Refik Anadol, a renowned Turkish media artist, has collaborated with the indigenous Kayapo tribe of Brazil to create a series of unique NFT artworks that celebrate their culture and history. The project, titled “Kayapo: Guardians of the Forest”, was launched on October 15th on the SuperRare platform and has already generated over $3.9 million in sales in just one week.
The NFT collection consists of 10 pieces, each featuring a different aspect of the Kayapo’s way of life, such as their rituals, dances, crafts, and environmental activism. The artworks are based on Anadol’s signature style of using artificial intelligence and machine learning to transform data into stunning visuals. In this case, the data comes from the tribe’s own archive of photos, videos, and audio recordings, as well as satellite imagery of their territory in the Amazon rainforest.
Anadol said he was inspired by the Kayapo’s resilience and wisdom in preserving their ancestral lands and traditions in the face of threats from deforestation, mining, and climate change. He said he wanted to use his art to raise awareness and support for their cause, as well as to honor their rich and diverse heritage. He also said he was humbled by the opportunity to collaborate with them and learn from their knowledge and values.
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The Kayapo tribe, which numbers around 9,000 people, is one of the largest and most influential indigenous groups in Brazil. They have been fighting for decades to protect their rights and their environment from encroachment and exploitation by outsiders. They have also been actively involved in the global movement for indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice.
The NFT project is part of a larger initiative called “Kayapo Futures”, which aims to empower the tribe with digital tools and platforms to preserve and share their culture, as well as to generate income and resources for their communities. The initiative is led by the Kayapo Cultural Association (AKA), a non-profit organization that represents the tribe’s interests and needs. AKA partnered with Anadol and SuperRare to create and distribute the NFT artworks.
According to AKA, 80% of the proceeds from the NFT sales will go directly to the tribe, while 20% will be used to cover the costs of the project and support AKA’s ongoing work. The funds will be used for various purposes, such as improving health care, education, communication, and infrastructure for the Kayapo villages; supporting their environmental monitoring and protection activities; and promoting their cultural preservation and expression.
The NFT project has received widespread acclaim and attention from both the art world and the crypto community. Many collectors have praised the artistic quality and innovation of the artworks, as well as the social impact and significance of the collaboration. Some of the pieces have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars each, with one piece fetching over $1 million.
The project has also sparked a debate about the ethical and environmental implications of NFTs, which are often criticized for their high carbon footprint and potential exploitation of artists and communities. Anadol and AKA have addressed these concerns by stating that they have taken measures to minimize the environmental impact of the project, such as using renewable energy sources and offsetting emissions. They have also stressed that they have followed ethical principles and best practices to ensure a fair and respectful collaboration between the artist and the tribe.
“Kayapo: Guardians of the Forest” is an example of how NFTs can be used as a powerful tool for artistic expression, cultural preservation, social change, and economic empowerment. It is also a testament to the vision and talent of Refik Anadol, who has once again pushed the boundaries of art and technology with his groundbreaking work.
Reddit to sunset its blockchain-based reward service as Yuga Labs focusses on building Otherside Meta
Reddit, the popular social media platform, has announced that it will be discontinuing its experimental Community Points program, which was based on blockchain technology. The program, which was launched in May 2020, allowed users to earn and spend cryptocurrency tokens on Reddit’s Ethereum-based Rinkeby testnet. The tokens could be used to buy special memberships, badges, and other features on select subreddits.
According to Reddit, the decision to sunset the Community Points program was based on several factors, including user feedback, technical challenges, and regulatory uncertainties. Reddit stated that the program did not achieve its intended goals of fostering more engagement, quality content, and community governance on the platform. Moreover, Reddit faced difficulties in scaling the program to its millions of users, as well as complying with the complex and evolving laws and regulations around cryptocurrencies.
Reddit also acknowledged that the Community Points program had some positive impacts, such as introducing many users to the concept and potential of blockchain technology, as well as creating a sense of ownership and belonging among some communities. Reddit thanked the users who participated in the program and provided valuable feedback and suggestions. Reddit also assured the users that their existing Community Points balances will not be affected by the discontinuation of the program, and that they will be able to access and transfer their tokens until December 31, 2023.
Reddit said that it will continue to explore new ways to empower its users and communities, and that it remains open to experimenting with blockchain technology in the future. Reddit also invited developers and innovators who are interested in collaborating with Reddit on blockchain-related projects to reach out to them.
In a different shift, Yuga Labs, the company behind the popular NFT project Bored Ape Yacht Club, has announced a major restructuring that will see it focus on developing its new metaverse platform, Otherside. In a blog post published over the weekend, Yuga Labs CEO Daniel Alegre explained the rationale behind the decision and what it means for the future of the company and its community.
According to Daniel Alegre, Yuga Labs has been working on Otherside for over a year, and it is now ready to launch it to the public. Otherside is described as a “social and creative metaverse” where users can explore, create, and interact with each other using their NFT avatars. Daniel Alegre said that Otherside will be compatible with any NFT project that meets certain standards, and that it will offer a variety of features and experiences for users to enjoy.
Daniel Alegre also revealed that as part of the restructuring, Yuga Labs will spin off its NFT division into a separate entity, called Yuga Art. Yuga Art will be responsible for managing and expanding the Bored Ape Yacht Club and its sister projects, such as Mutant Ape Yacht Club and Bored Ape Kennel Club. Gekko said that Yuga Art will continue to innovate and deliver value to its loyal collectors and fans, and that it will collaborate with Yuga Labs on integrating its NFTs into Otherside.
Daniel Alegre concluded his blog post by thanking the Yuga Labs team and the community for their support and trust and expressing his excitement for the future of the company and its projects. He said that he believes that Otherside will be a game-changer for the NFT space and the metaverse industry, and that he invites everyone to join him on this journey.