Brendan Murphy Unveils Bitcoin ‘Spacemen’ Art Collection through NFTs
Renowned artist Brendan Murphy has ventured into the realm of the Bitcoin blockchain with the launch of his latest collection, “Frozen With Desire,” utilizing the Ordinals protocol. This collection comprises 3,100 Bitcoin Ordinal inscriptions showcasing illustrations of “Bitcoin Spacemen,” inspired by Murphy’s physical sculpture, “Frozen With Desire.”
The centerpiece of this collection is the four-foot-tall “Frozen With Desire” astronaut sculpture, adorned with 6,200 diamonds totaling 517 carats, responsibly sourced, and previously listed at Saks Fifth Avenue for $25 million in 2021. This new project follows Murphy’s earlier “Boonji Project,” an assortment of 11,111 distinctive NFTs that debuted on the Ethereum blockchain in 2021.
Scheduled for release on July 18, the Bitcoin Ordinals Frozen With Desire (FWD) launch will occur on the Magic Eden marketplace, offering each inscription for 0.00144 BTC, approximately $92 at the current time.
Murphy expressed his enthusiasm for pioneering the Bitcoin Ordinals space, emphasizing the opportunity it presents for artists to engage with a fresh audience and forge new connections. The FWD inscriptions on the Bitcoin blockchain will be numbered from 72,221,454 to 72,226,059, with owners gaining access to a digital 3D rendition of the real-world statue, meticulously scanned to capture every detail, including the diamonds and fittings.
SpaceCat, the pseudonymous project team lead, highlighted the significance of documenting one of the world’s most expensive pieces on one of the most robust blockchains. The broader art industry has witnessed a shift in perception towards digital art in recent years, with galleries increasingly open to showcasing digital artworks physically.
For each spaceman minted, owners can claim one of the 3,100 3D FWD Bitcoin Ordinals, with the unique opportunity to redeem their Ordinal for a physical piece of fine art from Brendan Murphy at his global gallery locations in the upcoming summer. The FWD 3D Ordinal holders will also receive exclusive access to Ordia, a new application enabling them to participate in shaping the future of the physical Frozen With Desire sculpture.
Despite the spacemen imagery in the collection, Murphy clarified that the essence of the artwork is not about space exploration but rather conveys positive energy derived from creativity, religion, and the emotional and inner experience of someone leaping out of a spaceship. This progression from Boonji to FWD and Bitcoin Ordinals aims to maintain a vibrant and iconic space within Web3.
Edited by Ryan Ozawa.
