Meet the Artist — 'Aktiv Protesk' (18+ contains offensive language)

This interview is the first in the series of our 'meet the artist' posts. This idea was sparked when KnownOrigin.io was approached by the BBC who asked us for an interview about the raising popularity of digital art, crypto currencies and what its like working with anonymous artists.

We reached out to an artist called Aktiv Protesk to see if they would also take part in the interview, they agreed as long as they could remain anonymous throughout. The interview took some unexpected & interesting twists, but began with us me meeting with a masked man in a Manchester studio.

(Q) Why do you wear the mask?

"It allows me to remain anonymous, it allows me creative freedom, digital art has no boarders, I can sell my work to anyone on the planet"

(Q) what got you in to Crypto art?

"First and fore must it’s art... it’s art for a new generation ‘the blade runner generations.’ 2049 • Art is no longer static"

(Q) Where do yo get your inspiration?

"I like to take things, old images, existing artwork - Things that people think they own online. I can come alone & take it, change 1 pixel then It becomes unique. No body owns an idea, you can’t own an idea. Adding my work to the blockchain is simply a recording of time & provenance"

(Q) What do you think of tradition artworks?

"Art should provoke a reaction, steer emotions I don’t care if it’s a master piece by one of the greats or a piece by a young f*ckin kid, if I feel something when I look at it, that it’s fulfilling its purpose"

(Q) Do you think your art is fulfilling it’s purpose?

"No, well not yet, these early experiments that are being added to the blockchain are going to be a massive part of Art history. The new wave of artists working with digital, generative art & Ai processes are a part of something much much bigger. This is the next big art movement. Let not f*ck around here, what makes us think that art would'nt get sucked up by digital transformation! Think about it In 20,30 years time everything will be digitised. And when the art historian look back through the blockchain they will see the early pieces like primitive Cave drawings from the past"

(Q) Final question, what nexts for Aktiv Protesk?

"I’m looking for people other artists, developers, programmers , builders of things to collaborate with. I need to create a full immersive art piece. A living piece, an environment that you can explore using your phone or tablet. This will be done in secret and the location will be hidden, until it’s complete"

At this point we left the location and left Aktiv protesk with the crew from the BBC, we have been informed that he completed the full interview with the mask on and refused to give his personal details, but instead as them to liaise with us for any further comments

View Aktiv Protesk full collection via KnownOrigin.io] (https://bit.ly/2JyTJaM)