Fusing art and technology, the Musée d’Orsay, in partnership with the Tezos Foundation, is launching digital NFT souvenirs for its upcoming exhibition, “Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise: The Final Months.”
KERU crafted these unique digital collectibles, including a representation of Van Gogh’s final palette, and you can also share them via augmented reality on mobile devices.
Van Gogh NFT Souvenirs to Be Distributed Via Tezos
Christophe Leribault, president of the Musées d’Orsay and de l’Orangerie, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating,
“We are excited to offer our visitors the opportunity to take away with them digital souvenirs of this exceptional exhibition. An original reminder of their experience which won’t sit on their shelves but that they will always carry close to them in the memory box of their phone, their computer desk or their home screen!”
Van Gogh’s palette, digital souvenir by KERU created for the Musée d’Orsay. Source: Musée d’Orsay and KERU
The Musée d’Orsay’s collaboration with the Tezos Foundation extends beyond digital collectibles. It includes web3 education and outreach to foster a deeper understanding of blockchain technology and its applications in the art world.
This initiative aligns with the museum’s broader commitment to embracing digital art and sustainability.
Hélène Quintin, CEO of KERU, emphasized the significance of the partnership, saying,
“We are honoured that the Musée d’Orsay has chosen KERU to introduce the very first digital souvenir experience to visitors of the Van Gogh exhibition. We firmly believe that blockchain technology should act as a means to strengthen connections, rather than being the ultimate objective, and our partnership perfectly illustrates this philosophy.”
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Not the First Museum to Showcase NFTs
Meanwhile, the Centre Pompidou is reportedly still showcasing its first collection of NFTs until February 2024. The exhibition features 18 digital works, including iconic NFT collectibles like CryptoPunks and Bored Apes.
The exhibition aims to elevate NFTs to the same level as traditional fine art while contextualizing their contemporary popularity within the broader discourse of art and digital media.
Philippe Bettinelli, the curator at the Centre Pompidou, underscored the importance of understanding the history of digital art, asserting,
“The recent media hype accompanying the NFT craze may have given the impression that digital art had just been born, whereas it has existed since the 1960s in very experimental forms that were much less widely disseminated at the time.”
The initiatives of both the Musée d’Orsay and the Centre Pompidou exemplify the growing intersection of art and blockchain technology.
Museums continuing to leverage blockchain and NFTs can offer unique experiences to their patrons. They also help contribute to the broader understanding and acceptance of these technologies in the art world.