Fakewhale Solo Series presents Stairs & Stocks by Andreas Rau
On Wednesday, October 2nd, Fakewhale Solo Series proudly presents “Stairs & Stocks,” a long-form generative art release by Andreas Rau.
In “Stairs & Stocks,” infinitely generated staircases intertwine with fictional stock charts, crafting a mesmerizing dialogue between physical ascent and economic volatility. The staircases, stripped of all context, prompt viewers to contemplate the unseen destinations they might lead to. As they continuously rotate and morph, the stairs periodically expand and release their steps in a futile quest to reach new heights. Occasionally, the entire structure collapses, only to reorganize moments later and embark on the same relentless cycle once more.
Stairs & Stocks: The Poetry and Absurdity of Contextless Ascension
Andreas Rau (b. 1990) is a generative artist who explores the interplay between humans and their physical and digital environments. Utilizing code and electronics, he builds bridges between the tangible and the virtual, engaging in a continuous dialogue with machines. His work encompasses interactive installations, audiovisual pieces, and physical artifacts created entirely from code. Exhibited internationally, his creations have been collected by individuals and institutions around the world.
“Stairs & Stocks is inspired by this photo I took during a visit to Paris in the summer of 2023. Ever since, I’ve been captivated by the poetry and absurdity of stairs without context, which ultimately lead to this exploration.The nature of the animated outputs echoed the hyperfixation of the web3 space with charts and numbers going up and down, a similarly fruitless endeavour.”
Building on this inspiration, Rau’s “Stairs & Stocks” presents infinitely generated staircases juxtaposed with fictional stock charts. The staircases, stripped of any contextual backdrop, provoke viewers to ponder where they might lead – or if they lead anywhere at all. As these structures continuously rotate and morph, they periodically grow and shed steps in a futile attempt to reach new heights. Occasionally, the entire assembly collapses, only to reorganize moments later and recommence the relentless cycle.
As Andreas mentions, the absurdity of contextless stairs mirrors the obsessive focus on fluctuating numbers within the web3 space. The endless rise and fall of both stairs and stock charts reflect a fruitless pursuit, highlighting the cyclical patterns we often find ourselves trapped in, both physically and digitally.
It is by aligning these two elements, that Rau invites us to reflect on our own fixations with progress and the sometimes overlooked futility of striving without clear purpose. The series prompts a deeper contemplation of the cycles we engage in and the objectives we chase:
Are we ascending toward meaningful goals, or are we endlessly climbing without direction, captivated by the illusion of progress?
The Release Dynamics
“Stairs & Stocks” will go live on objkt.com on October 2nd at 4 PM CEST / 10 AM ET as a long-form generative series.
It will be available as an open edition at a price of 32 XTZ each.
This release coincides with a private view at the Valuart Gallery in Lugano-Paradiso, Switzerland.
To stay updated on the release in real-time, follow Fakewhale and Andreas Rau.
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Founded in 2021, Fakewhale advocates the digital art market's evolution. Viewing NFT technology as a container for art, and leveraging the expansive scope of digital culture, Fakewhale strives to shape a new ecosystem in which art and technology become the starting point, rather than the final destination.
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