AKNEYE physical space by ftNFT immerses visitors in venice during art biennale 2024

‘phygital spaces’ converges sculpture and NFTs

During the Venice Art Biennale 2024, AKNEYE by ftNFT — a stand-alone project — unveils an immersive phygital installation within the historic walls of Ramo de la Tana. Converging the tangibility of sculpture with the digital dimensions of NFTs, AKNEYE Phygital Space curated by Anastasia Dawson becomes a vibrant melting pot of artistic traditions and visions. Artists from Armenia and beyond have reimagined AKNEYE’s surreal eye sculptures through their individual lenses, exhibiting them physically atop motion stand displays or projecting them across LED screens enhanced with hover technology.

all images courtesy of AKNEYE

akneye by ftnft at venice art biennale 2024

AKNEYE, an art initiative by ftNFT bridging traditional art with digital innovation, poses a diverse platform driving artistic collaboration and exploration. AKNEYE Phygital Spaces, developed alongside NFT platform ftNFT, creates an immersive experience that welcomes a new realm of creativity and artistic expression. Throughout the duration of the Venice Art Biennale 2024, running from April 20 to November 24, visitors have the opportunity to witness the creative process first-hand as the artists craft their pieces on-site, each subsequently transformed into NFTs.

AKNEYE by ftNFT

Each artist is presented with an eye-shaped canvas, which they are invited to envelop with their personal narratives. Ukrainian artist Anna Chekh completes her eye sculpture with surreal imagery enlivened by bright colors and gradients, while Lebanese-Armenian painter and sculptor Raffi Yedalian adopts a monochrome palette and an abstract approach.

a phygital installation in the heart of Venice

Vigen Badalyan, founder of AKNEYE, envisions AKNEYE Phygital Space as the future of art, a fluid platform to foster new connections between the artist, the observer, and the medium. For the show’s curator Anastasia Dawson: ‘AKNEYE by ftNFT is a testament to the power of collaboration across cultures and disciplines. It embodies our mission to innovate within the art world while respecting traditional idioms.’

the exhibition is curated by Anastasia Dawson

Exhibiting artists also include Elene Metreveli, Sarko Meené, Natalya Gudovich, Stephany Sanossian, Mako Lomadze, Anahit Margaryan, Roman Reznitsky, Alpha Odh, Satenik Ghulijanyan, Larry Amponsah, Lusine Ginosyan, Ashot Yan, Miroslava Romanova, Ellen Demirian, Lokher, Edmon Harikyan, Gareggin Harutyunyan, Rafayel Narsesyan, and Lidia Russkova-Hasaya.

artists reimagine AKNEYE’s surreal eye sculptures as physical artworks or digital NFTs