DYOR

Little more than two years ago, a new art world appeared, and for many it came out of nowhere. This new world ignored museums, galleries, curators and critics (in short: the entire establishment), but arrived dripping with money and generated a lot of interest. The new art world (if it is indeed new) was based on a new technology (blockchain), had its own distribution system (Web3), unregulated aesthetic concepts (evident through NFTs), digital currencies (crypto currencies), new spaces for discussion, critique and promotion (Discord channels and Twitter) and new forms of participation. The reactions to this have been fierce, ranging from unbridled enthusiasm to categorical rejection, from exaggerated hopes to dark doomsday fantasies, from fascination with overnight wealth to criticism of energy consumption. The art world reacted indignantly with familiar accusations, "That's not art!" or "It’s just commerce!" Years ago the bourgeoisie said the same thing about Joseph Beuys and Andy Warhol. DYOR (do your own research) is a dictum of the crypto scene. The principle is that one should do one's own investigation rather than believing all that is read. Our exhibition reveals to visitors what is, for many, a new world: art in the context of blockchain and NFTs. Curated by Nina Roehrs, DYOR focusses on artists, projects and platforms that have had a significant influence on how the crypto art scene has developed and is today.