The 21 Million Project by Carlos Marcial

Carlos Marcial is a multi-disciplinary new media artist, based in Mexico City, with more than 8 years of experience creating art with different 3D programs. His main goal has been to elevate 3D created digital art to the category of fine art; worthy of art books, galleries and museums. Carlos first discovered Bitcoin in 2012 and became a major proponent of the currency. It led him to eventually discover crypto art in 2019 and he has not looked back since. His digital artworks currently sit in the collection of 20+ art collectors. Speaking about his collection, Carlos writes, 'The 21 Million Project is my personal love letter to Bitcoin. It's very common to see crypto artists use the logo of Bitcoin (or other cryptocurrencies) on their artworks, so I wanted to go the opposite direction on this project. I challenged myself to find the subtlest ways of talking about the most profound attributes of Bitcoin. I finally settled on simulating 21 million particles using one of the most advance pieces of 3D software out there, Houdini. I was immediately able to appreciate the almost abstract nature of 21 million particles rendered all at once in front of me. I felt like I could grasp all of the 21 million particles. Presented with these images, it was easy to me to comprehend how scarce Bitcoin really is and why it matters in the discussion around sound money. Through the use of different textures on the particles, like the glass material, I was able to comment on on other aspects of Bitcoin, like the transparent nature of its transactions. On "The Code", I used as texturing material a snippet of Bitcoin's code, that which triggers Bitcoin's halving. Finally, all of these pieces of art were rendered out at 4k resolution, and in a 16 x 9 aspect ratio, to ensure they look their best when being showcase on a digital art frame. Digital techniques can, and should, open new venues for abstract art. I think this is also my way of contributing to that ongoing artistic conversation. Yes, it's abstract, but it's also Bitcoin - very clearly visualized for all our viewing pleasures. I think these artworks will serve very well as conversation starters on any Bitcoin hodler's house or apartment.'