Known Origin: Digital Natives
Known Origin merges the digital with reality, celebrating the future of digital art, fashion and NFTs!
NFTs have initiated an unprecedented change in the art industry, artists and creators alike are seeing their work financially valued, and their voices heard. Not only is the NFT boom a moment in history, but it is also a digital revolution.
The first of October marked a historical night for NFTs and crypto art, one that brought the future to our real life, we felt it, and we saw it. Digital Natives was an event hosted by the NFT marketplace Known Origin that celebrated this, an innovative party exhibition that brought together the pioneers of the digital art world, all in one place.
The event was hosted in Manchester, a city renowned for its forward-thinking, technological developments, and culture. It is a hub for artwork with a number of fine art galleries, historical museums, and modern architecture, all of which make it the perfect setting for a celebration of art. More importantly, it is the city that I have grown up in, so I could not miss out on this event!
Known Origin
So what is Known Origin? They are an artist-driven art marketplace for NFTs where collectors can discover, and buy the latest artwork from digital creators on the Ethereum blockchain. Founded in 2018 by David Moore, Andy Gray, and James Morgan, they have since onboarded over 4000 verified artists from all over the world, a community of unique and premium creators. In order to share their work on the marketplace, the artist must be verified and invited by the Known Origin team, helping to establish a platform of quality, and exclusive artwork. Since their creation, they have sold over 14 million dollars of assets to avid NFT collectors, making them one of the fastest-growing platforms. The Known Origin team are already pushing the boundaries, providing a direct pathway for artists into the emerging web 3.0 world.
The Event
For myself and Timpers, this was our first-ever NFT event, from spending months in the digital NFT community and chatting to enthusiasts online, this event merged the digital with reality. It was something that we could not miss out on, especially since it was hosted in our hometown! We made our way to Circle Square where the event was hosted, unsure of what to expect we were pleasantly surprised to find a packed-out venue, electric music blaring, and vibrant artwork on display. Keen to get inside we grabbed our wristband and headed for the bar. The venue was mesmerizing and it was everything that we envisioned an NFT meet-up to be. With 20 screens displaying some of the top-selling British artists, we were able to share the love of art amongst an array of creators and artists. From XCOPY to Kid Eight, some of the most innovative and creative NFT artists were on display.
As well as NFTs, the event showcased digital fashion with designers and companies attending the event including Charli Cohen, Async Art, Boson Protocol, CYBR Magazine.
While we admired the artwork, we also had the opportunity to meet and chat with like-minded creatives. From experienced NFT creators to curious artists who hadn’t even heard the word before, the event garnered attention from a wide array of individuals from across the UK. There was one artist who I had the pleasure to chat with, he made clear to me that he wasn’t sure how NFTs worked, but he enjoyed creating abstract art. My ears sprung up and I made sure to explain everything that I knew, who to follow, which platforms he could explore, and the community that he could join, after all, that’s exactly what we are here for!
A wide range of digital art was on show with artists including, @Waxbones, @meeloart, @VectorMeldrew, @dustmonkey, @FiveTimesNo, @NumanUK, @danoramas, @creativepowerr, and more. As well as the digital artwork, attendees gathered around to watch an immersive live performance from the artist Jake Andrew who created an original artwork, canvas painting. Furthermore, we were provided the opportunity to purchase the artwork on display, each screen had a description of the artwork and artist, as well as a QR code that took you directly to the marketplace!
The Mystery
Given that this was an event for artists and NFTs, it was no surprise that many attended anonymously. Because of this, there was intrigue in the air, excitement to get to know the people around you. Interestingly, Known Origin posted that both XCOPY and Pranksy had attended the event, yet nobody was aware of this on the night, the mystery of their identity continues! The special thing about NFTs is that you don’t have to reveal who you are, the art does the talking. After the event, many took to Twitter, tagging each other and mentioning that, had they known they were there, they would have met!
What I found the most inspiring was the potentiality and vision for the future. A packed-out venue could only mean one thing and it certainly highlighted the progress that the NFT space has made in recent months. In real life events are growing more popular by the day, especially after a long drought of socializing during the pandemic. After last night, I suspect that this is the start of many more to come! Known Origin has set the bar with this incredible event, and I am privileged to have got the chance to participate in a historical moment for NFTs!
Hey! Once again you have reached the end of the article, you are a legend. I had a bunch of fun attending this IRL meet-up and would love to attend more! If this is something that you would like to hear, let me know! For now, enjoy the rest of your week folks!