“So this is the piece you were talking about?” I asked the dealer while approaching with my monocle this abstract painting. He nodded calmly, like if he didn’t want to interrupt me and my analysis.
“It's a splendid example of contemporary fluid art. The artist has used a combination of alcohol inks on yupo paper to create a landscape of organic forms.” he replied with a cockney accent, reminiscent of my past life in the East of London Town.
“The color palette is quite earthy with bursts of vibrancy. It reminds me of an aerial view of a forest in the fall. Very evocative.” I added.
“Precisely, it's the kind of piece that captures the imagination. It's one-of-a-kind and has been garnering quite a bit of interest. It comes from an emerging artist whose work has started to gain popularity in the abstract art circles. We're expecting their reputation to grow, which will likely enhance the piece's value over time.” the dealer continued.
“Can I meet them? The artist” I had interrupted his pitch, I always found important to meet in person especially with emerging artists to understand if I wanted any of their pieces anywhere near my residences.
“Well, that would be a bit of a problem I am afraid, the artist, you know, it’s an algorithm technically, in fact, we are selling the token really, the art piece is a mere physical representation of what’s on chain for marketing purposes. You know, the current regulation requires us to deal with tangible pieces of art” he replied, leaving me a bit perplexed, at the same time he handed over to me a tablet with the NFT and the original digital piece. I examined it, zoomed in and out multiple times, I just couldn’t touch it, the tablet was cold and there was no tactile or olfactory sense involved in appreciating the piece.
“I see, well, I buy art for myself, not for resale. I like this particular physical copy of the NFT, who made it? I think it’s a fair question” I asked the dealer.
Almost embarrassed, he went on delivering a delightful suprise: “That would be my daughter, she was here with me when I was commissioned to display this piece and apart from placing it in our VR museum, she also made this herself. These other pieces on that wall all all hers but our customers go for NFTs mostly, I keep them there because, you know, because she is my daughter and she makes the real estate space in our VR museum practically infinite so, using a wall here in our Mayfair gallery it’s not a big deal.”
“I’ll take them all if you allow me to have a tea with your daughter. I’d like to add some personal narrative to the pieces. You are of course welcome to join us.” I had replied, extending an invitation that was ultimately granted.
Twentynine years later I found myself telling this very same story to my son’s girlfriend who happened to be also the son of that technoartist that introduced me to the future of art.