[Air-L] CfP: Oxford Blockchain, Art & Technology Conference

[Fabienne Saurer]

OxBAT 2022

[Oxford Blockchain, Art & Technology Conference]

Blockchain Art and NFTs: Spreading the Wings of Encounter


Call for Papers

NFTs represent the democratic ideals of blockchain technology and its introduction of a system based on decentralised power while the blockchain itself offers an additional novel medium for blockchain-native art. However, the recent explosion of NFTs has led to much controversy in public, ranging from admiration to astonishment and condemnation, and the intensity of the industry’s commercial success has eclipsed its aesthetic, creative and social potential.

The inaugural Oxford Blockchain, Art, and Technology (OxBAT) conference will be held on 26–28 September, 2022 at the University of Oxford. As the first multi-disciplinary conference on the aesthetic, social, and philosophical perspective on blockchain art, it will bring together art historians, artists, social scientists, curators, blockchain developers, and more in an open forum. The focus will be on encouraging interaction and networking between those interested in studying or working in this space.

We are currently seeking submissions for proposed talks from any of the aforementioned fields. We will accept submissions from anyone with or without an academic/institutional affiliation as long as academic standards are met, as the aim of the conference is to bring together researchers and industry professionals. We welcome critical perspectives on blockchain technology and NFTs.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

[ART] NFTs / programmable art / blockchain as a medium

  *   Aesthetics

  *   Programmable art; intersections between code and image

  *   Blockchain as an artistic medium

  *   Generative art, AI art

  *   Seriality, scarcity, rarity, gambling

  *   Valuation (monetary and artistic)

  *   Art versus collectibles

  *   Anti-NFTs

  *   Historical perspectives on art and technology



[INDUSTRY] production / market / curation / community

  *   Collector’s perspectives

  *   Role of ‘traditional’ galleries and museums

  *   Curatorial models

  *   Online communities

  *   Economics

  *   DAOs

  *   Practicality (short talks about experience)


[IMPACT] intersections between art / technology / society

  *   Utopian vision of blockchain technology / web3 / internet art

  *   Internet and Web3 culture

  *   Inclusivity, equity, democracy

  *   Climate change and energy

  *   Technology (Software, design, marketplaces, possibilities and limitations)

  *   Digital assets and society


Proposals for presentations must be submitted by 8 July, and should consist of a title and abstract of no more than 250 words. Speakers may present about their academic research, professional experience, or an artistic project. All abstracts will be subjected to anonymous peer review. If accepted, authors may choose to present in-person or virtually. Presentations may take the form of a short talk (15 minutes), or a poster. Some speakers may be allocated to roundtable discussions to facilitate interaction between speakers.


All proposals may be submitted here:

https://oxbat.web.ox.ac.uk/


Any questions can be directed to oxbat.conference at gmail.com<mailto:oxbat.conference at gmail.com>