The Solana community made its debut at Art Basel Miami Beach, the leading international art fair during December 8-10, 2023. The Solana exhibition, entitled 'Artists in Residence', is a first-of-its-kind Web3-powered experience that allows forward-thinking artists to explore how blockchain technology – and Solana in particular – can unlock new possibilities for digital ownership, royalties, audience engagement, and more.
Artists in Residence took the concept of a traditional gallery to the next level as attendees witnessed three prominent artists from the Solana community – Eko33, Lisanne Haack, and Sleepr – as they built their creations in real-time. These artists demonstrated how they incorporate Solana technology into their creative process.
"Attendees were able to interact directly with the artists, hear what drew them to the Solana community, collect limited edition works minted on Solana, and see firsthand the creation that is Only Possible on Solana."
Solana Foundation
As seen in the video clips from Art Basel below, Meural’s dynamic lineup of wifi-connected digital frames brings digital art and photography to life on the Artists in Residence exhibition walls – combining modern design with state-of-the-art technology for a palatial digital experience.
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Underlining the significance of their participation, the Solana team expressed, "The Solana Foundation is proud to be a show partner at Art Basel Miami Beach and showcase artistic and creative work that is only possible on Solana.
For artists and creators, Solana is a platform where they can create art in new and exciting ways, find more ways to earn, unlock new audiences, and connect with a vibrant community of like-minded innovators."
Insights from Artists in Residence
Lisanne Haack
“Entering the NFT scene, I actually saw a lot of possibilities that I could do to create art and I just wanted to experiment. I like to blend all the different mediums and kind of jump from one technique to another. The digital component enables me to play around way more so I can go back to that and then go back to the canvas.”
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“The best thing about the Solana community is that they don't make me pick if I'm a digital artist or a traditional painter or a 3D modeler. I can be everything and I can express in every way, in every medium. I want people to understand that digital art is more than just a JPEG.”
Watch video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ1q-ZG8Z-U
Eko33
“Here at Art Basel, when the public arrives in my studio, they can see my first collection on Solana that I minted in 2021. Solana collectors have been extremely supportive since the very beginning."
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They're very open-minded. They are very inclusive in their approach when it comes to art and when it comes to technology, which is quite rare. I mean, the performances on Solana have been absolutely stunning. It's environmentally friendly, and I think it has a role to play in the future.”
Watch video here: Solana at Art Basel Miami: EKO33
SLEEPR
“Solana has honestly changed my life. I was a practicing artist in Australia but had a really difficult time in finding collectors and people interested in exploring this new wave of modern art. And the most kind of beautiful part of Solana is that all the tech and the blockchain end up just kind of becoming invisible."
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It's just this infrastructure layer that enables creatives to very quickly and easily mince and create work and share and trade and play with all of these innovative technological solutions.”
Watch video here: Solana at Art Basel Miami: SLEEPR
Closing Thoughts
The impactful event not only celebrated artistic innovation but also acknowledged the collaborative efforts of various partners and collaborators who made the exhibition possible. This collective effort showcased the strength of the Solana community and its commitment to fostering an inclusive space where artists can push boundaries, connect globally, and redefine the landscape of digital art.
