Criccieth Castle by JMW Turner
(Picture: British Museum)The British Museum has defended its decision to move into the NFT market after a scathing attack by an art expert.
Last week, expert Bendor Grosvenor wrote in The Art Newspaper that the museum “demeans itself” by getting into the NFT market, giving “cultural validity to meaningless reproductions”. Grosvenor argued the museum could “live to regret” the decision, especially if prices fall.
“We are keen to start small and build. It is a new space for the British Museum and we want to learn, listen to the community and slowly build and adapt our model over time” the museum tells us.
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are unique digital tokens — often they are digital art works — that are sold online.
“We see NFTs and especially the underlying technology as a potential long-term, multi-year play and our strategy will evolve over time. The NFT community are incredibly passionate and we are listening and taking on board all feedback,” the spokesperson added.
The British Museum has collaborated with French website La Collection to sell 20 JMW Turner watercolours as NFTs, with prices for the “rarest” starting at €4,999.
Frost focuses on carefree days
SADIE FROST’s relationship with the camera has changed. “When you have your photo taken when you’re younger you’re much more naïve and carefree,” she told us last night at the launch of Dave Benett’s photography exhibition. “As you get older you can get more self conscious,” she admitted. She also pointed us to a photo in the exhibition of her with ex-husband Jude Law, taken around 25 years ago. “It’s lovely to see it.” Good terms.
Skins and garage are key to the US
PINKPANTHERESS isn’t just big in London, the musician is cracking the US too. The recent ES magazine cover star, left, explains her success: “The sounds that we are so used to over here, like garage and drum-and-bass, they just don’t hear that much over there,” she tells Interview Magazine. She adds: “That raw, British ‘I watch Skins, I’m from an estate’ vibe is so unfamiliar in the States”.
Yousefzada: I still feel like a child
OSMAN YOUSEFZADA held court at The Maine in Mayfair last night at a bash thrown for the launch of his memoir. The occasion for the fashion designer was also hosted by 10 Magazine. As fashionistas and art students sipped from strong martinis served in generous champagne glasses, danced to the DJ or their way through a crush of bodies in the plush restaurant, Yousefzada reflected to The Londoner. His book The Go-Between is about his childhood experiences and he admitted that even now: “I still feel like a child… I’m an observer”. Sometimes it’s best just to watch.
Snapper’s bash puts stars in the frame
DAVE BENETT hosted a bash of his own last night in Mayfair. The Evening Standard’s man behind the camera sipped Perrier-Jouët champagne at the JD Malat gallery. He was joined by models Daisy Lowe, Mary Charteris, Eunice Olumide and Clara Paget, actresses Jaime Winstone and Sadie Frost as well as artist Kojo Marfo. Benett had a suite in Claridge’s and was this morning briefly beyond reach. That’s how you do it.
SW1A
EVEN Nadine Dorries feels the heat sometimes. The Culture Secretary has made a name for herself as Boris Johnson’s most redoutable defender in recent weeks, but she writes in the Spectator that after she told CNN she might drop her support “if he went out and kicked a dog,” she had to blank out social media.
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MATT VICKERS MP has come up with a novel way to talk to constituents — by moving meetings to the pub. “The best part of my job is listening to residents,” he tweeted, alongside a photo of the personalised “Beer-Matts” he uses to organise his “pub surgery tour”. Surely the best part of the job in Stockton South is a cold pint?
