Quintessence

Skye Nicolas brings forth a collection of 100 digital artworks that undergo his distinctive process of distillation. Masterworks by Cézanne, Renoir, Gauguin, Manet, Seurat, Van Gogh, Degas, Pissarro, and Toulouse-Lautrec are rendered as pixel paintings, inviting the viewer to contemplate intricate and delicate compositional constructs.

As these masterpieces undergo the transformative journey into pixels, a paradox is revealed—one that is both enchantingly accessible and philosophically reflective. This richly vibrant collection resonates with the nostalgia of the artist's childhood, harking back to the 1980s, when he first embarked on explorations of basic computer graphics on early systems like the Apple II. Embracing the limitations of an emulator, these works embody the artist's predilection for utilizing ubiquitous tools in the art production process to thoughtfully explore pertinent topics of appropriation and authorship.

"It is truly a privilege to be living in a time when artists are able to reference, remix, modify, and creatively utilize images of such iconic masterworks—all made possible by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s generous Open Access Policy. The MET’s decision to release these images into the public domain is a step forward in cultivating and encouraging creativity."

– Skye Nicolas

ABOUT THE NFT
Contract address: 0xb8b3b0e420ac16cdc5faeb8a8b0afd26a5a36623
Blockchain: Ethereum
Token standard: ERC-721
Metadata: Frozen and decentralized

ABOUT THE FLOPPY DISK
Collectors may also choose to collect a physical piece, as each pixel painting comes with a still image jpeg and txt file written on a 3.5-inch floppy disk, ready-made, labeled, and signed by the artist.

Collectors who would like to receive the floppy disk: Please get in touch via email (nfts@expanded.art) with your edition number and your address. EXPANDED.ART will send the floppy disk to you in a padded envelope.