# Meme Maxis week 44 By [pandelic](https://paragraph.com/@pandelic) · 2023-05-24 --- \*Highlights and comebacks of the Meme Maxis, week of May 15, 2023 — cover art elegantly memeified by [**art\_icu\_late**](https://twitter.com/art_icu_late).\* A round-up of all the usual suspects coming right up, soon as I go out for a walk… 🛤️ In the highest-profile caper since “The Case of the Missing Marketcap”, this week’s Memes by **punk6529** feature an existential whodunit with good ol’ fashioned sleuthing, a race against time through all the webs, and the communal formation of a unified phalanx quick enough to make a Roman centurion blink, then puzzle aloud: _Exspecta, estne haec universum simulacrum?_ Hold on to your chariots and let the games begin. Meme Card 98 — The Inception ---------------------------- Maurits Cornelis Escher saw his first retrospective exhibition at 70 years of age, joining the crowded queues of exemplary artists, spanning our — \*_checks pocket watch\*_ — entire historical record, unable to rely on art establishments for support. But M.C. wasn’t just monumental; there is something profoundly essential in his work that reorients how we see the world after viewing it through his mind, its vocabulary expressing truths that cannot be undiscovered: aesthetics and mathematics intertwined by eternal harmony. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/58519fdb5d19038f24cbe8f83befa9244e02ae7f6dd7457fb83a2dfc1f3b9576.jpg) This week, [**Degen\_Alfie**](https://twitter.com/Degen_Alfie) ignites the torch of [Escher](https://www.escherinhetpaleis.nl/story-of-escher/self-portraits-1917-1950/?lang=en) at his most self-confrontational, with incendiary interdimensional influences referencing modern cinema and metaverse worlds and a masterful multitude of memes ([**6529Collections** announcement](https://twitter.com/6529Collections/status/1658115562751262722)). “The Inception” reads as an affectionate ode to the NFT art world as well as its bright futures, collaboratively built. It’s also a block party, a joy to behold. Join **Degen\_Alfie** in expansive gardens of earthly delights, each piece richer in detail than the last, on [SuperRare](https://superrare.com/degenalfie), through [Degen Alphabet](https://degenalphabet.com), in [Discordland](https://discord.gg/Vg35RWJw7q), and [still further out](https://y.at/%F0%9F%8E%A0%F0%9F%8D%84%F0%9F%8C%88%F0%9F%8E%A1). It’s a Meme-Eat-Meme World -------------------------- Eating the memes of production never sounded more ravenous, thanks to **mbstuart**’s insect’s-eyes view of **MattDoogue**’s card from last week. Feast your mandibles on “[Meme Colony for Dinner](https://opensea.io/assets/ethereum/0x495f947276749ce646f68ac8c248420045cb7b5e/75959814784190793324708169911984379127395736312846048783770068667987491029034)”: ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/9e9ed8f02d5d277c0a0911f1c152d931f8d14bc59c8f036278c18e87a710720c.gif) The ever-industrious and consistently compelling **6529Gradientz** shares two Meme Artist interviews this week. [**Xose\_Casal** discusses](https://twitter.com/6529Gradientz/status/1659864622118100992) the history of his art in all its contextual and even subversive glory, thoughts on cc0 and the memes ecosystem, and delightful details behind card 51. Here’s “[Cold Water Music](https://foundation.app/@xose/foundation/50081)” — ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/bfc824c0235099a3e87c98170cf42dcca59d48e10130b70be6338c468def7822.png) [Interview 14 with **CryptoClimates**](https://twitter.com/6529Gradientz/status/1660295641312927749) (a.k.a. Made by Megan) details an epic journey from fishing fleets to art communities to reinvesting in conservation and sustainability efforts around the world. