Dave Krugman, the esteemed New York-based photographer, crypto artist, and writer, is no stranger to pushing boundaries. Founder of the creative community ALLSHIPS, Dave believes in the age old saying, “A rising tide raises all ships.” With his works such as DRIVE, Drip Drop and SPECTERS he paints a picture of a world at the crossroads of art and technology.
His latest effort, “ROLLS”, is testament to his penchant for fusing the contemporary with the classic. The project draws intriguing parallels between blockchain technology and film photography, once Krugman’s perspective tweetedconsider film photography as ‘a chemical blockchain’.
An unconventional canvas
At its core, ROLLS explores the similarities between film photography and blockchain. Krugman argues that both act as time chains and work with proof-of-work mechanisms. Essentially, both are record creation systems that rely on decentralized consensus mechanisms to verify relevance and truth.
Developing this concept further, Krugman sees each roll of film as a ‘block’ in a larger chain. “Photographers use a proof-of-work mechanism to ‘mine’ rolls,” he says, “and these rolls together form a decentralized time chain, an immutable record produced by a decentralized community of validators.”
ROLLS starts today on @Super rare with FRAME 1, a 24-hour auction with a reserve of .069 ETH. This project is about the legacy of the photographic medium.
Left, my very first minted work on ETH, Nov 2020.
Right, a portrait my father took of me in ’91 with the exact same camera. pic.twitter.com/trIT8qAHoj
— Dave
(@dave_krugman) August 3, 2023
navigate ROLES
The mechanics of ROLLS are as innovative as the concept. It starts with ten tokens being auctioned sequentially on SuperRare, with each token representing a frame on a roll of film.
Here’s the catch: Krugman sells these tokens for capturing the photos. The artwork on the tokens is just a placeholder.
Once sold, he will shoot the footage with his Mamiya 7ii medium format film camera. The token’s metadata then “develops” and is updated with high-resolution film scans of the captured images.
This approach brings an element of trust to the equation. The collector invests in an idea before it comes to fruition. Krugman likens this process to a two-way challenge.
“This is a space of deep speculation. I wanted to give people a chance to buy into an idea before I even execute it. It adds mystery, intrigue and a two-way challenge. The collector is challenged to trust me and my ideas/process, and I am challenged to create something worthy of that trust and investment.” said Krugman.
“The collector is challenged to trust me and my ideas/process, and I am challenged to deliver art worthy of that trust.”
Dave Krugman
Why sequential auctions and the Mamiya 7ii?
By auctioning tokens sequentially, Krugman believes he can focus on each frame individually and bring in maximum bids. This tactic also generates longtail interest and draws more attention and intrigue to the project.
“By focusing on one frame at a time, all bidders are focused on each frame as they sell. By extending the auctions over ten days, I also benefit from the long-tail interest in the project.” Krugman shared with nft now.
His choice of the Mamiya 7ii for the ROLLS project was based on the camera’s quality and aesthetics. Each roll of ten frames perfectly matches the structure of the project. In addition, the Mamiya 7ii has sentimental value to Krugman, as it was purchased with the profits from his DRIVE project.
The horizon ahead
With sales already exceeding expectations, the success of ROLLS was a confirmation for Krugman of his innovative approach to art. While ROLLS offers countless possibilities, Krugman clarifies that he does not like to place rigid expectations on his art. “It’s just art,” he says.
“What I’m most excited about is that ROLLS is just a scaffolding for so many other ideas. What if I sell an entire ROLL to one collector and then shoot something they ask for? What if I make a roll of portraits and share the proceeds with subjects? What if I use a ROLL to raise money for a cause I care about? The possibilities are truly endless.”
“Supporting my work means supporting my ecosystem – an ecosystem driven by the desire to decouple artists from commercial interests. What is “next” is that I will continue this mission and try my best to add beauty to this world. Krugman shared with nft now.
Dave Krugman’s ROLLS is more than just a project. It is a testimony to the myriad possibilities at the intersection of art and technology, pushing boundaries and challenging conventional narratives.
“What’s ‘next’ is that I will continue this mission and do my best to add beauty to this world.”
Dave Krugman
