The exhibition, which runs from March 1 to April 15, will feature artworks by a diverse group of over 60 international and 15 local artists working in the digital and crypto art world

Embracing the world of Metaverse, The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) is hosting the first non-fungible tokens (NFT) art exhibition at its iconic The House of Wisdom.

As reported by The Khaleej Times, the event is an effort to bridge the gap between traditional and digital art worlds and introduce visitors and the art community to the new wave of creativity that is transforming the art landscape worldwide.

The “'Gateway to the Metaverse” exhibition, which runs from March 1 to April 15, will feature artworks by a diverse group of over 60 international and 15 local artists working in the digital and crypto art world

Global Art Exhibition (GAE), a multidisciplinary global project connecting talents, and the Morrow Collective, the UAE's leading NFT curatorial initiative, are collaborating on the event. The event is also supported by LG Electronic Gulf and Al Futtaim Electronics.

Sharjah's NFT exhibition aims to promote cross-cultural dialogue between local and global artists as well as introduce the public to the inclusive world of the Metaverse. It is aimed at artists, tech enthusiasts, cultural institutions, and art collectives.

NFTs are one-of-a-kind digital assets that are linked to the blockchain, a digital database, and can be used to represent art, graphics, music, videos, or images. The unique identification codes on the digital collectible ensure that the original item is yours.

Hosted at Al Khawarizimi Exhibition space at the House of Wisdom, it covers a wide range of topics. The physical version of the NFT art exhibition spans 24 screens and highlights how NFTs can be used in a variety of genres, ranging from portraiture, digital art, crypto art, and landscape to abstract and surreal, as well as sculpture, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. It will feature artists from the UAE, the MENA region, Europe, Asia, and the United States in two rotational rounds.

"We aim to explore new ways to support contemporary art and artists with the technology of NFT and blockchain as we expand on the concept of decentralization to make art accessible to all," said Marwa Al Aqroubi, director of the House of Wisdom.

In line with Sharjah's educational, cultural, and enlightenment vision, Al Aqroubi stated that one of the House of Wisdom's most important goals is education and awareness. The NFT is a new creative field that can be used in a variety of industries, and it is the gateway to the future because of the variety of ways to access new artistic products and expertise it provides. This is why this exhibition provides a doorway to the vast global market for artists, photographers, and innovators, she added.

Amira Bin Faris, the program manager at House of Wisdom, commented that the goal is to bridge the gap between the metaverse and the real world by bringing together a diverse group of international and local artists across blockchains to showcase an inclusive collection of digital art, crypto art, and traditional art while also introducing traditional artists, collectors, and visitors to the metaverse.