Art is everywhere; everything people see, use, and touch was created by someone. The buildings people live in, work in, learn in, shop in, even the cars people drive – they were all inspired by an artist with a vision.
Beyond beauty and appreciation, art conveys messages, invokes emotions, and can even improve mental health.
It’s an important part of what makes the human race ‘human’ – that unique form of expression.
FMT is proud to announce its collaboration with Mart Expo, a network of artists from around the world, to promote their work. Their art collections will also be minted into Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), a nascent technology transforming the art industry.
What is an NFT?
Similar to a passport or airline ticket, an NFT (non-fungible token) is a digital certificate of authenticity, but one that is unchangeable and verifiable using blockchain technology, guaranteeing indisputable ownership of the asset it represents.
Although NFTs can represent any asset from music to real estate, they have risen in popularity by commonly representing art.
Like collectors of stamps, coins, watches, or art, pride of ownership in sharing or displaying your collection is part of the fun. With NFT art, it’s even easier as you can share and display your collection online using social media. Your entire collection is also accessible from your smartphone.
Kevin Cichosz, blockchain & digital art director for Mart Expo, explains: “While many may still think that art is a luxury for the affluent, art galleries or to be displayed in upscale venues, Mart Expo truly believes that art is for everyone, and made for everyone. And we feel that NFTs will help bridge that gap.”
A large part of the appeal is the NFT’s use of a smart contract that will govern what can be done with the NFT and cannot be changed by anyone. For example, when an art NFT owner decides to resell their NFT, a smart contract may automatically send a percentage of the sale as a royalty, directly to the artist on every sale rewarding creators for life as their popularity grows.
Smart contracts can also grant the owner valuable intellectual property rights over the artwork which is becoming more common recently, increasing the value of the NFT.
Mart Expo
Mohsen Golshiri, founder of Mart Expo Globe Sdn Bhd, is the entrepreneur who has been helping and supporting artists globally, providing an online platform for them to promote their visual artworks on social media since 2014.
“Encouraged by a lot of positive feedback, I’ve received thousands of requests from artists on my Instagram, asking to continue supporting them and promoting their artwork and driving me to build my team and start promoting artwork by holding the physical art exhibition,” said Mohsen.
In June 2018, Mart Expo held an art exhibition called “Timeless Pleasure of Persian Art” at Sutra Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, showcasing 86 exhibits comprising paintings, calligraphy, photography, and ceramics from 58 Iranian artists.
In October 2019, another art exhibition was held at Menara Citibank, displaying over 50 art pieces from 28 international artists.
In October 2020, Mart Expo held its first online exhibition, the CoArt Online Exhibition, exhibiting more than 200 contemporary art pieces representing 62 prominent artists from 15 countries.
That groundbreaking event was followed by the MartChain Online Exhibition in February 2021, where over 400 contemporary art pieces showcasing 80 prominent artists from 17 countries were on exhibition.
FMT x Mart Expo
“With art at the forefront of many pioneering NFT projects, we are excited to announce our collaboration with Mart Expo who work with artists around the world, providing them with the opportunity to reach a new audience through NFTs and supporting their work”, said Azeem Abu Bakar, managing director of FMT, adding that the company is collaborating with Mart Expo under the FMT Accelerator programme which invests in high potential startups.
As a web native business, FMT recognises the ongoing integration of blockchain technology including the emergence of art-based NFTs. As the largest English language news portal in Malaysia, FMT is committed to bringing added value to this amazing community.
Artists bring beauty, emotion, and happiness to this world, dedicating their lives to creating art for everyday people. Mart Expo has selected 50 artists and their artworks that FMT is excited to feature in their upcoming collaboration.
FMT and Mart Expo invite you to join them on this adventure to meet their artists, enjoy their work, and learn more about the world of art and NFTs.
For more information about the FMT Accelerator programme, click here.