ArtMeta Unveils “Paintboxed - Tezos World Tour”: Reviving the Legacy of the Quantel Paintbox in the Digital Age
Staff Writer • 2024-11-21
In a groundbreaking move that bridges the gap between digital art history and the NFT revolution, ArtMeta has announced the launch of the “Paintboxed - Tezos World Tour.” The interactive event series celebrates one of the earliest and most iconic digital art tools, the Quantel Paintbox, inviting contemporary artists to create new works using the technology that shaped the visual landscape of the 1980s. The debut event takes place at “PepeFest Presents: Fake Basel 2024” during Art Basel Miami Beach from December 5–7. Visitors will not only experience the legendary Paintbox in action but also witness new digital artworks minted as NFTs on objkt.com, powered by the Tezos blockchain. The Quantel Paintbox: A Pioneer of Digital Art Long before Adobe Photoshop revolutionized digital design, the Quantel Paintbox set the standard for computer-based art. Launched in 1981, the Paintbox became a favorite among major broadcasters and visual artists, defining the aesthetics of the era. It played a central role in the creation of the MTV logo, the CGI music video “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits, and even iconic visuals like Nirvana’s Nevermind album cover and movie posters for Pulp Fiction and The Silence of the Lambs. With a price tag of $250,000—equivalent to nearly $868,000 today—the Paintbox was an elite tool used by ABC, NBC, and the BBC. In 1987, it gained further acclaim when the BBC commissioned artists like David Hockney and Howard Hodgkin to create digital works for its “Painting with Light” documentary series. The “Paintboxed - Tezos World Tour” breathes new life into this historic tool, offering artists and audiences a rare glimpse into its transformative capabilities. Miami Launch: Fusing History and the Future of Art The tour’s inaugural event coincides with “PepeFest Presents: Fake Basel 2024”, a pop-up gallery celebrating the cultural phenomenon of Rare Pepes, the 2016 crypto art movement that laid the groundwork for today’s NFT boom. By situating the Paintbox within the context of Pepe-themed digital art, ArtMeta draws a direct line between early digital experimentation and modern blockchain art. “PepeFest” will showcase rare and iconic Pepe artworks alongside installations, auctions, and interactive exhibits. Visitors will also learn about the Paintbox’s cultural significance through an exhibition highlighting its contributions to music, art, and film. Aleksandra Artamonovskaja, Head of Arts at TriliTech, explained the synergy: “The Tezos Ecosystem has always championed pioneering digital artists. By launching the ‘Paintboxed - Tezos World Tour’ within this context, we celebrate not only the history of digital art but also its vibrant future.” A Global Celebration of Digital Art Following its Miami debut, the “Paintboxed - Tezos World Tour” will travel to Paris, London, and New York, offering contemporary artists the chance to create exclusive digital works on one of the few remaining operational Quantel Paintboxes. The tour will culminate in June 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, with an expansive retrospective at the Digital Art Mile art fair. The exhibition is supported by Adrian Wilson, an artist and historian whose extensive archive of Paintbox artworks and memorabilia serves as the cornerstone of the tour. Reviving a Legacy Co-founder and Artistic Director of ArtMeta, Georg Bak, reflected on the enduring influence of the Quantel Paintbox: “The Paintbox was a groundbreaking innovation in the 1980s, shaping visual culture across music, broadcasting, and art. Many renowned artists, not typically associated with digital media, experimented with it, creating works that remain largely unknown. Through this tour, we aim to spotlight its pivotal role in digital art history.” The Future of Digital Art Meets the Blockchain At each stop on the tour, artworks created using the Paintbox will be minted as NFTs on the Tezos blockchain, reinforcing the bridge between digital art’s past and its blockchain-powered future. For ArtMeta and the Tezos community, this initiative is more than an homage—it’s a celebration of innovation, creativity, and the enduring legacy of digital tools that paved the way for today’s NFT revolution. For more information on the “Paintboxed - Tezos World Tour” and upcoming events, visit ArtMeta’s website or join the Tezos community on Discord, Twitter, and Instagram. About ArtMeta ArtMeta is a leading platform for digital art and NFTs, known for its commitment to showcasing pioneering works that push the boundaries of creativity and technology. Through interactive events and global exhibitions, ArtMeta continues to redefine the intersection of art and blockchain. About Tezos Tezos is a blockchain platform known for its energy efficiency, scalability, and robust support for creative ecosystems. By empowering artists and developers, Tezos is driving the next generation of digital innovation. The “Paintboxed - Tezos World Tour” is not just a celebration of art history—it’s an invitation to shape its future. From Miami to Basel, ArtMeta and Tezos are bridging decades of artistic innovation, one masterpiece at a time.
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