Art becomes a weird thing during times of economic uncertainty because on one hand, when times get tough, the art budget is usually the first to go.

On the other hand, the hard times itself creates demand for escapism and understanding - which is what the medium itself provides.

The demand for art remains the same. The *types* of art that gets popular changes. You can see society's changing priorities the most clearly by looking at the art of its time.

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[AI Summary]

The NFT space is facing a "Great Depression" moment, with hype cycles dead and markets down. But history shows tough times don't kill art—they transform it. Here’s the shift we’re entering:

From Speculative Asset to Cultural Tool: The VC-funded bubble is over. Projects like Cryptopunks, with little utility beyond status, are losing relevance. The future isn't about flipping JPEGs; it's about using NFTs for what they're good for: verification, access, and preserving culture.

Aesthetic Shift: Darker & More Authentic: Just as Romanticism gave way to darker Modernism pre-WWI, NFT art is reflecting our sobering reality. Look at chains like Tezos: the art is grittier, more direct, and less commodified. This isn't a bug; it's the market correcting towards truth.

The Real Opportunity: Public & Community Utility: The next cycle belongs to builders, not speculators. NFTs will find legitimacy in public sector use (e.g., preserving historical sites) and deep community projects (like Teia's artist-run DAO). This is a return to crypto's "power to the people" roots—decentralization as a tool for transparency and collective ownership, not just get-rich-quick schemes.

Bottom Line: The downturn is a necessary purge. The cheap money is gone. Now, we build the infrastructure for the next era: one where NFTs serve as records, keys to experiences, and the backbone of a new, authentic digital culture. The art that survives will tell the truth about our times.

#NFTs #web3 #cryptoart #Tezos #bearmarket

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teia.cafe | Decentralized Radio
teia.art | Arts Collective on Tezos
teia.art/ryangtanaka | Ryan's Music and Artworks


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