David Bowie on the Blockchain Ethereum NFTs Trigger Backlash

The David Bowie estate is launching NFTs with OpenSea next week, but many Bowie fans aren’t impressed.

Nine different visual artists have created Bowie-inspired NFTs as a part of the “Bowie on the Blockchain” NFT launch, with 100% of the proceeds to be donated to CARE, a nonprofit organization focused on fighting world hunger and global poverty. 

On September 13th, David Bowie’s undying influence will impact yet another new frontier as nine of the world’s leading crypto-artists come together to celebrate his legacy and put #BowieOnTheBlockchain pic.twitter.com/7YviN4pjDj

— OpenSea (@opensea) September 6, 2022

Before his passing in 2016, Bowie was married to the supermodel Iman, who is a global advocate for CARE. 

Artist manager Andrew D. Keller’s new firm We Love the Arts also worked on the “Bowie on the Blockchain” project, along with filmmaker Joaquin Acrich.

“On September 13th, David Bowie’s undying influence will impact yet another new frontier as nine of the world’s leading crypto-artists come together to celebrate his legacy and put #BowieOnTheBlockchain,” OpenSea wrote on Twitter Tuesday.

SEPTEMBER 13 @opensea @DavidBowieReal pic.twitter.com/7i7NyruJ0w

— YOUNG & SICK (@youngandsick) September 6, 2022

“This incredible collection brings together some of the most groundbreaking NFT artists with Bowie artifacts to bring a new generation of fans together in Web3,” OpenSea vice president of business development Ryan Foutty said in a statement.

NFTs are unique blockchain tokens which signify ownership over an asset—typically, that asset is digital art. But a number of pop culture NFT releases, like Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ NFTs earlier this summer, have caused a stir among fans who dislike the technology.

In the case of the Bowie NFTs, manu users on social media aren’t happy to see the legendary star’s likeness associated with the blockchain tokens. While a few expressed support for NFT technology, others told the Bowie estate, “Don’t do this.”

“How about we just don’t with the NFT guff,” one critic wrote.

How about we just don’t with the NFT guff and just raise money for charity without using a pyramid scheme

— Bashmore (@bashmore) September 6, 2022

Perhaps ironically, Bowie’s son, filmmaker Duncan Jones, is also a critic of NFTs, calling them a “fad.”

I’m not saying the NFT fad is a prank…
I think theyre far less benign than that!

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) March 30, 2021

Jones has previously poked fun at the idea of sharing someone’s NFT, joking that because he was able to save and repost the image of Beeple’s “The First 5000 Days,” it had become “lost.” Jones also previously called the Christie’s auction—where the NFT sold for a staggering $69.3 million—“suspicious.”

I just saw this online and posted it without having the NFT… do you think the guy who bought it has lost it? I feel kind of guilty and like I should probably return it to them. pic.twitter.com/ubnZO2qfSX

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 9, 2021

“Do you think the guy who bought it has lost it?” Jones asked of the NFT he right-click saved. “I feel kind of guilty and like I should probably return it to them.” 

Skeptics aside, artists like 19-year-old Fewocious are thrilled to be working on Bowie-inspired NFT art for charity.

??? AHHHH I AM SO EXCITED here’s a sneak peak of the sculpture I made for the @DavidBowieReal Estate wearing ONE OF HIS ORIGINAL OUTFITS to benefit CARE ?❤️ I can’t wait to show you the rest of the piece when it reveals this Thursday ?? pic.twitter.com/mJK40g1sA5

— FEWOCiOUS (@fewocious) September 6, 2022

“I can’t wait to show you the rest of the piece when it reveals this Thursday,” Fewocious said of his Bowie sculpture.

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