For once there were no guest lists on the door of the 'must go to party' this weekend. That's because the Banksy party was in the virtual world of Second Life. The 24 hour party, which took place on Saturday, was to launch the online Second Life Banksy gallery know as 'Banksy's Ghetto'.
It was set up by someone called Charleymarley Nightfire (in Second Life I hasten to add) who is claiming their online Banksy collection is the biggest in the World outside Flickr, and the only place to see early works to boot. It is not known if Banksy has visited the show as yet - but word on the blogs is that the very early alien portrait could fetch up to £500,000 in the real world.
Second Life Banksy Party- Banksy Ghetto
Second Life Banksy Party- Banksy Ghetto
Trend Themes
1. Virtual Art Exhibitions - The emergence of virtual reality and online galleries opens up opportunities for artists to showcase their work to wider audiences, even outside the confines of physical art spaces.
2. Digital Collectibles - The rise of digital art collections creates possibilities for collecting unique and valuable pieces in the virtual world, disrupting traditional notions of art ownership and investment.
3. Crowd-sourced Curation - Crowd-sourcing art curation through online galleries and virtual exhibitions can challenge traditional power structures and authority in the art world.
Industry Implications
1. Art Galleries - Traditional art galleries can diversify their offerings and reach new audiences by partnering with or creating their own virtual galleries.
2. Blockchain Technology - The transparency and security features of blockchain technology can provide a unique opportunity for verifying ownership and authenticity of digital art and collectibles.
3. Virtual Reality - Virtual reality technology can create a fully immersive and interactive experience for art lovers, providing a new form of engagement and revenue stream for the art industry.