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/bb7099dea9bc73c606b2c40eae67d9702997355e9be4132d429be03b3a49ad84.png) Nominative determinism at play, as **OxBartender** serves up a [frothy ReMeme](https://app.manifold.xyz/c/YouNeedaColdOne) of [**Vince\_Van\_Dough**](https://twitter.com/Vince_Van_Dough)’s manifesto. [Background and announcement](https://twitter.com/pepeLady_eth/status/1659124376984272896) by **pepeLady\_eth**: ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/2031151901d3c1c423465a316ac729600189da0257a487a9ed913069b5f7d4ea.jpg) The eighth Meme Lab element card from **spydenator** is “Biddium”, a full airdrop to existing elements holders, [now available on secondary](https://opensea.io/assets/ethereum/0x4db52a61dc491e15a2f78f5ac001c14ffe3568cb/28) ([announcement](https://twitter.com/spydenator/status/1659192503436972034)) — ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/32ac626fd7238b61e4a51ef2957b928ddcf709b6a1a568be0fa0607c66a6cb07.jpg) A trio of complaint cards ([announcement](https://twitter.com/6529complaints/status/1658818910169202688)), rounding out SZN 1 from the tireless **6529Complaints** dept. First is “[The Artificial Pumpinator (TAP)](https://app.manifold.xyz/c/complaintcard-18)” by **rolu\_art**: ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/f0a0cd4eca28ca8f682e369401494b8ef72c28fec95dde5909dab0c31daf8f13.jpg) **SuperNfty** gives us “[Take Profits](https://app.manifold.xyz/c/complaintcard-19)”, a world where all is hunky-dory, with no reason at all to “panik”: ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/c1e03aed41646773f8b9a4500b7718a6a88a521b8c0f2d68f114eedcf36aa3a0.gif) …and “[OH MY DEV (OMD)](https://app.manifold.xyz/c/complaintcard-20)” by **Ars0nic** reveals a stunningly accurate self-portrait: ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/05bddd3b25ebdbbed74f2329cd527d36c1011c23fb36b6d9fa643aac4aadf7b8.jpg) **Macomoroni**’s GMonster gets Means’ed by **TheMeansCreator** in their [latest limited edition](https://app.manifold.xyz/c/MeansSzn2Card29): ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/5be45c6bff9c1b08840a1f9032abdaf067fe8269ba2d74dacb5ee34b2ef033f5.jpg) While **9256memes** [foreshadows](https://app.manifold.xyz/c/thememesby9256-4) the raft of destabilizing developments this week, from wallet security woes (see below) to threats of crypto industry over-regulation, looming ever larger… ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/f26f1f7937cb2a30965ebaa2687db2a798e16cc5522cd94dbedf73513fab706c.png) Meme Card 99 — Too Big to Sail ------------------------------ Strewn among the wreckage of discarded working titles for this next flagship card is “Mr. Blimpie’s Whoopsiedoodle” — coincidentally the same name endowing all attempted future rugpulls targeting Team6529. The striking beauty of this catastrophe is **MikeHirshon**’s forte, and a clarion warning to us all ([**6529Collections** announcement](https://twitter.com/6529Collections/status/1658829255231381504)) — ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/9b2e0c6735addc4c8f1deb954594df722bd3f572a521c38e4f9bb7cf121c9b13.jpg) Self-custody is the way, he reminds us, and lest you forget he’s written up the thinking [behind this masterwork](https://twitter.com/MikeHirshon/status/1658867834003558401) as well as pinned some preliminary sketches — for instance its first iteration: ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/22583bc0f331bd43dbd91eef9790acb0a6369aed5c5037205d2760dffd44bd61.jpg) **MikeHirshon**’s prolific illustration work can be found throughout print media publications, also gathered together at [his website](https://hirshon.net) and [Linktree](https://linktr.ee/hirshon). The [OM Pub’s profile on Mike](https://om.pub/memes/99/artist) (courtesy **brookr**) is also a delight, showcasing some previous work as well as **WintermuteGAN**’s prescient prememe poster for card 99: ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/78cf2da273a06f4f85f48690c6725c9790bbd1bc151e40e3ca9d5a364e5bec9b.png) 🦎 Good Morning Promenade ---------------------- The latest from [**BeriziFatemeh**](https://twitter.com/BeriziFatemeh)’s PIXEL ART collection blends cryptopunks and GM with her evocative style, somehow reminiscent of opening a sunroof to [let in the weather](https://foundation.app/@fatemehberizi/pixelart-57bf/21) ([announcement](https://twitter.com/BeriziFatemeh/status/1661052698941177861)) — ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/accaa10af04cbb3fb592e47e21a24eac14814eaaf5456bf3bdf4c3a282cc4e5c.gif) **fmiasp** brings [Proof of work](https://twitter.com/fmiasp/status/1659139580161937408) from [**ImBrendanNorth**](https://twitter.com/ImBrendanNorth) — notice the blaring headlines: ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/8d306d064fb501408e22b7cba02331fe30a3123f17554122f7523340d0aa4b9b.jpg) The Yearbook Club ([**theyearbookclub**](https://twitter.com/theyearbookclub)) welcomes the class of 1985 with a **punk6529** cameo, inducted by **cyberh49** ([announcement](https://twitter.com/cyberh49/status/1658397354066866178)) — ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/65e5048a5cdee89982ed47f8a3afde620ea8450159211f727c1eeb6e973758e2.png) “[the only gm you’ll ever need](https://foundation.app/collection/hfgm)” features **HugoFaz** in collaboration with Fernando Schlaepfer, Felis the 🐈, and [**serc1n**](https://twitter.com/serc1n) ([announcement](https://twitter.com/HugoFaz/status/1659239877899059204)) — ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/c80d3adde022e4a75bc705564f410496f161c3fd261393dbb507a4cf8d1ee88f.jpg) …and the “[Black & White World](http://foundation.app/world/blackandwhiteworld?tab=home)”, curated by **FidelEverywhere** ([original announcement](https://twitter.com/FidelEverywhere/status/1643250425330642950)), comes to the Open Metaverse at last, facilitated by **punk6529**, **DarrenSRS**, and **OM100m** ([announcement](https://twitter.com/FidelEverywhere/status/1658896630056198148)) — ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/ae9dbcb45dc36723d6688e7c8adff7b3e812544bd10ef528d532f21c84744b38.gif) Meme Card 100 — Survival of the Memeist --------------------------------------- Someone call the coroner! The Memeist did not, in fact, survive, and his now-notorious art piece has been submitted to evidence as a self-portrait and a possible statement of confession: ![Exhibit A](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/3ffc24bd98c253a2eeb8d425f64eabc51f8549998c46bb62ab81726ae96e1f57.png) Exhibit A While Forensics pores over the sketch, let us recap from the outset. Many were puzzled by the announcement of [3PEACEART](https://twitter.com/zachxbt/status/1659602254029045760) as the artist for the 100th meme card, what with a linked SuperRare profile logging eyebrow-raising, tumbleweed levels of activity relative to Twitter follower count, but particularly since a number of maxis (including fellow artists) already had him blocked. Now picture this: it’s mint day, with Team6529 behind-the-scenes furiously preparing [the claim of card 100](https://twitter.com/6529Collections/status/1659553164922699777) down to the wire. Half an hour before drop time, the art and countdown timer have not yet appeared on seize.io. It’s late enough to surprise even the most veteran of Maxis, who begin to chatter and speculate on the OM discord. One lone voice raises an alarm of a different sort. BigBird, a.k.a. [**bitcoinmcr**](https://twitter.com/bitcoinmcr) and also Manc, is asking around, trying to contact punk6529 and the dev team, to alert them of a possible scammer hiding among the Meme Artist roster. Card 100 drops (thanks to **teexels**) and sells out immediately, while at the same time **bitcoinmcr** is compiling more about what