Today we are presenting our last NFT artist within the Artsted Observatory project in collaboration with VOLTA Art Fairs: SINTETICO / Marco Calzolari.
SINTETICO decided to mint on our platform You: expansion of the self *reworked, a performance we hosted in the spaces of Scalo Lambrate in Milan.
He performed a reworked version of his 2020 project You: expansion of the self, which has never been on stage before.
You: expansion of the self is an experience about the self while the tattooing process takes place. Similarly to sensory deprivation, in which someone’s brain is ideally isolated from external stimuli with the aim of removing distractions, here the individual is invited to be in touch with themselves while watching and listening to the reflections of their own body. Yet, instead of removing perception of surrounding stimuli, the tattooed subject is fed with projections and a soundscape, both generated by their emotional state and by how this changes during the tattooing experience.
In this interview with Marco, the man behind SINTETICO, we will tackle different topics linked with his experience with NFTs and more.
What is your artistic background?
While in high school, in 2014 I was casted as a performer by Collettivo Cinetico for their work “<age>”. In 2018 I graduated from a BA in Industrial Design at Politecnico di Milano, then from a 2-year product design MA at the Royal College of Art in summer 2020. During my design studies I approached tattooing and I began to develop my skills as a self-taught tattoo practitioner. My artistic practice results from the combination of insights and influences I’ve been absorbing from all of these contexts over the years, and this is why I regard it as a sort of fluid matter. Having learned that there’s no utter shape or material to create objects and neither one way only to convey a certain message, I find myself experimenting with multiple means of expression, often applying yet tweaking that design methodology I’ve been taught.
While in London, I realized for the very first time that the things I had considered as side interests until then and what I was studying could actually merge in one art practice.
My artistic practice results from the combination of insights and influences I’ve been absorbing from all of these contexts over the years, and this is why I regard it as a sort of fluid matter. Having learned that there’s no utter shape or material to create objects and neither one way only to convey a certain message, I find myself experimenting with multiple means of expression, often applying yet tweaking that design methodology I’ve been taught.
When did you first hear about NFTs?
I first heard about NFTs at the beginning of Summer 2020, when Dan Barkle - a very cool graphic designer I follow on instagram - started posting about an upcoming release of printed garments he was still working on at the time. The items were on auction on Foundation and could be freely traded and redeemed. I read the articles and started playing around with the platform until after Christmas when Foundation shifted from redeemable NFTs to digital art pièces uniques.
What are the perks of working with new technologies for artists like you?
Overall, experimenting with new technologies potentially opens up new possibilities. However, I believe that understanding and sometimes also mastering them is what really makes the difference.
My practice focuses on the exploration of human consciousness through the establishment of processes, experiences and installations, conceived to invite the audience to listen, reflect, introspect. I’m particularly interested in the concept of "self", regarded as the individual unit which dwells in the human body and interacts with other selves through their bodily interfaces. In this sense, I welcome and I strive to test new ways for augmenting perception, for facilitating the interaction between the visitors and the work, for letting the public immerse into a certain state.
I welcome and I strive to test new ways for augmenting perception, for facilitating the interaction between the visitors and the work, for letting the public immerse into a certain state.
How did NFTs change your perception of digital art?
To be honest, I’m still trying to fully figure out all the positive and negative aspects as well as the potential and limits of NFTs as a means of expression and distribution of art. I’ve seen plenty of common people jumping on it without even questioning it, allured by its newness and influenced by the “FOMO”, together with popular creators recycling random stuff from their HDDs or SSDs and minting it just to participate. Among the spam, I’ve also noticed some long-time digital artists being finally recognized for their efforts and work thanks to the blockchain technology. One thing I believe is that NFTs have been transforming our perception of ownership and distribution of digital contents, and so their fruition. Certificating the artificial uniqueness and the consequent value of a piece - whether this be a file or an artifact - NFTs may be bridging the gap between physical and digital art.
Among the spam, I’ve also noticed some long-time digital artists being finally recognized for their efforts and work thanks to the blockchain technology.
What are your future projects in digital art or beyond?
I’m thinking about collaborating with a few sound artists and engineers to develop something audiovisual, like an immersive environment or a participated performance.
