0xDEAFBEEF on NFTs, Oscilloscopes, and the Social Life of Art

This summer, artist 0xDEAFBEEF from Toronto, celebrated for his NFT initiative First that generated over $1 million for charity, will showcase new creations at Zero One by Art Basel in partnership with Asprey Studio. The exhibition features a blend of generative sound, oscilloscope sculptures, and historical pieces from Ben Laposky’s Oscillons series, which 0xDEAFBEEF has recently obtained. In a conversation with Anika Meier, he shares his doubts about the NFT craze, his shift towards craftsmanship, and his view that art's significance stems from social connections. He also challenges the prevailing narrative of generative art, highlighting its extensive history linked to electronic signals and experimental cinema. His project Hashmarks, developed with Bright Moments in Patagonia, includes hand-forged iron talismans associated with cryptographic tokens, underscoring themes of impermanence and shared experiences. Additionally, 0xDEAFBEEF considers how social media influences the visibility of artistic processes and stresses the necessity of critical dialogue for the sustainability of digital art.