As human interaction became scarce and precious during the pandemic, we relied on mundane and precious memories and moments with our loved ones. Dawes embraces such moments by recreating them into datasets, algorithms, and data visualisations and incorporating memories that are personal to the artist but also universally enjoyed. The master NFT is the only moving piece available for purchase, and encompasses three memories.
One such memory is sitting on the edge of a building in Soho, New York, in 2001, eating pizza with his friend and designer Hillman Curtis, who changed his life when Dawes moved to New York City to work for him. The work's aesthetics captures the bustling colours of heavy New York traffic and other sensations Dawes experienced whilst watching life go by in this memory.
The second work takes inspiration from Dawes' late-night experiences of watching classic films with his father, who ignited his passion for movies, making it an important reference point in much of the artist's work to date. The colour profiles are incorporated from black and white Alfred Hitchcock films.
Finally, the third work in the show reflects Dawes' love for simply sitting on a park bench with his wife Lisa. Specific elements of this pastime that resonate with the artist include people-watching, and taking in the sights and sounds of the surroundings. The inspirations that shaped this work came from images taken by the couple, from their favourite park bench.