“Ascend” (2024) is a captivating 1-of-1 digital artwork inscribed on the Bitcoin blockchain, representing a revolutionary intersection of art, technology, and time. Created by renowned artists Ryan Koopmans and Alice Wexell, this piece belongs to their acclaimed series The Wild Within, a project that brings new life to forgotten, abandoned spaces through an artistic lens. As the first artwork ever inscribed on Bitcoin to be auctioned live at Christie’s, Ascend is a pivotal moment in the merging worlds of fine art and blockchain technology.
The Vision Behind Ascend
Ascend transforms a real-world physical space into a digitally reimagined experience. Koopmans and Wexell traveled to a crumbling sanatorium in Tskaltubo, Georgia—once a thriving health resort—where they captured the haunting beauty of the building’s decay. The sanatorium, built between 1952 and 1962, fell into disrepair after the collapse of the USSR, and now stands as a fading relic of a bygone era.
Through the use of 3D techniques and digital manipulation, the artists revived the essence of this architectural gem. Vegetation has been introduced into the scene, adding an element of rebirth, while subtle structural modifications enhance the interplay between light and shadow. The result is a surreal depiction of the passing of time, where nature reclaims what was once human-made.
A Historic Auction at Christie’s
What makes Ascend truly groundbreaking is its inscription on the Bitcoin blockchain. Specifically, it is inscribed on a satoshi mined on March 24, 2021—the same day Koopmans and Wexell minted their first piece from The Wild Within series on Ethereum. This piece will be auctioned at Christie’s in London on October 10, 2024, marking the first time a Bitcoin-inscribed artwork has been included in a live sale by the prestigious auction house.
Prior to the auction, a physical print of Ascend will be displayed at Christie’s London Gallery. The winning bidder will not only acquire the digital artifact but also a framed print, customizable in size to their preference, making this a truly unique blend of digital and physical art.
Dynamic Blockchain Integration
One of the most fascinating aspects of Ascend is its dynamic nature. The artwork transitions between day and night modes, programmed to reflect the time zone of Tskaltubo, Georgia, where the depicted sanatorium is located. Every day at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. GET, the artwork shifts seamlessly from light to dark, mirroring the natural rhythm of the day. This synchronization with the Bitcoin clock offers an interactive experience, as the art changes with time—both symbolically and literally.
This dynamic coding was executed in collaboration with Ordinally of Inscribing Atlantis, further enhancing the immersive qualities of Ascend as it evolves before the viewer’s eyes on the blockchain.
The Wild Within: A Collision of Past and Future
The Wild Within is a series that explores the juxtaposition between the natural and the man-made, as well as the past and the future. Koopmans and Wexell have spent the last decade traveling the world, photographing architectural ruins that have undergone dramatic transformations. Upon their return, they digitally rework these images, adding elements of nature and manipulating the structures to create scenes that are simultaneously familiar and otherworldly.
In Ascend, this duality is present in the juxtaposition of the decaying sanatorium with the vibrant, overgrown vegetation introduced by the artists. The piece tells a story of rebirth, echoing the cyclical nature of time where growth and decay are in constant dialogue.
Many of the buildings featured in The Wild Within series have been demolished, and the depicted sanatorium continues to deteriorate. In preserving its image on the Bitcoin blockchain, Koopmans and Wexell aim to offer a permanent record of this space, encapsulating its beauty before it disappears entirely.