he knows, linking his research to comprehensive coverage by **zachxbt** and, sensing increased urgency, revealing that the their probe actually centers around _today’s_ artist. The [link to Zach’s thorough investigative work](https://twitter.com/zachxbt/status/1659602254029045760) arrives within hours after the sell-out, but that’s a few hours too late, for the crime is already complete. Or is it? **punk6529** privately asks the artist for additional information, ruminates on the scenario for a bit, [then announces](https://twitter.com/punk6529/status/1659620877279870979) that since **6529er** was the most appropriate artist for card 100 all along (and we agree with **parachicaa**, [an absolute star](https://twitter.com/6529er/status/1659607755471175680)), so shall it be in the end — along with context and initiatives to thank **bitcoinmcr** and **zachxbt** properly. 3PEACEART is swiftly excommunicated from the community, and while he does make off with primary sales profits, they bear an irreversible reputational cost in this cozy hamlet known as web3. A thread remains loose: how did folks already have 3P blocked, while not recalling who he was? Thanks to **bunkerhub** we have a clear map of the culprit’s priors: ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/16b6353f1bb51148bda47ed1d313610b3c71ac60c29b512814c5d0151ed5383f.png) Let 100 ReMemes blossom in place of this fizzle-out of a meme card! First up, **WintermuteGAN**’s skewering of 3P-in-a-rented-outfit ([announcement by **biggiesmols\_**](https://twitter.com/biggiesmols_/status/1660128257247703046)) — ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/c7074fd207e2c62c22147ca6ad4e15fa426cc4f0dca40ba1a1b91a7bdbd9b586.jpg) And let’s not forget the original prememe of card 100, by the inventor of the prememe genre, yes _also_ **WintermuteGAN**: ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/0dccbb52e229483f879d7805db4bcea1e2cef7e8309bb32cc8bf556803bb464f.gif) “Dreammaker” takes on new meaning, now that events have played out — especially for keen readers who scroll back up to see what happens to all these jars… **g9ralt** offers a free mint entitled “[Survive And Don’t Panic](https://app.manifold.xyz/c/survive-and-dont-panic)”, a remix with SeizeJPGs for the culture ([announcement](https://twitter.com/G9ralt/status/1659630838164668449)) — ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/f466cecc50e1576a86491d5f2c2c6f4f4297b76a619ccca8af033eb076e669c5.jpg) And **art\_icu\_late** sets up a [collaborative OnCyber gallery](https://oncyber.io/studio?inviteId=2NjYeg9GzyWH6QHOWOJ5) for anyone wanting to contribute a ReMeme of infamous card 100, which will stay open until its replacement is published ([announcement](https://twitter.com/art_icu_late/status/1659811092594573313)). Nude Are We, With Our Passphrases Laid Bare ------------------------------------------- * The NUDExGM launch party in **oncyber** kicks off with a collection of 50 artists, with support from **serc1n**, **dragonis\_eth**, and **CryptoPopPunk** each doing a share of hosting ([announcement](https://twitter.com/serc1n/status/1658733270845063168)) * Ledger shoots itself in the foot with a hamfisted roadmap, causing everyone to question whether their devices are as secure as they need. Great write-ups by [**0xfoobar**](https://twitter.com/0xfoobar/status/1658460603831263232), [**sethforprivacy**](https://twitter.com/sethforprivacy/status/1658544658761277447), and an in-depth livestream by OG [**aantonop**](https://twitter.com/aantonop) — [https://www.youtube.com/live/9scIevuymZM](https://www.youtube.com/live/9scIevuymZM) * **lopp** [reminds us](https://twitter.com/lopp/status/1658170596495073280) to never buy wallet hardware on third-party sites such as eBay or Amazon — and here’s **punk6529**’s 2021 thread on [fundamental security