Art Meets Technology at Stockholm Bitcoin-Inspired Exhibition

An event dubbed "part art exhibition, part technology convention" is set to explore the boundaries between bitcoin and the art world later this month.

Artists, collectors and bitcoin enthusiasts alike will head to the Bitcoin Meets Art event at Stockholm's Capitol concert venue on 23rd August for a fresh take on the art market.

The evening will showcase a range of artwork inspired by the digital currency, which visitors will then have the opportunity to buy using bitcoin. DJs and musicians will provide the soundtrack to the night in return in exchange for the digital currency.

The event will also feature a workshop from the team at Stockholm-based bitcoin exchange Safello, who will explain bitcoin and the digital currency market. The company's bitcoin ATM, the first in the Swedish market, will also be up and running at the event.

Safello chief executive and co-founder Frank Schuil explained to CoinDesk why the company chose to collaborate on the project. He said:

"This event aims to kick-start creative thinking around bitcoin. Artists have a way of pushing the boundaries of technology to see what's possible. It evolves from experimentation to new applications."

Bitcoin inspired artwork

Artists taking part in the even come from across three different continents and include Trash is Free and Milos Rajkovic. Each piece being showcased will incorporate bitcoin in a different way, with one artist knitting QR codes on to oven gloves in a quirky, textile take on the theme.

Each piece of artwork in the show will be accompanied by a QR code that will link directly to the artist's bitcoin wallet.

"In the future I hope to see all types of art embedding bitcoin as a way for people to experience programable money," Schuil said.

Some of the artists involved were already bitcoin enthusiasts when they signed up, while others were introduced to it for the first time through the Stockholm project.

Giving control back to artists

The event hopes to give back more control and profit to artists who are often marginalised in the art market or exploited by dealers for huge commission on their works. Organiser Martin Lundfall explained to CoinDesk why he wanted to explore the art market in this way.

He said:

"Artists are a very exposed group that many people are trying to take advantage of. By using bitcoin they can cut out the middleman. I want to start a discussion on how we look at the payment of artists."

In recent months a number of creative projects have attempted to reduce these nominally high fees and put more money directly in artists' pockets.

For example, earlier this year, WeCoin88 announced plans to reduce transaction fees on art works by up to 10% by using the currency.

Images via Trash is Free and Shutterstock