Art has been the staple of all civilizations. We’re conditioned to believe that art is the sole property of an artist. And in an ideal world, it should be the case. But we live in a world of middlemen. Artists will pour their soul into their art and get pennies for it. Only the most popular artists are getting paid handsomely, especially traditional artists.
So why haven’t we changed the methods? Why are middlemen paying pennies against dollars for the art pieces they acquire? This is the question that we want to answer through NFTs. NFTs offer a unique case where artists are the sole owners, and there is no third party involved in the selling process. There’s a lot to say about NFTs and how these can make the art world a whole lot better.
Before we dive into the logistics, let’s first discuss: what is an NFT art?
NFTs as Art
NFTs or non-fungible tokens are digital assets that are un-replicable with a unique ID. Anything can be an NFT as long as it has an ID that can identify it as a totally unique asset. So how did NFTs transition to art, more precisely, digital art?
Digital art has been a subject of piracy. Artists were putting a lot of work into creating said art, but it wasn’t generating any revenue for them. So instead of opting for art creation, they would take it up as a part-time hobby. This wasn’t a sustainable model for digital art as most of the “artists” would leave the scene because of time constraints.
NFTs help manage that brain leak by providing a way to secure art pieces. Let’s take an NFT painting as our object of concern. The artist will create a unique painting and place it for auction on a reputable NFT marketplace –XANLIA is a good option. Once it is bought, the artist will be paid in full. The marketplace will charge a small fee from both parties. And ensure the artist is traceable no matter how many times the art piece resells. And a unique royalty system will guarantee that the artist gets a kickback whenever the painting is sold.
All of this is done without involving humans. Everything is set in code. Once certain conditions are met, the code is executed, and the artist gets their fair share.
This is the power of NFTs in the world of art.
And if you’re thinking, yeah, I understand it. Well and good. Let’s move to the next topic; maybe you should know that we’ve just scrapped the surface. The rabbit hole goes deeper, a lot deeper. There are a plethora of use cases for NFTs, even more valuable than money. NFTs could help keep the art itself alive.
Let’s explore these cases one by one.
NFTs Don’t Discriminate
In a world we see discrimination based on color, creed, or religious beliefs, NFTs can be a breath of equality. Let’s explore this further.
NFTs level the art field by eliminating any factors that could lead to discriminatory behavior. If you have a story to tell through your art, you can do so through NFTs. You create beautiful art and simply list it on different NFT marketplaces for people to discover. Certain NFT galleries showcase this art to the world and attract more eyeballs than traditional art galleries.
You can make your art very specific too. If a person of color wants to create an art piece that showcases their struggles and triumphs, NFTs give them a great opportunity to do so.
And the best part, you can raise funds for these projects relatively easily.
Mainstream media and fundraising channels fail to capture the attention of these groups. But with art that’s accessible, you can raise funds and awareness about specific issues – which leads to our next case.
NFT Art & Communities
We’ve all seen the Bored Ape Yacht collection. This is a crude example of an NFT community because of the overhyped nature of these NFTs. Still, it is an NFT community that’s growing by the minute. People feel connected, discuss common issues, and try to resolve those in the best possible manner.
Now take that community to the social level. We all fall under certain classes. And if art can helps these people create healthy communities, all the better. For example, certain communities would benefit from NFTs. If you create a class of NFTs that addresses a major social dilemma and market it well, it has the potential to attract people from all parcels of life. These people will come together, bring their own voices, and try to find a common solution that is best for everyone.
It may seem like a utopian dream. But we have Reddit communities dedicated to certain topics. And those communities, or SubReddits, thrive because people want to share their opinion without fear of judgment.
An obvious advantage of NFTs over Reddit is the money. Money raised from these projects could help solve certain social issues.
Artists Rule
We discussed this in length at the beginning, but there is so much more to say.
Art is liberating in the sense that it gives people an outlet. They can express themselves and be their purest selves. But the monetary side of the art has always been dubious. Even big artists have had to struggle to get their checks processed. An air of mistrust has always been there between artists and auctioneers.
So eliminating these so-called middlemen and relying on absolute codes is the way to go for the future of art. Many artists have become so independent that they’ve left big positions in established studios to pursue their art.
This is the quintessential piece of the puzzle to keep art alive in the digital world. Artists feel free to pursue their vices and are encouraged to do so. Because they have a sense of security. They feel their efforts; their art has value.
And this is what we meant by Artists Rule. They know they have the power. They will get money every time the art is sold or auctioned.
This is anti-corporate on so many levels. We have many examples where artists were forced to mold their art just to appease the corporate lords. And in return, get a fraction of the reward that the studio or other governing body is creating. NFTs liberate artists by giving them the freedom to choose their own platforms. They can auction it whenever, however, they want. And be sure their art will keep providing royalties forever.
So, are NFTs the future of Art?
If the world understands their true potential, NFTs will change how we perceive art. There is definitely a future where NFTs will play a huge role in the art industry and empower artists. We’re getting there, and hopefully, all of this will happen before it’s too late.
