By Nidhi Bhardwaj: As per the recent news, SOCIAL, a collaborative workspace and hub for artists, innovators opened India’s first exclusive physical gallery for NFT art in New BEL Road, Bengaluru.
The latest information revealed that the works of Bengaluru-based NFT artists, namely Prasad Bhat, Dr. Wafu, AB Verse, and more have been on display since 23 January. Moreover, the inaugural display of digital artist Angad B Sodhiwas is titled, ‘Welcome to Web 3’. The first phase of their induction into Web3 space was launched on 14 January, said the cafe chain.
According to Angad, this is the true beginning for the NFT space in India. “While Web2 was the start of the creator economy, one major issue was that the creator did not own what they were putting up on the platform. With Web3, the creator not only owns the assets but also has the option to include royalty clauses, which is a game changer,” he stated.
Angad also elaborated on how he chose the initial idea and curated artists from the same city. He added, “We wanted people from the same city to see their fellow community members, who have built a name for themselves in the NFT space and gained popularity, display their art. Since this was a brand-new concept, us bringing in local artists created a sense of community belonging.”
The outlet has been conceptualised as a meeting place for artists, creators, and entrepreneurs. Apart from the space for art, the outlet also offers food and beverages. Customers can view the artwork on digital screens and also purchase the ones they like, mentioned the recent information.
The interior was designed to capture the work and play nature of the brand with temporary structures, projections, strategically placed lights and ample greenery. The space is layered by a bare and monolithic shell with raw paint finishes. The defining scaffolding that runs throughout the outlet serves not only a structural or aesthetic purpose but a functional one as well, as described by the sources.
“We hope to provide a platform for niche communities to showcase their work while also creating a micro-hub for people from all walks of life. Our first foray into the crypto world was with our IP 'Sauce,' a contemporary culture festival that combines music, crypto, streetwear, NFT, and art in one location. The event highlighted the need for us to create a space where digital artists can gather and create whenever they want. I'm confident that New BEL Road SOCIAL will quickly become that go-to spot," said Mayank Bhatt, Chief Executive Officer of Impresario Handmade Restaurants, the firm which owns SOCIAL along with 600 odd restaurant networks.
