Wimbledon and Andy Murray Join Forces to Launch NFT Artwork Celebrating Tennis Legacy
In a groundbreaking collaboration, the historic tennis tournament Wimbledon and former champion Andy Murray have partnered with renowned digital artist Refik Anadol to introduce an official Wimbledon art NFT on the Ethereum blockchain.
The pioneering digital art project, titled "The Exposition," incorporates 18 years of Andy Murray's Wimbledon data, encompassing his momentous Grand Slam victories in 2013 and 2016. This data, combined with exclusive motion-capture sessions, forms the foundation of the project, which is hailed as the world's first fusion of digital art, sport, and data science.
Excited to be partnering with @Wimbledon and @refikanadol Studio on a data-inspired digital art project involving every match I’ve ever played at Wimbledon.
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) July 7, 2023
More details on the drop page: https://t.co/QrbY9AmBBm pic.twitter.com/VFdMzd6HvU
The open edition NFT was launched today on manifold.xyz to coincide with Murray's second-round match at Wimbledon 2023 and will remain available for purchase until July 16. Each NFT, created in collaboration with Web3 consultancy FAN3, is priced at $147. Despite Murray's recent elimination from the tournament, the NFTs continue to attract significant attention.
"The Exposition" employs a unique algorithm that processes millions of statistical inputs, motion data, audio, and visual elements. The resulting artwork showcases vibrant bursts of color, symbolizing the intense drama, riveting rivalries, and triumphant championship moments that have characterized Murray's illustrious Wimbledon career.
Described as a visually striking reimagination of high-performance sport data, the artwork aims to captivate audiences with its innovative approach.
Expressing his enthusiasm on Twitter, Murray wrote, "Excited to be partnering with Wimbledon and Refik Anadol Studio on a data-inspired digital art project involving every match I've ever played at Wimbledon."
Holders of "The Exposition" NFT will gain exclusive access to future opportunities, including the chance to purchase a physical print edition of the artwork, produced by Avant Arte. This integration of the physical and digital realms further enhances the project's immersive nature.
Furthermore, it has been confirmed that additional collaborations between Murray, Wimbledon, and Anadol are in the pipeline and will be released in the coming months. The data from Murray's latest Wimbledon run has been collected with the intention of utilizing it for future artistic endeavors.
Anadol, acclaimed for his award-winning "Unsupervised" exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), which features algorithmic art on a grand video wall, will act as an advisor for the inaugural Wimbledon NFT collection and subsequently collaborate on the project's next phase.
