León Gallery, UnionBank team up for talk on convergence of traditional and NFT art

Filipino NFT artist Jose Antonio Reyes and UnionBank’s Digital Asset Markets Unit to lead discussions

The merging of traditional art and non-fungible token (NFT) art has undoubtedly unlocked new possibilities for artists and collectors today. However, with NFT technology being relatively new especially in the Philippines, many are still wondering what this is and are trying to understand the technology. Such a scenario may be preventing the full realization of its potential to revolutionize art.

To address this, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) and León Gallery have collaborated for a discussion to facilitate timely and relevant conversations on NFT art. Focus will be the convergence of the traditional and NFT art spaces and how artists and collectors can navigate the emerging landscape much easier.

The talk is part of an exhibit by Filipino abstract artist Jose Antonio Reyes, a.k.a. JAR, whose previous NFT art collection ‘JAR Heads’ on the Cardano Network was a success. It generated over 1 million in ADA sales in the secondary market within a span of six months. The exhibition is being hosted by León Gallery with the participation of UnionBank's Digital Asset Markets Unit (DAMU).

Reyes together with key experts from DAMU will discuss NFT art and cryptocurrencies, and where these converge with traditional art. UnionBank will also talk about possible channels to enter the NFT space, including its very own Virtual Asset Over-the-Counter service, which allows customers to fund their crypto wallets in order to buy and sell NFT art.

"Through this event, we want to educate people on the developing convergence of traditional art and NFT art," said RJ Dela Cruz, UnionBank Head of DAMU. "It is not uncommon to have traditional artists transition into the world of NFT art, but it is rare for a traditional artist to have a successful project. JAR is an example of the latter, and him coming from the local scene is definitely something worth paying attention to."

León Gallery is an auction house based in Makati City that specializes in art, antiques, and collectibles. Founded in 2010, the gallery offers "historically important and museum-quality Philippine art" and is considered one of the most prestigious auction firms in the country.

Smart brings you the most exquisite Filipino contemporary art at ALT Philippines 2020

After a multitude of reimagined experiences it has brought to its customers, Smart Signature now dares consumers to reimagine the way they see local art. Introducing ALT Philippines 2020, a first-of-its-kind collaborative project among 10 galleries in Manila that aims to not only showcase contemporary Filipino art, but also to reframe the notion of the art show itself.

The landmark art event, which will be held at the SMX Convention Center at SM Aura on February 13 to 16, brings together galleries Artinformal, Blanc, Finale Art File, Galleria Duemila, MO_Space, The Drawing Room, Underground, Vinyl on Vinyl, West Gallery, and 1335 Mabini. This epic collaboration will result in a showcase of over 150 leading contemporary Filipino artists, in a groundbreaking and dynamic way that involves the immersion of viewers and the engagement of artists and professionals.

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Amongst the anticipated highlights at ALT Philippines 2020, is the digital art wall that will be brought to life by artist Derek Tumala. “Derek’s work in collaboration with Smart is a coming together of art and technology. His “Pure Impermanence” 10-channel video in portrait orientation mirrors how we view images on our mobile phones. It represents the endless cycle of experience and image-making through a network of fleeting connections,” according to a statement released by ALT Philippines 2020.

Reimagine the way you see art

Smart subscribers will have the opportunity to freely reimagine the way they see art, as they can avail of exclusive passes to ALT Philippines 2020 as part of the elevated customer experience that Smart provides its valued customers.

With Smart Signature Plans, subscribers can also enjoy the best postpaid and overall experience. Smart Signature affords for its subscribers the capacity to live the life they want because their passions are supported by Smart Signature's bigger data allocation and Smart LTE, the undisputed fastest mobile network in the country, as awarded by third-party organizations such as Ookla, OpenSignal, Tutela, and P3 in their respective crowdsource-based studies on mobile internet services in the Philippines.

But Smart doesn’t stop with data and network speed that customers deserve. Smart also serves perks and privileges to its subscribers, in this case, the levelled-up Signature lifestyle that allows loyal customers to pursue their love for art by getting free tickets and ticket discounts to ALT 2020 Philippines.

To score tickets and discounts to ALT 2020, Smart Postpaid subscribers may submit their entries by answering the question, “What are you looking forward to the most at ALT 2020?” Just go to the comment’s section of Smart’s ALT 2020 ticket giveaway post on Facebook and include the hashtag #SmartALTPH2020.

For more levelled-up love-for-art experiences, follow Smart on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications or @ReimaginePH on Instagram. Keep tabs on the hashtags #Reimagine and #SmartALTPH2020 for more updates as well as ALT Philippines on social media at Alt Philippines on Facebook and @altphilippines on Instagram.

Click on the link for additional event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/222715622076541.