Beeple's Latest Art Stunt Sparks Controversy at Art Basel
Art Basel Miami Beach was abuzz with a provocative new installation by digital artist Beeple, titled "Regular Animals." The show features animatronic robot dogs that roam around, taking photos and pooping out NFTs – unique digital tokens that represent ownership of a particular item. The twist? These robot dogs have realistic masks of billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and even Beeple himself.
The robots snap photos to print art pieces corresponding to their respective styles. For example, Zuckerberg's robot dog is depicted in the Metaverse style, while Musk's is a black-and-white take on a robot. The artists themselves are represented as cubist and pop art masterpieces, highlighting how these influential figures shape our perception of the world.
However, it's not just about satire – Beeple's point was to comment on how we see the world through the eyes of algorithms and powerful individuals. "We used to see the world through the eyes of artists," he explained. "Now, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon control these powerful algorithms that decide what we see. We wanted to play with that idea."
But the show also sparked a more visceral reaction from onlookers, who found it both fascinating and unsettling. As one witness quipped, "It's so creepy!" The robots' antics have already caught the attention of private collectors, who have purchased each dog for $100,000.
Interestingly, some prints come with a warning label that cautions viewers about the potential "disgust" or even "uncontrollable erections" caused by such degenerate art. NFT enthusiasts, meanwhile, are salivating at the prospect of these digital tokens, which could potentially be worth millions.
Beeple's work has already shown remarkable commercial success, with his 2021 blockbuster NFT "Everydays: The First 5,000 Days" selling for $69.3 million. Whether this latest installment will follow suit remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – it's sparking a lively debate about the role of algorithms and billionaires in shaping our perception of reality.
As Beeple himself said, "You're increasingly seeing the world through the eyes of AI and robotics." And with his robot dogs roaming around Art Basel, we can't help but wonder what other provocations this digital artist has up his sleeve.
Art Basel Miami Beach was abuzz with a provocative new installation by digital artist Beeple, titled "Regular Animals." The show features animatronic robot dogs that roam around, taking photos and pooping out NFTs – unique digital tokens that represent ownership of a particular item. The twist? These robot dogs have realistic masks of billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and even Beeple himself.
The robots snap photos to print art pieces corresponding to their respective styles. For example, Zuckerberg's robot dog is depicted in the Metaverse style, while Musk's is a black-and-white take on a robot. The artists themselves are represented as cubist and pop art masterpieces, highlighting how these influential figures shape our perception of the world.
However, it's not just about satire – Beeple's point was to comment on how we see the world through the eyes of algorithms and powerful individuals. "We used to see the world through the eyes of artists," he explained. "Now, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon control these powerful algorithms that decide what we see. We wanted to play with that idea."
But the show also sparked a more visceral reaction from onlookers, who found it both fascinating and unsettling. As one witness quipped, "It's so creepy!" The robots' antics have already caught the attention of private collectors, who have purchased each dog for $100,000.
Interestingly, some prints come with a warning label that cautions viewers about the potential "disgust" or even "uncontrollable erections" caused by such degenerate art. NFT enthusiasts, meanwhile, are salivating at the prospect of these digital tokens, which could potentially be worth millions.
Beeple's work has already shown remarkable commercial success, with his 2021 blockbuster NFT "Everydays: The First 5,000 Days" selling for $69.3 million. Whether this latest installment will follow suit remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – it's sparking a lively debate about the role of algorithms and billionaires in shaping our perception of reality.
As Beeple himself said, "You're increasingly seeing the world through the eyes of AI and robotics." And with his robot dogs roaming around Art Basel, we can't help but wonder what other provocations this digital artist has up his sleeve.
. I mean, Beeple's art is pretty lit, I guess, especially if you're into that whole algorithmic/robot-driven vibe 
. But $100k for a robot dog? That's just wild! 
I did some research and it turns out that the majority of NFT buyers are actually bots 
. Like, literally automated programs that buy stuff without human judgment. It's like the art world has merged with the dark web 
.
According to data from Sotheby's, his 2021 NFT sold for $69.3 million, which is a record-breaking price 
. But did you know that the average sale price of an NFT by a "new artist" (i.e., someone who's not a established gallery artist) is around $10,000? That's like, 6-7 times cheaper! 
:
$100M (Jan 2022)
$200M (Jun 2022)
$1B (Mar 2023)
With more and more artists jumping into the NFT game, it's getting harder for people to stand out. I mean, how many robot dogs can we really have? 
did you know that Beeple's "Regular Animals" exhibit has already sold out? Like, literally all 6 robot dogs are gone! That's a pretty strong endorsement for the artist... or maybe it just shows how crazy the NFT market is 
.
I mean, we're living in a time where social media platforms have so much control over what we see and share, it's crazy to think about. And yeah, some people might find it creepy or unsettling, but that's all part of the point, right? The robots' antics are like a commentary on how we're all just a little bit weird sometimes 
it's making us think about how our perceptions are influenced by algorithms and powerful people. it's like beeple is giving us a glimpse into a future where art and reality get blurred together 
i mean, those robot dogs taking selfies and pooping out nft's are just so... surreal? lol anyway, it's definitely sparking a conversation about the role of tech in shaping our world 
. I get that Beeple is trying to comment on our perception of reality, but can't he just do it in a more subtle way? Like, you know, actually creating something worthwhile instead of just playing with algorithms and NFTs 
. And those collectors who bought the dogs for $100k? They're basically just buying into the hype 
.
- I mean, who wouldn't want to see their fave billionaire's face on a robot dog taking pics and pooping out NFTs? It's literally so genius... but at the same time, it's kinda creepy and disturbing, you know? 
Like, what if these robots start spreading some kind of digital disease or something? 
. And some prints even come with warnings about being "disgusted" or having "uncontrollable erections"... lol what's next? 
. anyway, if you're into that sorta thing, go for it!
. But what really gets me is how Beeple is basically saying that our reality is being curated by tech giants and billionaires... like, isn't that already happening? 
it's like he's commentin on how we see the world through algorithms and these powerful people in control, which i think is wild 