I try not to make plans. Because, even the best laid plans etc. etc...
— Brent Spiner
TL;DR ➡ ➡ Link to "HIVE Reactor Core : CCC"
This is a lesson about learning to let go and not become invested in the outcomes.
One of the very first ideas I had for a series on NFT Showroom was a high concept/riddle series I created called "HIVE Reactor Corps Ltd".
"HIVE Reactor Corps Ltd" Concept Overview
- The "HIVE Blockchain" is powered by a series of "Reactor Cores" that are geographically dispersed around the planet. There are 10 of these Cores.
- The "Corps" in "HIVE Reactor Corps Ltd" is a play on both the pronunciation of "Cores" and alludes to the idea that the "Cores" are maintained by a "Corps" of blockchain engineers (Witnesses).
- In addition to receiving a 4K version of the Core video, the Collector would also receive a personalized Membership Card, customized for each Reactor Core. (example below)
- Each of the 10 Core's IDs are a clue to the "through line" that conceptually connects them all. That connection was going to be that all 10 Core's names were simply encoded and named for SciFi-Fantasy-Space movies/tv shows with Numbers in their Titles. These were going to be the 10 Cores. Additionally, each Core graphic had a "quote" in the lower right from that movie. A Google search for the quote could help provide the decoded name of that Reactor.
- Here are the 10 Reactors, their movie/tv show, and the quote
- Reactor 12M (12 Monkeys, "You're here because of the system.")
- Reactor 28DL (28 Days Later, "Do you think they saw us this time?")
- Reactor A13 (Apollo 13, "To the moon...")
- Reactor CCC (300, "Prepare for glory!")
- Reactor D9 (District 9, "We can't go home. Not anymore.")
- Reactor DS9 (Deep Space 9, "The prophets teach us patience.")
- Reactor IaN4 (I Am Number Four, "You have no idea what I'm capable of.")
- Reactor Spr8 (Super 8, "Let's hug before the monster comes back.")
- Reactor T-X (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, "What could possibly go wrong?")
- Reactor t5E (The Fifth Element, "Anyone else want to negotiate?")
- Each Reactor would have a custom created video/animation of the "Reactor Core" along with custom soundtrack that I would create in GarageBand.
Personalized Membership Card
Each Collector would receive a personalized Membership Card with their HIVE Username and Avatar.
Timeframe and Development
It took me weeks to work out the idea, concept, and begin to build the graphics, videos, and first soundtrack.
For some reason, I decided to start with "Reactor CCC" and developed a pulsating, infinitely looping video and soundtrack.
HIVE Reactor Core : CCC
(Please click here to view the MP4 and custom soundtrack as the following GIF may not animate and has no audio. 😊)
Debut on NFT Showroom...
I was so excited to mint this "conceptual riddle" as I had not seen anything like it on NFT Showroom...or any of the NFT Platforms.
I don't consider all the Punks and Apes and Cards/Games to be conceptual. They're collectibles. And I've never been into collectible or collecting things just for the sake of collecting. And I’m not a gamer and really don't get the idea of the Card Games that are popular on the NFT Platforms. But I like puzzles and riddles and concepts and things that make you think.
And... Crickets...
I don't know if it was the artwork, the concept, my failure at marketing, etc... Whatever it was, the "Reactor CCC" was met with pretty much no response at all...
So after a few days I had the idea to "gift" editions to those in the HIVE Community who had been supportive and helped me to that point. A couple of the recipients followed up with very nice messages, which was great and very much appreciated. One even replied that they would like the Personalized Membership Card!
A couple weeks later it just happened to be HIVE's 1st birthday. I took the opportunity to slice the price by 50% and announced that 30% of sales would go to purchase artwork from other Artists on NFT Showroom.
But... I ended up adding HIVE to my wallet and spending over 200% of the 3 resulting sales on Artwork from the NFT Showroom community.
