TheUpsideSpace – a curator-led NFT marketplace spotlighting art and artists from Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East launched on 8 December.
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| Source: TheUpsideSpace. Bissu by Ben Mulyo Wicaksono (Indonesia). 'Bissu' are people who combine all of the five genders recognised in Bugis culture. |
TheUpsideSpace was conceptualised by entertainer Lisa Ray and accredited antique appraiser Ayesha Khan. “From canvas to pixels, artists have always embraced innovation to allow their practice to evolve. We see NFTs and Blockchain as the tools to deliver breakthrough impact for artistic expression. We also recognise the vital role of community engagement and education.
"TheUpsideSpace welcomes crypto natives and newbies alike. The world is changing, the form is changing but we place creativity at the wheel. For this reason and more, we see nothing but an Upside,” said Ray, Co-Founder of TheUpsideSpace.
According to TheUpsideSpace, curators help to simplify and declutter the NFT art space and present artworks in context, while the medium of NFTs offers solutions to enduring problems in the traditional art systems like royalties, provenance and authenticity. Buyers can connect their existing wallets to the platform, and payment through numerous cryptocurrencies is accepted. Fiat payments through debit and credit card are also accepted.
“Conventional art systems can be opaque, elitist and difficult to navigate, and are long overdue a major shift. At TheUpsideSpace, we believe that removing geographical and physical boundaries for art can evoke high points of human creativity,” said Khan, Co-Founder of TheUpsideSpace.
For each exhibition, curators work with traditional visual artists looking to break into the world of NFT art as well as artists who are already creating NFT art with digital tools. Once an artist has been selected for an exhibition, they will have the opportunity to tap into the knowledge and support of TheUpsideSpace team to assist with conceptualising their pieces as NFTs and entering the Web3 space to propel their work into the global realm, reaching new audiences from around the world.
The opening lineup of curators includes Kelly Dorji of Bhutan; Myna Mukherjee of India; Morrow Collective of UAE; Omar Nabi of Pakistan; Bandana Tewari, who is based out of Bali; and TO NEW ENTITIES of Singapore. They curated exhibitions spanning eight themes, with over 80 artists exploring ideas such as home and belonging, beauty and perception, and the playful divine.
Among the talents tapping into TheUpsideSpace’s educational offering is artist Ranbir Singh Kaleka, who will create and mint his first NFT with TheUpsideSpace. His work can be found in the Singapore Museum; Asia Society New York; and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Also showcasing work is Iraqi-origin artist Halim Al Karim, one of six artists whose work was featured in the Iraqi Pavilion at the 54th Venice Biennale. His work is in the Saatchi Collection in London, L’institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo and the Arab Museum of Contemporary Art in Doha.
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