Cryptoart and Cypherpunk Curatorial Statement

Satoshi’s famous white paper was released in 2008; however, the seeds of its tenets– anonymous digital cash, pseudonymous reputation systems, defense from government overreach–were sown decades earlier by the movement that is now known as Cypherpunk. Ideas around using cryptography to secure digital privacy and mitigate censorship were developed underground throughout the 1970s and 80s, then coalesced in the 90s. Rooted in a dark, suspicious vision of the world wherein technology could be used against society, the Cypherpunk movement adopted those same technological arms as a means of protection, rebellion, self-expression, and contrarian community building.

This curated collection brings together digital works by 13 artists that demonstrate the rebellious spirit and dystopian sense of social (dis)order at the heart of blockchain-based or “cryptoart”. These works’ thematic tenets manifest aesthetically in myriad ways: through process or content, and often, both. 3D animations cut up with experimental, glitchy disruptions, insidiously nostalgic pixelations tainted by existential noir, anxious digital painting, and chaotic gifs. A preoccupation with surveillance, with the abject, with the lurking desires and fears of our digital age, provocatively treated with irreverent deference, and humorous terror.

The title–taken from Eric Hughes’ A Cypherpunk’s Manifesto (1993)–speaks to the ethos of underground secrecy at the heart of Cypherpunk (and often related to avant garde or anti-establishment art movements more generally). While cryptoart still largely inhabits this nebulous realm, our nascent space is also in a moment of growth, widening and welcoming in new entrants. As they respond to the cloaked, shadowy dynamic of cryptoart’s origin as seen through the legacy of Cypherpunk, the included artists also reflect the light of creativity at its core.

The online auction will begin on June 18, 2024, with all details to be announced via official AOTM channels. Artwork previews, bids, and purchases will be available on AOTM’s website.