After selling NFTs, Damien Hirst burns his artwork

After selling several non-fungible tokens, Damien Hirst started destroying hundreds of his pieces of art. The artist instructed customers who purchased items from his most recent collection to select either the real artwork or the NFT that represented it. People who selected NFTs were informed that the accompanying physical piece would be lost.

The artist collected each piece and burnt it in a firebox while wearing matching fire safety gloves and silver metallic boiler suit pants. The works being burnt are thought to be worth approximately £10 million altogether.

The Currency, Hirst’s first NFT collection, was released last year and consisted of 10,000 NFTs, or 10,000 original works of art. When purchasing one, collectors had to decide whether to keep the NFT or exchange it for the actual piece of art.

According to London’s Newport Street Gallery, 5,149 customers selected original works of art, while 4,851 went with NFTs. The NFTs, which showed vibrant spots, went for $2,000 (£1,800) each.

The Turner Prize winner and helpers used tongs to place individual artworks heaped in stacks into fireplaces at the exhibition as spectators watched live on the internet. Each artwork is numbered, titled, stamped, and signed. It was made in 2016 using enamel paint on handmade paper. They will be set on fire up until October 30 when The Currency show closes.

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