Artist Statement
Cryptonight (end of the fiat analog world), 2020
Made of US 25 cent pieces, Cryptonite explores broader themes of futurism, capitalism, consumerism, environmental sustainability and the ultimate fate of humanity.
A visual representation of an imminent “end”, the viewer is encouraged to question and consider “our” collective trajectory: humanity as a whole in a futuristic and digital age; Western society operating under a Capitalist system; and at a more granular level, “us” as individuals, the lives we live and the role We play; perceiving ourselves as seemingly insignificant entities existing in a real world model of popular culture’s interpretation of the Butterfly Effect.
In The Age of Information, where Artificial Intelligence and Raymond Kurzweil’s “Singularity” are no longer fictional concepts, consumerism and digitization are rapidly changing the course of humanity: economically, culturally, psychologically, physically, emotionally, biologically and environmentally.
Economically, the more recent emergence of decentralized, untraceable currencies (Cryptocurrencies) suggests a virtual and Globalized model will seemingly prevail – are we heading towards “The End” of the economic system as we know it? What impact would this have culturally? What impact would a shift in the global economy, a potential collapse, have on the individual?
Exploring wider themes - In a world where a significant proportion of human interaction takes place through digital mediums, where health data is available via wearable devices, where thoughts can now be read using brain wave reading devices, where advancement of AI, and the amalgamation of biology and robotics is seeing the delineation between man and machine being blurred – one can only ask:
Are these all links in a digitized chain of events that will lead us to the Singularity? Are we on an irreversible trajectory towards the “End” of humankind?
In recent decades and increasingly more so as we progress into the 21st century, we have become acutely aware of the cumulative impact We, as humans, have on the health of the planet and the once undisturbed symbiosis of its delicate ecosystem. Cryptonite reminds us the “We” are a living component of this giant symbiotic organism – Gaia.
Technology, consumerism and environmental sustainability are all inextricably linked. Cryptonite encourages the viewer to consider their own role as an individual within this framework, and the concept of continuing on the current trajectory as being a metaphorical ticking time bomb. It is only a matter of time before “the End”. What “end” will this be? Only We can affect and ultimately determine this.