At the Sotheby’s auction on 26 July, 99-year-old Franco-Hungarian artist Vera Molnár collaborated with Martin Grasser to sell a collection of NFT (Non-Fungible Tokens). These unique digital artworks were sold for a total of 631 ETH, or approximately $1.2 million based on current cryptocurrency market prices.
Who is Vera Molnár?
A rich and varied artistic career
Vera Molnár, born on January 5, 1924 in Budapest, is a Franco-Hungarian artist mainly known for her contributions in the field of geometric abstract art and especially in computer art. She moved to France in 1947 and studied at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts in Paris. Over the years, she has developed a particular style based on the use of simple and repetitive geometric shapes, as well as exploring the possibilities offered by computer tools.
A pioneer in digital art
In the 1960s, Vera Molnár began using computers to create her works. She has thus become a true pioneer of digital art, experimenting with different software and programming languages to generate unique and fascinating images. Her work has been exhibited in many galleries and museums around the world, and she has received several awards and distinctions for her contributions to the arts.
NFT, a new stage in the evolution of digital art
What is an NFT?
- The term "NFT" means "Non-Fungible Token", which is a non-fungible token. In other words, it is a unit of unique numerical value that cannot be exchanged or replaced by another unit of the same value.
- An NFT is generally used to represent the ownership of a digital work of art, such as an image, video or piece of music. It thus guarantees the authenticity and rarity of the work in question, as there is only one copy on the blockchain.
- The sale of NFT has exploded in recent years, with records reached for some digital works of art. For example, in March 2021, artist Beeple sold an NFT representing a compilation of his works for an astronomical amount of $69 million.
The collaboration between Vera Molnár and Martin Grasser
For this Sotheby’s auction, Vera Molnár partnered with Martin Grasser, an Austrian digital artist specializing in the creation of NFT. Together, they created a collection of digitally generated NFT from Molnár’s works, bringing a new dimension to his work and allowing collectors to access rare and authentic digital versions of his creations.
A resounding success for this auction
The auction of this NFT collection was a great success, with a total of 631 ETH (approximately $1.2 million) raised. This result reflects the growing interest of the public and collectors in digital art, but also the talent and reputation of Vera Molnár as a pioneer artist in her field.
It is also interesting to note that this sale has allowed Vera Molnár to become known to a younger and amateur audience of new technologies, who thus discovers his work and his exceptional career. At the age of 99, the Franco-Hungarian artist shows that art is a constantly evolving field, and that artists can adapt and take advantage of new technologies to push the limits of their creativity.
