World's First Biennial presenting NFT Art
Fuelarts x Tezos Accelerator 2023 program received applications from 120 highly qualified candidates from 40 countries. After a comprehensive analysis and face-to-face interviews, Fuelarts chose the absolute best – just 10 startups focused on developing and empowering the vibrant Art+Tech market. We are starting a series of interviews with the selected startups.

Modern technology, the effects of which have yet to be fully realized, has grown into a cosmic force and took over the contemporary art scene in the blink of an eye. We believe in the digital technologies that open up infinite horizons for artistic creation and that the future is made of our decentralised collective art.

We are pleased to introduce you to NFT Biennial - an independent, sustainable hybrid art platform for WEB3. We asked NFT Biennial Founder Rahim Unlu to talk about the initiative and answer some of our questions:

- What is the difference between the NFT Biennale and the regular one? Why is it worth seeing?
- In general, we see that most Art Biennials are identified with a city, but the NFT Biennial surpasses physical boundaries, taking place in 7 countries and 9 different locations worldwide, and turning into a complete phygital experience with metaverse exhibitions. The biggest success of NFT Biennial is its ability to enable organic and collective growth with Web 3.0 values, bringing people of the era together around art through technology. At this point, I can say that we are becoming a hub where we bring together art communities in the Web 3.0 and NFT ecosystem through our partnerships.
- How did the idea of creating the NFT Biennale come about? And it is interesting to learn about your team?
- My relationship with the NFT world started with an invitation to produce an artwork for a digital art biennial. I can say that the idea of the NFT Biennial actually began to mature in my mind during this period. Afterwards, we started working with a small team and the conceptual structure began to take shape. Our goal was to build a collective structure where curatorial integrity merged with Web 3.0 values from the very beginning. Then, this dream became a reality with the participation of many curators, art institutions, decentralized organizations, galleries, and partners in a very organic way. Tezos Foundation and its ecosystem also made a significant contribution to our global organization. Our founding team consists of 4 people, and our operational team consists of 6 people. In addition, a curatorial team of 10 people from all over the world.
CORE TEAM
- How are works selected?
- To start off, NFT Biennial boasts a curatorial team that formed entirely organically. With over 10 people on the team, each curator worked independently to create a unique curation focused on the "nature-human-technology" trio that lies at the heart of the biennial's conceptual framework. At the same time, the selection of works featured in the biennial was shaped by the applications submitted through the open call we launched a few months prior to the event. Our aim was to adopt an egalitarian approach, ensuring that emerging talented artists had a platform to showcase their work alongside world-renowned artists who are part of the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) collection and have been listed on the Lumen Prize. We were thrilled to provide a diverse and inclusive space for artists from all backgrounds to come together and showcase their incredible work.
- Tell us about the project partners? Who supports you?
- NFT Biennial is being held in collaboration with the world-renowned open-source blockchain platform Tezos. Our other supporters include leading companies and communities in the Web 3.0 ecosystem such as The Sandbox, Unicorn DAO, Artsect DAO, and fx(hash). In addition, we have collaborated with many galleries and art institutions around the world during the NFT Biennial; Zorlu PSM and X Media Art Museum in Istanbul, Vellum LA in Los Angeles, Despace and Synthesis Gallery in Berlin, Rincon Projects in Bogota, USN Gallery in Tokyo, BXL Art NFT Gallery in Brussels, and Artsect Gallery in London.
- What feedback did you receive from the audience?
- Thank you for asking that! We were thrilled with the response and enthusiasm from art lovers and NFT enthusiasts alike. Many visitors commented on how they appreciated the opportunity to experience such a diverse range of art NFTs, created by artists from around the world. They were particularly excited about the immersive and interactive nature of some of the exhibitions, which allowed them to engage with the art in new and innovative ways. We also received a lot of positive feedback about the accessibility of NFT Biennial. By hosting the event in multiple countries and offering Metaverse exhibiton options, we were able to reach a wider audience…
- What is the future of the NFT in your opinion?
- As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time exploring the NFT ecosystem, I can say that the impact of artificial intelligence on the visual arts in the NFT space is something that can't be ignored. Specifically, in the world of art NFTs, AI presents a huge opportunity for creativity and innovation. The use of AI-generated visuals is already gaining traction, and it's only a matter of time before it becomes a dominant force in the industry.
- What do you expect from participation in the accelerator Fuelarts + Tezos?
- Wow, we are so thrilled about the program here! It's incredibly extensive and covers so many important topics that our team needs. From finances to fundraising, investment relations, security, gamefi dynamics, and legal issues, we're getting the whole package! Plus, we can't forget about the amazing support we're getting from the Tezos team, especially in the development aspect. It's all just so valuable to us right now! We are very excited for one-on-one mentorship meetings as well.
- How do you want to integrate Tezos blockchain in NFT biennial?
- The majority of the works exhibited at the NFT Biennial are already minted on the Tezos blockchain, and we are in the process of transforming into a DAO in this new phase. One way we plan to leverage the Tezos blockchain is by using its smart contract capabilities to automate certain processes such as the distribution of revenue generated from the sale of artwork or the management of voting rights within the DAO. This will reduce the need for intermediaries and increase trust in the system. Additionally, the Tezos blockchain's scalability and low transaction fees make it an ideal choice for the DAO, as we can process a high volume of transactions without incurring high costs. This will enable us to create a more efficient and cost-effective ecosystem for our members, allowing us to focus on our core mission of supporting the arts and building a vibrant creative economy.

EXPLORE NFT BIENNIAL