain
Intelligent matching of potential collectors after the work is on the chain
No IP targeting
Collective promotion makes it easier to be discovered by overseas collectors
“Expensive” gas fee (around $250)
No casting gas fee (only ¥300 manual review fee is required for the first review. If the review fails, a full refund will be issued.)
3. Pinmujian
Start from March 2021, focused on digital art, but similar model as Cryoto art trading.