Beeple’s “The First Human” lands at M+! The first-ever “metaverse” human creates digital art history in the 21st century.

Since Beeple first released his digital artwork “EVERYDAYS: THE FIRST 5000 DAYS,” it has sparked a global NFT craze, making him the third most expensive artist in the world. Last year, the artist unveiled his first piece combining virtual and physical elements, “Human 1,” and set a record-breaking billion-dollar transaction at an auction, leaving people eager to witness the charm of his works. Recently, M+ announced that they will present the first Asian exhibition of the generative digital sculpture “Human 1” in December.

“Beeple: Human Number One” is an artwork that combines digital and physical forms, constantly evolving, showcasing the first human born in the 3D virtual world called “metaverse” on the internet. The physical artwork is a seven-foot-tall box structure with large LED screens on all four sides, continuously rotating. The screens display a constantly changing virtual landscape, with a figure called the “Traveler” by Beeple, dressed in a spacesuit, walking forward. The exhibition at M+ will be the first time this artwork is shown in Asia.

“Humanity 1” is a digital artwork that evolves over time, like an ongoing conversation, responding to current issues and reflecting Beeple’s ever-changing interests in life. The traveler moves forward towards an unknown goal, and the surrounding landscapes also constantly change, ranging from dreamlike realms to dystopian settings, from psychedelic dimensions to desolate lands, as if pieced together from multiple backgrounds. Beeple uses elements and creative materials found on the internet to periodically change the scenes, in response to global trends.

 
“The First Human” allows the audience to understand that contemporary visual culture is a flexible and ever-changing experience, just like the characters in the work. Although they are trapped in an airtight box, isolated from the world, they still relentlessly pursue progress and grasp infinite possibilities. The extraordinary journey of the traveler metaphorically represents human progress and also reveals that the division between our digital and real lives is becoming increasingly blurred.

Beeple is excited about M+ exhibiting its first physical sculpture: “Human 1” is an ongoing experiment, attempting to build a bridge between the digital and physical worlds on an open canvas. It is a moving piece of art that continuously showcases real-time imagery and creates new meanings. I am thrilled to see the continued journey of “Human 1” transcending geographical boundaries and arriving at M+ to be showcased to the diverse and open-minded audience in Hong Kong.

The work will be exhibited in the museum’s focal space from December 9, 2022 to April 30, 2023.

Image source and learn more: M+