The internet is an endless pool of creativity, like whiskey spilling from a bottle of Jack Daniels that’s been knocked over. An apt analogy because that’s the subject of the limited edition NFT artwork ‘Dancing Jack’ by British creator MRE that’s up for auction by ARX today. We’ll also take a peek at a piece going for sale tomorrow called ‘Rich List’, a soaring exploration of Manhattan.
Yesterday, we had a look at his Rolex inspired piece called ‘Race Against Time’, which you can check out here. But right now, we’re headed to the bottom of the bottle with ‘Dancing Jack’.
Dancing Jack
The short video features, as I alluded to, a bottle of Jack Daniels on its side, pouring whiskey onto the floor. The liquid then forms the figure of a man dancing to a backdrop of house music, hence the title ‘Dancing Jack’. His moves aren’t too bad either – he must get his confidence from the fact he’s made from 100% firewater.
As for the inspiration behind the piece, MRE cites New Years Day 2018, which is around the time the artwork was created. It symbolises life’s finer moments, when we gather to party with friends and family (often with a tipple or two) to enjoy the company and society of others. It’s a message that at the tail end of a pandemic hits all too close to home.
MRE’s 1-of-1 artwork is being sold by ARX with a reserve price of Ξ9 (9 Ethereum), if you’re not a crypto-whizz, that’s about $25,300 or £17,900. And that doesn’t even touch the $69 million some NFTs have sold for. Why are 20 second clips and snippets of music worth so much? Well, NFTs are a new form of investment and are used to consolidate digital assets, perfect for the financially savvy collector. It’s made possible by auction houses and galleries like ARX.
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If you happen to have some Ether lying around, why not get involved and make a bid? You have until 21:00 (May 27, 2021) at which point the limited edition artwork will be transferred to the new owner’s digital wallet. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up happy as Larry – well, not Larry, Jack.
More details at MakersPlace.
Central Park Tower 2021 Rich List Cover
Another artwork from MRE that will be going up for sale by ARX tomorrow, the 28th, is ‘Rich List’ or to give it its full name: ‘Central Park Tower 2021 Rich List Cover’. It’s another 1-of-1 production, a short video of a flight over central Manhattan and Central Park with a focus on the skyline of Billionaire’s Row. The scene is set to the soaring music of Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven.
The piece was created as MRE’s first ever minted cover for the Sunday Times Rich List, which explains the artwork’s title. The Rich List being, of course, the magazine’s yearly breakdown of the wealthiest people in the world. In homage to this fact, the NFT’s opening and closing seconds show the focal Central Park Tower in a frame beneath the Sunday Times Magazine logo.
MRE has shown that his artwork can be used as examples of social commentary and the message in Rich List is clear. It’s about wealth, money and the conscience of the super-rich. The haunting opening lines to Led Zeppelin’s song are an indictment of those who believe money can justify poor moral values.
‘Rich List’ has a higher reserve price than ‘Dancing Jack’ at Ξ11 or roughly $30,400 (approx. £21,500) but you have longer to get involved, as bidding doesn’t close until 21:00, May 28.
More details at MakersPlace.
