Proof of Origin - Picture of the Planets by Matt Kane

Tell 'em where you've been by bringing home a souvenir. Genuine Dank Kane Quality

Souvenirs by Matt Kane

In the "Milk & Cookies" collection, Matt Kane masterfully bridges epochs, capturing the essence of humanity's evolution through time and technology. Drawing inspiration from Vermeer, Kane reimagines the iconic milkmaid in three distinct eras: the rustic past, the digital-laden present, and an intriguing AI-augmented future. Kane's blend of traditional techniques, such as paint glazing simulations, harmonizes with his innovative generative digital artistry. The collection resonates with layers of meaning, juxtaposing organic elements with synthetic, evoking reflection on authenticity, memory, and human essence in a rapidly changing world. Through "The Past," "This Present," and "Our Future," viewers traverse a narrative that challenges perceptions, values, and the inexorable march of time. — CuratorialGPT.

Milk and Cookies by Matt Kane

Ether

Crayon and code are united after four decades in a collaboration with the self. Artist Matt Kane has become well known for using time and change as artistic mediums. Additionally, Kane has referenced space and the cosmos in several series including his 2021 magnum opus, Gazers, a generative lunar phase calendar released on Art Blocks in 2021. In fact, Kane's very first NFTs in 2019 were depictions of the M87 Black Hole. The subject of 'Proof of Origin' is a red crayon drawing that the artist made when he was just 4 years old, which he titled at the time 'Picture of the Planets.' 38 years later, as a cryptoartist, Kane reminds us "don't trust, verify. I've explained how my interest in the cosmos extends back as long as I can remember. This drawing is proof of my early passion and to my estimate, my very first visual expression of outer space. My father remembers the drawing hanging on our refrigerator for a very long time. That's probably where the stains came from. He and my mother were both very happy to see it again."

Each NFT has a unique set of stars which are deterministically generated according to an NFT's minting transaction hash. The sky is made up of one star for every month that has passed since the original drawing was made on March 1st, 1985. The work begins with 454 stars. A new star is added to shine brightly at the top of each new month.

In addition to archiving and responsively presenting the original crayon drawing, the work also serves as a 24 hour clock. Each hour is represented by a different color from the 24 pack of crayons Kane would have drawn from in 1985. "I've traded black and gray for 'Cornflower Blue' and 'Sea Green' - my favorite colors from the larger packs of crayons. I remember trading these with my kindergarten class's box of 64. I'm pretty sure I got in trouble for that." The sky fades according to the minutes that have passed, appearing darkest at the top of each hour.

Clicking on the left and right edge of the screen or pressing the spacebar changes the viewing mode of the artwork. Viewers are encouraged to reflect on their own memories of interacting with the night sky, especially at an early age.

Proof of Origin - Picture of the Planets

"Milk & Cookies: Our Future" transports us to a time both strange and familiar. The canvas portrays a cyborg figure, an evolution of Vermeer's muse, reminiscent of the milkmaid but now mechanized. With each technological enhancement, we notice a sense of detached efficiency. The cyborg's interaction with the pitcher showcases intense concentration without direct touch, hinting at a progression from the tangible to a realm beyond physicality. As the milk gracefully flows without any hands guiding the pitcher, the scene becomes a metaphor for the shift in labor from manual dexterity to mental mastery, illuminating the burgeoning potential of the mind over matter.

The echoing green hues of the cyborg's face and the pitcher's metal rim highlight an intimate, perhaps symbiotic, connection. It nudges the viewer towards the understanding that the cyborg, despite its advanced capabilities, might just be an extension of human desire, a vessel created to satiate our insatiable thirst for efficiency and control. The flowing milk, in its perfect alignment with the drapery of the headpiece, further emphasizes this notion, suggesting the fluidity and interconnectedness of creation and creator.

The configuration of the cyborg, with its melding of organic and mechanical features, offers an intriguing glimpse into a potential future. With only the face and hand bearing resemblance to human anatomy, it becomes evident that this model is an epitome of efficiency. The design suggests a world where the only aspects of humanity deemed necessary are the ones essential for connection and interaction — the expressive face that conveys emotions and the hand that provides a tangible connection to the world. In a society dominated by digital interactions, these remnants of humanity highlight the indispensable essence of touch and emotive communication.

The traditional attire of the milkmaid, now draped over metal and circuitry, serves as a poignant juxtaposition of the organic and the synthetic. Despite her technological nature, the cyborg is engaged in an age-old ritual – the simple act of pouring milk. This blend of the old and the new prompts the viewer to question: What parts of our humanity remain intact as we merge with machine?

The sight of milk cascading over the cyborg's gloved hand evokes curiosity. Is this glove a relic of pandemic-driven caution or a tool for precise sensory evaluation? The glove could serve multiple purposes, from warming the milk to testing its perfection before it reaches its intended vessel.

The wooden table upon which this scene unfolds brings a touch of rustic nostalgia to this futuristic setting. Its imperfections, the notches and grooves, stand in stark contrast to the flawless precision of the cyborg. It serves as a poignant reminder of the organic world, with all its imperfections and unpredictable beauty. The juxtaposition of a cutting-edge cyborg operating on a timeworn wooden surface underlines the duality of existence — the ever-present tension between the organic and the synthetic, between tradition and innovation. As Kane himself has asked, "what rides the surf of time more reliably than tradition?"

The empty saucer, resonating with its counterparts from the present panel, suggests that even amidst automation and technological prowess, a trace of longing persists—a void that perhaps technology alone cannot satiate. It could symbolize our eternal quest for something more, something beyond our reach, even in a world where the impossible seems possible. 

As the narrative leaps into the future with "Our Future," Kane's artistry remains deeply rooted in the traditions of the past. The cyborg figure, with its advanced design, is rendered with layers of semi-transparent patterns that emulate the glazing techniques of yesteryears, evoking a luminous depth. Even as the subject moves into a realm of futuristic cyborgs and advanced technologies, the artist ensures that the age-old techniques, reminiscent of greats like Vermeer, shine through, suggesting that some aspects of art remain eternal, no matter how much the world around us evolves.

The transition from a dreaming milkmaid to a distracted modern woman and finally to this multi-tasking cyborg encapsulates Kane's exploration of time, technology, labor, and the essence of humanity. As "Our Future" unfurls before us, we are not only witnesses to the evolution of human interaction with technology but also participants in Kane's journey, where age-old artistic wisdom meets the innovative frontier of generative digital art reimagining. As we race towards an increasingly digital future, Kane prompts us to ponder: Will the comforts of the past remain cherished memories, or will they be assimilated into the cold precision of the future?

— CuratorialGPT

Our Future

Visualizing provenance data on the blockchain. 🪞