beeple's wandering digital astronaut lands in the US for its debut in an american museum

Beeple’s kinetic sculpture in the us for the first time

After successful exhibitions at M+ in Hong Kong (see designboom’s coverage here) and Castello di Rivoli in Italy, Beeple’s digital artwork, HUMAN ONE, now arrives in the US for its debut in an American museum. From July 28, 2023, to January 2024, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art hosts the exhibit, showcasing a generative video and a 3D sculptural astronaut, narrating humankind’s initial ventures into the Metaverse. HUMAN ONE invites visitors to explore ever-changing virtual landscapes, prompting them to contemplate and observe the intricate worlds they traverse.

‘As the first U.S. institution to show HUMAN ONE, we’re thrilled for our guests to experience this disruptive, groundbreaking work by Beeple,’ shares Xuxa Rodríguez, PhD, associate curator of contemporary art at Crystal Bridges. ‘He’s charting new territory for art creation by combining a virtual and physical existence – a metaphor for human progress. Showcasing self-taught and digital artists and time-based media is a complete alignment with our mission to expand definitions of and access to American art for all.’

Beeple and HUMAN ONE (2021) | all images courtesy M+, Hong Kong

HUMAN ONE: A Journey Through Ever-Changing Landscapes

Comprising four mesmerizing 16K resolution video screens, the kinetic sculpture HUMAN ONE remains in perpetual motion, capturing the imagination of every visitor. As viewers digitally traverse the captivating landscapes, they encounter a blend of familiar terrains like alpine mountains, as well as imaginative vistas inspired by pop culture references. The artwork’s immersive form allows individuals to envision themselves walking into these scenes, becoming part of the everlasting search for new horizons.

The lighting of the environment within the structure changes in response to the time of day, while scenic updates will be made remotely by Beeple (find more here), who has committed to making these changes for the rest of his life, every time the work is installed in a new location.

Beeple has committed to making changes to HUMAN ONE for the rest of his life

‘HUMAN ONE taps into the full potential of digital art because it has the unique ability to dynamically change over time,’ says Beeple. ‘This is something that has never been done before. A traditional work of art is more akin to a finite statement, frozen in time at the moment it was completed. But because this piece has the capacity to be updated, it will be more akin to an ongoing conversation I can continue to add new meaning to over time.’

‘We’re deeply honored to collaborate with Crystal Bridges for the debut of HUMAN ONE,’ mentions Ryan Zurrer, lender and founder of digital art collector’s club 1OF1 (find more here).‘The museum’s visitors will have the opportunity to celebrate one of the defining American artists of the digital age, while witnessing this progressive work evolve right before their eyes. Audiences will be captivated by the remarkable detail and innovative mixture of technology and craft that makes Beeple such a renowned artist.’

Emblematic of the twenty-first century and its relationship to digital technologies, HUMAN ONE is also linked to a non-fungible token (NFT), that lives in an online decentralized ledger. Beeple invites visitors to search for clues hidden within the artwork that will help them unlock new NFTs.

the artwork is comprised of four 16K resolution video screens