The Straits Times is auctioning its artwork and a column as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). From December 22 to 28, the online auction will run on the digital platform Blockchain For Good, a corporate social responsibility initiative of the Blockchain Association Singapore (BAS).
Here are the three illustrations up for auction:
Title: The permanence of cats
Artist: Manuel Francisco
Publication date: December 1, 2021
The Persistence of Cats is a visual parody of Salvador Dali's painting, The Persistence of Memory. In his original painting, the iconography may refer to a dream that Dali experienced. This artwork plays on the artist's fondness of cats and how they pervade and manifest in his thoughts ever so often.
It originally appeared in the article "NFTs offer Asian artists a new global showcase", which describes how non-fungible tokens (NFT) give Asian artists an opportunity to build their individual portfolios while reaching out to a wider audience. Asian artists are increasingly recognised by critics and a global community of fans. The article argues that building a crypto-forward economy has to be a joint effort involving blockchain protocols, marketplaces and artists.
Title: Bullish Bitcoin
Artist: Miel Prudencio Rosales Jr
Publication date: May 26, 2021
As critics and defenders of Bitcoin continue their argument over the future of cryptocurrencies, what is clear is that crypto investments are not for the faint of heart. The his article "Making sense of the Bitcoin crash", associate editor Vikram Khanna pointed out that Bitcoin has been famously volatile throughout its 12-year history. While sudden market swings are not always easy to rationalise, there were some proximate triggers for Bitcoin's meltdown earlier in 2021 - from tweets by Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk, to a warning from China's financial authorities. Bitcoin's true believers remain bullish and are urging investors to keep their cool. They reject the idea that Bitcoin can be substituted by other crypto assets, claiming that it is the most decentralised and secure with superior technology.
Title: A guide to cryptocurrencies
Artist: Chng Choon Hiong
Publication date: October 16, 2021
Widely hailed as the future of money, cryptocurrencies have had a wild ride over the past one year. The artist takes a look at how they work: from how cryptocurrencies and blockchains function and the history of currencies, to the top 10 cryptocurrencies by value and their environmental impact. This infographic was part of The Straits Times' Insight feature on cryptocurrencies.
