Writing / Artist statement

Proof of Work: completion and the reason for signing

A later account reports the completed 35,262 signatures and explains the relation between physical effort and perceived authenticity.

Jack Butcher · 28 May 2024 · 6 selected posts

  1. Please excuse the duplicate plug — swimming upstream against the algorithm, here's the link to the Sotheby's auction for '1 of 1', which includes the digital original and a physical copy of 35,262 signatures, completed over the past few days: https://t.co/bk7NxhIyZ0

  2. Some additional reflection after spending a few dozen hours writing my signature over and over again, on the many ideas that I borrowed:

  3. The most obvious is the parallel to an earlier piece 'NFTs, explained' — which became the genesis of the idea for @checksvv two years later. (https://t.co/kV0R6JY1WF) 'Fungible, non-fungible' employs this contrast to communicate the idea more broadly. (https://t.co/tvDyArWwJR) https://t.co/MwDpDNvLc5

  4. @checksvv @gillesdc So why write my signature 35,262 times? To comment on the perception gap between the authenticity of physical and digital work, and to test the assumption that physical effort or time spent correlates to value. https://t.co/bDQ4b2wTgH

  5. @checksvv @gillesdc The eventual owner of '1 of 1' receives a provably scarce digital original, and a hand authenticated proxy for every official copy that exists (82ft x 3ft ink on Tyvek): https://t.co/gaza4SPCaB https://t.co/Xo7kkixazN

  6. @checksvv @gillesdc Final note — the accompanying physical piece is titled 'Proof of Work' a reference to the repetitive, energy intense process to create it and the chain on which the artwork will live forever. Tyvek is a material commonly used to wrap and transport artwork.

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