HeK (Haus der Elektronischen Künste)
Until November 12

Crypto market, political sphere, and new forms of online-interaction—this international group exhibition engages with recent developments around blockchain and Web3 from an artistic perspective. “Exploring the Decentralized Web—Art on the Blockchain” addresses an audience curious about art productions that creatively employ blockchain technology or ingeniously exploit the possibilities that smart contracts offer. At the same time, the works assembled here invite viewers to reflect on the implications that political sphere and crypto market economies have on each other, as well as many other questions these technologies raise about how they shape our online interactions and impact our economies and societies.

The exhibition marks the conclusion of the project “HEK Connect—cultural participation in the age of a decentralized Internet,” funded by the Federal Office of Culture and the departments of culture for Basel-Stadt and Baselland, which enables HEK’s innovative positioning as a cultural institution in a globally networked digital economy. This also includes the creation of a blockchain-based circle of friends and events, both online and offline, such as panel discussions, workshops, and collectively initiated projects. The exhibition also connects to HEK’s preceding exhibition, “Collective Worldbuilding — Art in the Metaverse,” that focused on new online worlds (the metaverse) and the creation of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).

Both exhibitions are accompanied by a combined catalogue with critical texts by experts in the field, offering a comprehensive and accessible analysis of topics related to Web3, blockchains, DAOs, and the metaverse. An extensive educational program accompanies the exhibition, providing opportunities to critically engage with blockchain and Web3 technology and its creative applications.

hek.ch/en/program/exhibitions/exploring-the-decentralized-web-art-on-the-blockchain

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