Bitcoin’s biggest attraction to artists is its mystery

When it comes to Bitcoin as a currency, word of mouth has always been its most useful thing.

Bitcoin’s journey from obscurity on the internet to the interest of financial giants has been a long one, born from enthusiastic users who were willing to discuss its benefits with their friends, who in turn became interested in the idea of ​​Bitcoin itself and began to explore the currency itself.

Bitcoin, because of its peer-to-peer design, is becoming increasingly prosperous.

Thanks to this virality, discussions about digital currencies have spread around the world, and Bitcoin (and blockchain) have attracted a wide range of artists, including rappers Nas and 50 Cent, who have publicly expressed their love for Bitcoin.

Perhaps it’s not surprising that artists have always had something quirky when it comes to fringe and emerging ideas, and Bitcoin itself is peculiar.

But what makes such a group fall in love with Bitcoin?

After interviewing several artists, we found that these artists are attracted by the mystique of Bitcoin, but so far, this interest has not prompted these artists to use Bitcoin.

The Importance of Connection

Lindsey Nobel, Poesy Liang, and Karen Zahray are three artists who all learned about Bitcoin in the same way (through positive word of mouth).

From a geographical perspective, the three artists come from different points around the world, from Los Angeles to Malaysia and then to New York City. From an artistic style perspective, their works are very different. However, what they have in common is that each artist firmly believes in the future of Bitcoin.

“I was visiting an art collector on Wall Street, and he told me about Bitcoin,” Nobel, a California-based multimedia artist, recalled.

“I see the world as one, not as separate things, and although there are boundaries between us, (humanity) is slowly coming together,” she said.

For Nobel's work, she created a series of drawings of neurons, using dots, lines and water droplets to represent the nervous system and the transmission signals within the body.

“These connections just show how everything works,” she commented.

The network is alive like the human body, she said, and the idea of ​​money moving quickly from one place to another is similar to the rapid transmission of the nervous system - in the case of Bitcoin, the digital currency being transferred from one party to another.

She said:

“Artists have always been very interested in trading. I think it’s a fascinating way to move money. It’s faster, it’s far more interesting than banks. And as an international currency, Bitcoin also brings us closer to a global community.”

Liang, who specializes in different fields including jewelry, fashion design and writing, also talked about her first experience of Bitcoin. "I was surrounded by many entrepreneurs and startups, and people were talking about Bitcoin, so I took notice," Liang said.

Liang now accepts Bitcoin as a payment method for her work, and her work is not limited to a single medium or format. Her cat paintings are cute and colorful, and her Chinese calligraphy is also a delight to the eye.

“Looking at everything I do, it all contributes to the big picture,” she said.

Big picture believers

According to interviews, Bitcoin may provide artists with an element of privacy that is lacking in other aspects of their lives.

Zahray began exploring Bitcoin when she was invited to participate in an art show about money in Brooklyn organized by a community of female artists.

Her work also became the finale of the exhibition. This watercolor painting titled "The Mystery of Value" has the Bitcoin logo in the middle of its frame. This work can also be purchased with Bitcoin.

Zahray said she was attracted to Bitcoin because of its mystique.

“The mystery of Bitcoin is what initially interested me. I think people might see it as something mysterious, but it’s so relevant to our lives today. Everything that happens on the Internet is hard to keep private because everything is connected,” she said.

For an artist, a social media presence can help spread their name to a wider audience.

Liang takes photos of her various works and uploads them to her personal Facebook page, a social tool that has earned her 3,000 followers.

Nobel commented:

"In the past, we often didn't want fanatics to disturb our lives, but now you need to do something to make people follow you, even if you don't know who they are. Now everyone can judge whether my work is good or bad."

For Liang, she believes that more merchants will accept Bitcoin in the future, especially those who already have an online sales platform.

“The best way to learn about Bitcoin is to get involved with it,” she said.

While all three artists have developed an interest in Bitcoin, only Nobel currently considers himself an active user of the currency.

Zahray has only recently started looking into Bitcoin, but she has yet to use it herself. She has set up a wallet and plans to buy some coins to put in the wallet.

“If the opportunity arose, I would absolutely use Bitcoin,” she said.

“I’m not active yet, but I’d love to use it,” Liang commented.

For Nobel, the main purpose of using Bitcoin is to increase the overall strength of the Bitcoin network. "I hope to recommend Bitcoin to more artists, and I am also trying to get more art collectors involved," she said.

Original article: http://www.coindesk.com/art-bitcoin-inspiration-personal-finance/
By Emily Faber
Compilation: Overnight porridge
Source (translation): Babbitt Information (http://www.8btc.com/art-bitcoin)