Robot dogs wearing Musk, Zuckerberg faces steal Miami art show
What's the story
A pack of robotic dogs with hyperrealistic silicone faces of tech billionaires (including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg) and famous artists are on display at Art Basel in Miami. The project, titled "Regular Animals," is the latest from artist Mike Winkelmann, aka Beeple. The robots take pictures and reinterpret the world through their lenses, each in a different style relevant to the person whose face they share.
Artistic interpretation
Robots produce unique prints in distinct visual styles
The robots, which include Winkelmann's doppelganger, take images of their surroundings and create unique prints in distinct visual styles. These prints are not just ordinary artworks but non-fungible tokens (NFTs), a digital asset that represents ownership of a unique item or piece of content on the blockchain. "They reinterpret the world through the lens of these different characters," Winkelmann explained.
Artistic evolution
From NFT art to experimental digital creations
Beeple made headlines in 2021 when he sold a 5,000-image digital collage for $69.3 million at Christie's. This was the first-ever NFT sale at auction and it made him the third most expensive living artist in the world. Since then, he has been focusing on his Charleston-based studio as an experimental digital art hub and continues to showcase work at major art institutions.
Digital gifts
Beeple's robots give away free NFT souvenirs
The robots at Art Basel also give away free NFT souvenirs for visitors. "Regular Animals" has been a hit at the fair, with spectators double-taking each of the faces and filming the bizarre scene. The project has sparked mixed reactions from onlookers, with some calling it "disgusting" or "disturbing," while others have found it brilliant.
Tech limitations
They have a limited metaphorical lifespan
The robots, which can be seen as living sculptures with anthropomorphized features, have a limited metaphorical lifespan. Their main purpose of taking pictures and storing them on the blockchain will cease after three years. However, they will retain their basic motor skills even after this period. By the first hour of the fair, each animal was already sold; the little Zuckerbergs and Musks and Beeples ready to be rehomed.