Cryptopunk Perhaps the most iconic and influential profile photo (PFP) collection NFT the world and beyond Take your project to the museumYuga Labs has been trying to expand its reach into the art world by having famous artists rip its IP under the official Punks stamp.
But the first effort was, released on monday The release of a new Punks branded NFT collection was met with immediate backlash from collectors and cryptocurrency watchers alike. This included claims of “woke” artwork, sometimes accompanied by personal attacks on the artist. Now Yuga is pivoting and apparently giving up on his future plans.
Artist Nina Chanel Abney was previously selected as first choice for the Punk in Residence program and unveiled her new collection, “Super Punk World”, over the weekend. Following an opening event held at The School at Jack Shainman Gallery in New York, Yuga Labs and Abney unveiled their planned NFTs on Monday.
The Punk in Residence program is designed to generate on-chain collaboration that fosters creative experimentation with projects and NFTs more broadly. Abney’s limited series digital collectibles incorporate her bold style and perspective, reimagining iconic CryptoPunk characteristics through her own vision.
Nina Chanel Abney (center) with CryptoPunks’ original creator John Watkinson (left) and Larva Labs’ Matt Hall (right). Photo: Yuga Labs
“CryptoPunks is an iconic and pioneering project that has played a significant role in creating the digital collecting space,” said Abney. decryption Ahead of the exhibition. “In working with them, we saw an opportunity to be at the center of the unique intersection of art, technology and culture.”
Previously, a digital art collection called ‘Super Cool World’ was released. Digital Asset Gallery sponsored by Pharrell Williams (GODA), Abney is no stranger to expanding his work into the medium. For “Super Punk World,” a collection of 500 avatars, she handpicked each avatar from over 10,000 outputs.
Randomly generated and hand-curated by Abney, this collection draws inspiration from iconic CryptoPunks traits and Super Cool World traits. Each attribute was hand-cut and digitized by Abney to create 195 unique 3D sculpted attributes based on 25 personas. Set against a colorful background from her previous work and printmaking skills, the character embodies Abney’s aesthetic and pays homage to the CryptoPunks project’s irreverent early Web3 roots.
“What we wanted to do was introduce wallets and generative art, Web3 and NFTs to a more traditional group of art and collectors,” said Nathalie Stone, General Manager and Brand Lead at CryptoPunks. decryption last week.
This is a photo from the “Super Punks World” exhibition. Photo: Yuga Labs
“We’re trying to get CryptoPunks out to the public in some way, but also make sure they understand why digital ownership is important,” Stone added.
Abney’s digital universe reflects virtual and real identities, addressing the price gap between digital avatars based on gender and skin color. White male avatars tend to generate higher secondary sale prices than dark-skinned or female avatars in popular NFT collections.
Her hybridized characters aim to fuse racial elements and blur the lines between masculinity and femininity, challenging societal notions of inherent worth and prompting viewers to confront implicit biases.
But after Abney’s riff on CryptoPunks was released early Monday, the project received significant backlash across social media.
Some commentators have taken aim at the art style itself or even the concept of reimagining an iconic project, while others have accused it of being “woke” because of its emphasis on race and gender. Provoking debate about the intersection of art, identity, and digital culture.
This is a masterpiece compared to new punk. 👇 The dumbest shit you leave behind @cryptopunksnfts Brand: “Blurring gender boundaries”, just block it @yugalabs And move on.
Thousands of great assets. If you choose the woke poop stickman, you’re out of your mind. pic.twitter.com/G65U0m3RgN
It also received negative attention for diluting the original Punks collection, and some collectors were upset that Yuga Labs’ attempt to expand the project was viewed as a valuable “blue chip” Ethereum NFT set.
Yuga Labs initially declined to comment. decryption Company CEO Greg “Garga” Solano early Monday evening as the backlash began. tweeted a statement. The NFT was initially planned to be auctioned off, but will now be distributed in some way to Super Cool World NFT holders, potentially via a “random airdrop.” And it appears that there will be no plans for a follow-up artist residency, at least in this way.
GM,
I wanted to share an update on Punk. When I purchased the collection a few years ago, I did so with the intention of preserving its legacy.
We see punk as the early cave paintings of this new medium, and were greatly influenced by it when creating.
— Garga.eth(Greg Solano) 🍌(@CryptoGarga) May 20, 2024
“Oil prices won’t touch the funk anymore,” he wrote. “They will be decentralized and preserved on the blockchain. The only thing we’re trying to do is support some museums and institutions that are trying to acquire punk and help educate their audiences about punk.”
Abney confirmed Solano’s statement. from tweet He expressed his gratitude to Yuga Labs for supporting his artwork and helping it get into the hands of its owners. However, her release of the project led to hateful attacks being unleashed on her on social media.
“I am absolutely disgusted by some of the racist, sexist, homophobic, (and) transphobic comments that have come to light in the controversy surrounding this project,” she wrote.
“What lies at the bottom of this space?” Abney continued. “Now more than ever, we will continue our mission toward an inclusive community where everyone is accepted and ideas that spark productive conversations are welcome. Hate will not be tolerated.”
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