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Alicja Kwade
Alicja Kwade - Selbstportrait
NFT
Unlockable reward
Description

Kwade's debut NFT collection exemplifies the artist’s continued investigation into the self, which culminated in her recent exhibition "In Abwesenheit" (In Absence) at Berlinische Galerie, Berlin, Germany. For this show, the artist printed her entire genome on 259.025 A4 sheets of paper. Whilst 99,9% of all human DNA is identical, Kwade highlighted her individual and unique profile in bold text. With approximately 12,000 sheets hung floor-to-ceiling and the remainder being placed in copper containers, the artist invited the public to take a piece of her home.

Alicja Kwade says: "Starting with the exhibition at Berlinische Galerie, I wished to globally spread my DNA in virtual form, whereby using blockchain technology seemed a logical progression.”

Every piece in Alicja Kwade - Selbstportrait, 2020 is a unique digital work, randomised at point of sale. Minted onto 25 pages, it each consists of approximately 300,000 letters of Kwade’s DNA, an amount that corresponds with the size of many human genes. In addition to receiving the digital file, a PDF can be downloaded from the Verisart certificate, allowing the buyer to print each individual A4-sheet. Accordingly, Kwade’s Selbstportrait, 2020 explores the boundaries between digital NFT and physical artwork.

Details
Production year
2020
Object type
NFT
Edition
Edition 1/10361
Dimensions
10298 × 7284 px
Asset type
PNG
Minted on
Verisart Custom Contract
Blockchain
Ethereum
Contract address
Token ID
Certificate of Authenticity
Our patented certificates are designed to evolve over time, unlike paper certificates. All changes to the certificate are registered on the blockchain, proving a clear and trusted timeline of the certificate’s evolution.
Verified issuer
Creator authorized
Physical link
Created by
Alicja Kwade, 1979
Signed by
Certificate Signature
Issued by
König Galerie
Owned by
Private
History
Unclaimed
Nov 25 2024 10:42:40 UTC
Authorized edit
Apr 28 2022 20:52:19 UTC
Transferred
Apr 27 2022 21:14:52 UTC
Created
Apr 27 2022 21:14:48 UTC
Traits
Variants: 0103
A = Adenine: 068437
C = Cytosine: 051701
G = Guanine: 049889
T = Thymine: 062331
N = not identified: 060000
R = A/G: 000018
Y = C/T: 000009
W = A/T: 000002
S = G/C: 000006
K = G/T: 000004
M = A/C: 000003
artist: Alicja Kwade
tag: VerisartCertified
year created: 2020
Notes
Notes from Creator
The human genome (DNA code of a person) consists of the 4 biochemical molecules Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine and Thymine. An individual inherits one genome copy from the father and one from the mother - altogether 2x 3.2 billion molecules arranged in 2x 23 chromosomes. Although the vast majority of the genome - roughly 99% - is identical in all humans, there are a few million variations and mutations spread across each genome. The combination of these variations are unique to an individual leading to ones anatomical morphology and all other individual properties. The NFTs representing Alicja Kwade's genome show these variations compared to a reference sequence as bold letters. New variations and those inherited from her parents are visible. Because of the high conformity, Kwade's two parental DNA sequences are combined to one, showing 3.2 billion molecules. Therefore, an additional code is needed to reveal positions in the code where the artist inherited different DNA variations from mother and father. The so called "IUPAC ambiguity codes for nucleotide degeneracy" is an international standard to describe DNA variations. The code letters present in the sequence are: R= A/G K= G/T S= G/C Y= C/T M= A/C W= A/T N= any molecule - parts of the DNA which are not uncovered yet by the Human Genome Project