Nfts
Yuga Labs stops collaboration with CryptoPunks after backlash: navigating the ‘woke’ controversy | NFT CULTURE | NFT News | Web3 culture
The Punk in Residence program Yuga Labs recently introduced the Punk in Residence program, aimed at fostering on-chain collaborations and driving creative experimentation within the NFT space. The initiative selected artist Nina Chanel Abney to lead the program, culminating with her “Super Punk World” collection. This debut included an event at The School at the Jack Shainman Gallery in New York, where the new NFTs were presented.
Abney’s artistic vision Nina Chanel Abney’s work incorporates her distinct style, reinterpreting the iconic traits of CryptoPunk. She said: “CryptoPunks is an iconic and pioneering project that has played a crucial role in creating the digital collectible space. In collaborating with them, I saw an opportunity to be at the center of a unique intersection of art, technology and culture.
The 500-piece collection features hand-selected avatars inspired by CryptoPunks and Abney’s previous works. His avatars, characterized by colorful backgrounds and hybridized figures, aim to challenge societal norms and implicit biases. They reflect on the disparities in secondary market values of digital avatars based on gender and skin color.
Community reaction and criticism Despite the innovative intentions, the CryptoPunks community has largely reacted negatively. Critics called the artwork too “woke” and poorly aligned with the established CryptoPunks brand. There was also frustration over the perceived dilution of the original CryptoPunks collection, with some collectors unhappy with what they saw as an expansion of a highly regarded “blue chip” Ethereum NFT set.
Response from Yuga Labs In response to this negative reaction, Yuga Labs decided to discontinue the artist residency program to focus on preserving the original essence of the CryptoPunks collection. Yuga Labs CEO Greg “Garga” Solano tweeted: “Yuga will no longer touch Punks. They will simply be decentralized and stored on the blockchain. The only thing we intend to do is support a few museums and institutions in their quest to acquire a Punk and help raise awareness about them.
https://x.com/MKSevenn/status/1792629001271308752
TL;DR
Yuga Labs has suspended its Punk in Residence program following backlash over a new CryptoPunks collaboration deemed excessively “woke.” The program, led by artist Nina Chanel Abney, aimed to incorporate the traits of CryptoPunk into her unique style. Community criticism has focused on the perceived dilution of the original collection. Yuga Labs decided to keep the original essence of CryptoPunks, putting an end to further modifications.