Doxxed or anon?
Doxxed, I hadn’t really even appreciated the concept of web3 anonymity when I first registered my username on Discord. From that point on it was fairly pointless pretending to be anything other than just… me. Albeit most people still call me ‘Smith’, ha, not that i am anal about that or anything….
What’s the story behind your favourite NFT?
Has to be DHC. I have a few other cool ones now that I really like, but nothing that I imagine I will ever connect with to the level I have with my Tenders. This is, in part, due to it representing my first venture into this space, and the tool through which I learnt everything I now know. However far greater than that, is the Heni/DH community, and really feeling a part of that. It’s been called ‘home’ by many in terms of their Discord usage, and I can completely understand and relate to that view.
If money were no object, which NFT would you buy?
I would likely try and pick up a Cryptopunk, I like what they represent in terms of history (in a space where that term is thrown around too often) and how they are a little more ‘cultured’ than a few of the other top tier projects. That said I also have a grail one word Tender that would give the Punk a decent run for its money, if i really could only pick one.
How did you get into the NFT space?
It was a reluctant journey. I was cynical and had little time for the concept of digital art counting as art in its own right. Like many others I bought in through the Hirst project with every intention of exchanging for his physical painting as soon as I could. That time frame then extended whilst I enjoyed the earlier months of the community building up, and frankly culminated in a wallet full of jpegs and a DHC that will soon be burnt on a fire by the artist. Leaving only the NFT as a trace it ever existed. Something I would have taken to the streets to protest against just 18 months ago.
How much time do you spend in Web3 on an average day?
I do have a day job, and yes I spend too long in Web3. I am lucky to primarily work from home so for the most part I can do both concurrently. That said, there have been times where the balance has gotten out of kilter and Discord in particular has had to be removed from the Mac. One unintended side effect is I now work longer hours trying to squeeze the best of both worlds into my day.
How did you come into The Heni community and what interests you most?
As an art collector I was always aware of Heni and the quality of their work. The community itself is far bigger than that. I enjoy the deeper conversations on the art itself, and the future potential for utilising technology. That said, I also love the fact that it is so supportive of its members (primarily by the members themselves), it is really well moderated, and there is someone chatting on there 24 7, whether that is messing around or sharing opinions that really make you think.
What’s the play? DHC? GE? MAD C? EMPRESSES? PHYSICAL ART?
Damn, that is a tough question. I feel at the moment Heni/DH are experimenting. Deeds, NFT to Physical exchanges, personal edition control, etc. This stuff really interests me and I am as interested as they (probably) are in how the owners react when facing these new options in front of them. I loved seeing the GE prints, they looked amazing, and I really do think the Empresses are underrated and undervalued. That said I am 100% convinced the most interesting things long term will all be linked back to DHC, we are just beginning to see that as we close out phase 1. The play for me is to own a few, keep my options open.
What would you like to see most as Heni and its NFT business evolves?
I would love to see more member involvement, an advisory board to just bounce ideas off or even more openness on ‘potential plans’ but I do understand why that is a path they have avoided so far. And ultimately it is always going to be the artists decision when plans are related to the art directly.
That said, the most exciting thing for me is what comes next for Heni, outside of the DH ecosystem. I know it will be a great artist and I hope the project itself if/when it comes is something that can further expand the community beyond what it already is, in the same way that DHC did so brilliantly.
Have you created any Art? Would you care to share?
Not really, not that anyone else would consider art, and 100% no.
Any tips on finding incredible NFTS or NFT Artists/Projects?
I tend to limit myself to Twitter and Discord, and then trade on OS or LR. My decisions to buy are primarily emotional reactions to projects or pieces that I like, and would have bought if they were in physical form. And my decisions as to when to sell things are primarily… wrong.
What is your fave piece of Art?
I have lots of art. Right now my Tender is my favourite piece as its so new but beside that I have a Charming Baker print (‘Study for a portrait of an unknown woman’) that I have always just loved. It’s not the most expensive thing, or the most accessible (albeit it looks simple on first sighting), I have just always loved it. Here it is:
Fave Trad Artist?
Fave NFT Artist?
Damien Hirst (although even i accept i am pushing the definition there by defining DH as an NFT artist)
Fave band, musician or song?
Bruce Springsteen. Love way too many of his songs to pick just one.
Fave book of all time?
Cormac McCarthy, The Road. I read it not long after having my son and it just broke my heart. I actually finished it on the train coming home from a football match at Fratton Park one night. Found myself sat there, surrounded by football fans from Pompey, crying my eyes out. They were quite confused, especially as we had actually won that particular match.
Best Web3 Meme?
I am not a big meme person. However I did love the regular usage of Elmo during the burning phase of DHC.
What project other than The Currency currently excites you most?
I like what Frank Stella has done with the Geometries through Arsnl, and I like the drops that Goda and GM studios have been doing. Only time will tell if they are good investments but I certainly don’t mind holding those as art at the moment. Also a few artists I collect in real life like Obey I keep a close eye on, I think he has a good team for example and over time is getting things right.
Who has inspired you in NFTS/WEB3 to date?
I have a great group of people from Web3 that I would now class as friends tbh, and the vast majority via the Heni community. I was really struck at the Hirst preview that, whereas pretty much every art show I have been to has been a reasonably personal event (go on my own, or with a couple of friends, grab some free drinks, check out the show, move on), that one was more like a reunion of sorts. A really sociable event where I knew of, or knew directly, a huge number of people. It was a great feeling and I really enjoyed that side of it.
What has been the absolute highlight of your experience with NFTS/WEB3 to date?
I have several. Amazing trades that paid off, some great merch, the Damien Hirst preview was great fun, the Studio visit was mind blowing, finally getting my physical Tender on the wall, winning raffles for NFTs, etc. However the stand out one was meeting Damien Hirst himself to record a podcast interview for DHC. That was just an unbelievable experience and he was so incredibly generous with his time on that. I don’t think I ever imagined that this NFT journey would result in me sitting at his kitchen table with a mate, chewing the fat on everything about art, digital, his story, etc. Once in a lifetime event for someone like myself.
And lowest point of your experience with NFTs/Web 3 to date?
Doing an all nighter trying to mint the Yuga Labs Otherdeeds project. And losing a small fortune on gas for little or no reward. To be honest even that ended up being quite a lot of fun as i did it online with three or four friends. Still, it was a very long, and very frustrating evening. Almost as long and frustrating as the next day at work subsequently turned out to be. Turns out no sleep without a party as an excuse turns me into quite the grinch.
Where can people find you and/or your NFT collection? Twitter/Opensea
In keeping with my lackadaisy non doxxed approach I am on pretty much everything as SmythMr or on Twitter as the even more original SmythMrNFT. Just remember its the posh sounding way of pronouncing it ;-)
Anything else you would like to share with the community?
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