The artist Beeple donated an NFT work to the Castello di Rivoli contemporary art museum in Turin, deemed too rude for YouTube.
Beeple’s work FTX BOARD MEETING, DAY #5676 13.11.2022 (2023) shows an orgy scene in an office. When Castello di Rivoli attempted to show this work on its YouTube channel, it was censored by YouTube due to its rules against showing nudity, a statement from the museum says. YouTube did not respond to a request for comment.
The offered work consists of an NFT (non-fungible token) – comprising a digital image in a unique edition recorded with blockchain technology – and a physical component (a large oil painting on canvas). The subject of the article is entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried who is due to stand trial in October for the collapse of his crypto exchange FTX late last year.
Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, director of the Castello di Rivoli, said in a statement: “Beeple questions the technology and the society that develops in relation to this technology, even if it uses its system and its structures. For me, Beeple is interesting as an artist in the same way as Andy Warhol: both criticize the societies in which they are part … The apparently pornographic image of Beeple also points to the childish, immature and narcissistic nature of the world digital. It is important that such art is not censored by social media companies and their algorithms.
The uncensored version of Mike Winkelmann (Beeple) FTX BOARD MEETING, DAY #5676 13.11.2022
Bankman-Fried was a proponent of a philanthropic model called “effective altruism.” Last month, a New York court ruled that he should face the full slew of criminal charges against him relating to FTX.
According Reuters, Prosecutors have accused Bankman-Fried of stealing billions of dollars in funds from FTX clients to make up for losses at his hedge fund Alameda Research. They also accused Bankman-Fried of misleading investors and illegally contributing to US political campaigns on behalf of colleagues. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. Last month, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York agreed to come back donations totaling over half a million dollars he received from FTX.
In 2021, Beeple (real name Mike Winkelmann), sold a record NFT at Christie’s for $69.3 million (Daily: first 5,000 days, 2021). Before the pandemic, he worked as a graphic designer and animator, creating concert visuals for performing artists such as Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj.
