NFT artist Robert Alice unites with La Monnaie de Paris

by James · June 8, 2023

The oldest active French institution, La Monnaie de Paris, established on June 25, 864, celebrates its rich history as it embraces the world of blockchain, cryptocurrency and digital art. Renowned NFT artist Robert Alice’s captivating artwork will intertwine with La Monnaie’s extensive collection of coins, medals and financial documents, offering visitors a truly immersive experience.

Dominique Anterion, the head of historical collections at La Monnaie, expresses excitement about the upcoming exhibition, made possible by La Collection, which aims to strengthen the institution’s heritage. Through the fusion of physical and digital art, the exhibition skillfully weaves the narrative of cryptocurrency and blockchain into the century-old history of La Monnaie.

Anterion emphasizes the importance of engaging in conversations about money, a topic that often feels exclusive to specialists despite its ubiquity. This exhibition offers a fresh perspective, inviting visitors to explore the concept of money through the lens of creativity.

London-based artist Robert Alice, recognized for selling the first NFT at a major auction house in October 2020, seeks to democratize blockchain technology through his art. By displaying crypto art within a 1,000-year-old national institution, Alice aims to normalize the perception of cryptocurrencies and NFTs, advocating for decentralization to avoid financial crises.

Amidst the growing prominence of NFT art and new technologies, La Monnaie de Paris is embracing digital initiatives, including the potential creation of its own NFTs. Anterion envisions this as a way to bring their mission full circle, as the institution, known for manufacturing physical tokens for centuries, explores the realm of digital tokens.

By engaging in a dialogue between Alice’s artwork and its own collection, La Monnaie de Paris seeks to establish cryptocurrencies as a worthy component in the annals of economic history. This initiative comes in the wake of the Center Pompidou, a major museum institution, acquiring NFTs, including a CryptoPunk, further demonstrating France’s growing openness to the NFT ecosystem.

With the upcoming exhibition, La Monnaie de Paris invites visitors to embark on a journey through time and technology, offering a fresh perspective on the world of money and its evolving forms.