practices](https://twitter.com/punk6529/status/1461750319084445697) * As of press time, Ledger has since announced a delayed rollout of the “Recover” feature until key code has been open-sourced * But artists have wasted zero time upgrading previous memes to reflect this breach of trust. Here’s **Vince\_Van\_Dough**’s [firmware update](https://twitter.com/Vince_Van_Dough/status/1658531757665181714): ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/741c0b90dabc955e323ed8575f74c5267703f19afb7ba2f992d73c94113a8b73.jpg) * **g9ralt**’s meme refactor ([announcement](https://twitter.com/G9ralt/status/1660293952254124032)) — ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/1b719c9d99b33719b643173caadc387fc0c8923c18ca8b5ad4df832241031bc6.jpg) * The institutions will, in fact, sell you your jpegs. Case in point this week’s [Sotheby’s auction](https://www.sothebys.com/en/auction-catalogue/2023/contemporary-day-auction/property-from-an-iconic-digital-art-collection): ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/1add58c1f910af49c06f42b620f7dacdad7600fd975ab8eb9f41919e75da6b7a.png) * [**h3xum\_**](https://twitter.com/h3xum_) shows off the digital art populating their ongoing Cocktails & Memes explorations, with [**CryptoClimates**](https://twitter.com/CryptoClimates) and [**bryanbrinkman**](https://twitter.com/bryanbrinkman) [seen here](https://twitter.com/h3xum_/status/1658098008637014016) * Underdog [Lynn Goldsmith wins](https://news.artnet.com/art-world/the-supreme-court-ruling-lynn-goldsmith-andy-warhol-foundation-2304684) against the Andy Warhol Foundation in the U.S. Supreme Court (h/t **artnet**) * [**light\_artists**](https://twitter.com/light_artists) and [**frederickvan**](https://twitter.com/frederickvan) interview **HugoFaz** about [work, challenges, and successes](https://twitter.com/light_artists/status/1660095366124142595) * [**ForaLiving\_Pod**](https://twitter.com/ForaLiving_Pod) interviews **pandelic** about [creating music and interdisciplinary art](https://twitter.com/pandelic/status/1659175508406329345), with a stopover in “What are NFTs” (~1:18:00) with a decidedly normie-friendly perspective * [Making remixes with Midjourney](https://twitter.com/nickfloats/status/1659351629248774145), with help from **nickfloats** * Celebrate 100 Memes with [**AleksInWeb3**](https://twitter.com/AleksInWeb3) and her recorded [Twitter Space](https://twitter.com/AleksInWeb3/status/1659483238803419138), featuring [**proof\_xyz**](https://twitter.com/proof_xyz), [**TS446photo**](https://twitter.com/TS446photo), [**mindzeye**](https://twitter.com/mindzeye), and [**ryankoopmans**](https://twitter.com/ryankoopmans) who give us background insight into their creations and their impressions of the journey along the way: ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/3e105a8e30f0ac5736e57e694d440afa569fbec0d5ae6c72f2899741d6ddae4a.jpg) * Thomas at **StylizedStation** shows us the fascinating history of [grass in video games](https://twitter.com/StylizedStation/status/1658121115829510148) * **0xCuttlefish** with a [web3 conundrum](https://twitter.com/0xCuttlefish/status/1659378078286577664) around pseudonymity and art collecting * [Exhibit 9256 in the sort of exasperating conversations](https://twitter.com/iragreenberg/status/1659227674332610562) artists are having these days, courtesy **iragreenberg** * **osf\_rekt**’s [recent acquisitions](https://twitter.com/osf_rekt/status/1660337749151326210) * “[What is the perfect NFT Project?](https://twitter.com/davincithreads/status/1658866795141386243)” part 2, from **davincithreads** * And the [best life lesson](https://twitter.com/6529er/status/1658800885638594563) **6529er** has learned from Punku… Happy meme-seizing and life-seizing to all ! 🌷 --- *Originally published on [pandelic](https://paragraph.com/@pandelic/meme-maxis-week-44)*