Current Core State
After weeks of work, around an idea and concept that I really liked, it felt like the air was just sucked out of the room. There was no interest in the remaining 3 editions of "Reactor CCC" as more Punks, Apes, Devil Women, Astronauts, and Bald Mannequins seemed to be flooding the Platforms.
I was very surprised to find I had no energy or interest left to pursue the weeks of work it would take to generate the videos and audio soundtracks for the remaining 9 Reactors.
So... This has been a great exercise in letting go of the outcomes and being able to notice where the energy is, and isn't, and not continue to push a project that is no longer enjoyable.
Generally when I get to the point where a physical painting isn't working, no matter what I do, I have no problem just applying a fresh coat of gesso over the entire canvas/panel and starting again (much to the horror of my other Artist friends.)
Now I'm learning a similar approach in the NFT space. Even though I've been creating digital work for almost 12 years, there was never a market for it and so everything was created simply for the joy of creation and experimenting. Once it was no longer interesting, I just moved on to the next project.
The exercise now, even though there now IS a market for digital work, is to maintain that same distance from the result and concentrate on the joy of creation and experimentation and not become invested in the outcome.
Cheers,
-limn
Previous Post: "Masked" from my "PixelPush Jae" Collection
Questions & Contact
Please leave a comment below with any questions you have about my creative process, apps, etc.
Please follow me on Twitter: @limndigital for the most up-to-date info on new Artwork.
I mint work on the following platforms:
NFT Showroom | Hic et Nunc | Paras.id | OpenSea
Apps & Resources in this post (a-z)
Apps:
Resources:
- limn.digital (my NFT-specific site...already in need of updating)
- My accts on NFT Platforms
- ShaneRobinson.com (my traditional Fine Art site)
If art is made in a forest, and no one sees it (or buys it), is it still art?
Hell yes, it is.
Really inspiring for me that you wrote this up. The concept of detachment is so powerful, in inverse relationship to how hard it can be to practice.
It's STILL so early! Maybe this project will find some new fans, now that it's a free bird in the universe. I think it's both clever and beautiful and speaks to so many of your loves: code, superheroes, digital art, fantasy, and precision.
Thank You!! 🙏🏼
And yes, all of that is true... Perhaps by letting it go the idea will find purchase at some point.
Either way, it was FUN to develop the ideas and structures. 😃
I don't think you should be discouraged over a lack of traction. I think the idea is/was really cool. I also think you should do things because you want to do them no matter what the results are. However, your disappointment is understandable. You could always pivot and take that experience as a dry run to do a similar idea. NFT markets are fickle until you build a following or have some great marketing. Maybe build it all first and then they will come.
I am one to not want to give up until the bitter end... but as i get older cutting my losses is a difficult lesson i am learning. Time i guess is the main factor. I really do think you were/are on to something with your idea. Maybe it will garner more traction and success in a different form. Perhaps just a refinement and a little bit of gear shifting is needed? Or you could be like me and grind it out to completion... even if nobody ever realizes the project is finished! hahaha
Thank You @castleberry for your consistently supportive insights and optimism! 🙏
I hope I didn't come across too discouraged? It was my intent to layout the timeline and then circle back to the concept of "not getting invested in the outcome." And if I failed in that it was, as I mentioned in a Tweet convo, that I just didn't take the time to fully construct and edit the post.
But... Upon reflection, I do see it contains what I would label, "Confusion and Frustration" as to what I am seeing sell on the NFT Platforms -vs- my experience over the past 30+ years as an Artist and 2x gallery owner...and most recently as a General Manager for 3 galleries here in Santa Fe. A city of only 120,000 people but 200+ galleries.
I guess it remains difficult for me to understand why NFT "Collectors" don't see what they are buying is just a snapshot run through a Prisma filter. Or a generic $5 3D model wrapped in a basic texture with flare lighting?
So yeah... I apparently have too much time, a B.F.A., and experience in the "Art World" in my 54 years and am having somewhat of a difficult time coming to terms with the next generation of...Art. 🤣