We can all agree NFTs are kind of weird, so here’s another twist to puzzle over: in November, you’ll be able to see the “inaugural display” of The First 5000 Days, the collage/NFT that Beeple sold for $69 million earlier this year. The image can be viewed right now by simply searching the title on Google. Because digital images are so versatile, you can also pull it up on your TV or project it on a projector.

Here’s a simple tweet I’m going to embed with the image:

The meaningful twist for this party is that it will feature the first authorized public projection of The First 5000 Days. The image’s owner, Metapurse (the crypto fund managed by ), is using its unique copy of the image, or at least its nominally exclusive display rights, to set up this piece of art for a night in a gallery.

So the question is, is it cool to see an “authorized” debut for an image that you can see at any time?

I think the answer is yes for at least some people. This could be like waiting in line at Supreme to order a knockoff or watching a re-release in theaters that has been out for years, which you can do at home. maybe you don’t want the money, but there are still people who do. I don’t usually. Although I did pay to see the 2005 Pride & Prejudice at Alamo Drafthouse a couple years ago, despite owning a digital copy of it at home. It was very impressive on the large screen. )