CURATION

It’s easy to conflate the roles of various digital venues under the umbrella term “platform.” However, at ikigAI Labs XYZ, we see ourselves not just as another platform, but rather as a curator of digital art.

The Saturation of Platforms

When you think of a platform in the crypto-art space, your mind likely jumps to an online marketplace where digital art is bought and sold. This association is not unfounded; platforms like Art Blocks, Foundation, and Magic Eden have established themselves as primary and secondary markets for blockchain art. Yet, with the proliferation of such platforms, there’s a growing sense of fatigue among collectors. The market is inundated with numerous venues offering similar services, leading to what we can call "platform fatigue." This phenomenon is particularly prevalent in the Ethereum ecosystem but is also beginning to manifest in the Bitcoin Ordinals scene.

The Role of Curatorship

Unlike traditional platforms that primarily serve as transactional venues, our role as a curator goes beyond mere facilitation of sales. Curatorship implies a deliberate and thoughtful selection process, an engagement with the art that considers context, quality, and impact. While every platform inevitably exercises some form of curation—be it through moderation, the choice of supported tools, or community curation—our approach is more holistic and nuanced.

Avoiding Collector Exhaustion

Collector exhaustion stems from the repetitive nature of the offerings across various platforms. When every venue presents onchain art without substantial differentiation, the unique value proposition gets lost. At ikigAI Labs XYZ, we aim to mitigate this by focusing on the context and the story behind each piece of art. Our curatorial practice involves not just the art itself but the narrative that surrounds it, the community it engages with, and the innovations it brings to the table.

Ikigai’s Unique Positioning

Our position as a curator is strengthened by our commitment to innovation and differentiation. We recognize that scalability in the art market does not equate to a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we embrace the uniqueness of each project, often undertaking custom technical work to ensure that the vision of the artists we work with is fully realized.

The Value of Contextualization

The essence of curatorship lies in contextualizing ideas. Whether it’s by tapping into specific communities, implementing novel technical tools, or blending physical and digital experiences, our goal is to convey a sense of importance and relevance that transcends the initial market release. The art we present is not just a product to be sold but a narrative to be experienced, a connection to be made, and a piece of a larger cultural dialogue.

Long-Term Vision

Our long-term vision is to sustain and nurture the digital art ecosystem by continually providing fresh and meaningful experiences. This involves maintaining a dynamic approach to curatorship, where we constantly adapt and innovate to meet the evolving needs of artists and collectors. The novelty of our platform may wear off, but the enduring value lies in our commitment to quality, context, and community.

While many digital venues in the blockchain art space may be accurately described as platforms, at ikigAI Labs XYZ, we pride ourselves on being curators. This role involves a deeper engagement with the art, a commitment to storytelling, and a focus on providing unique and contextualized experiences.