Greg Cooper is a Melbourne-based 3D artist, and sound designer. Drawing on a background in music, his work explores the places where sound and visual connect.
He pairs old with new, narrative with abstraction, and traditional animation with inventive simulation techniques. In bending the rules, he invites the viewer to enter worlds where time and space are just a little more elastic.
For the upcoming Satellite exhibition, Cooper will be exhibiting a series of contemplative pieces designed to encourage audiences to consider perspective and connection
Tell us a bit about your art practice and any key themes throughout your work.
I work primarily in 3D, with a background in animation/motion design. I like to consider concepts such as memory, perspective, and narrative/abstraction, often working with simulation techniques to create impossible sculptures.
I also have a background in music and occasionally do my own sound design/music but this is also a space where its fun to collaborate with others.
How did you first hear about NFTs, what did you think and when was that?
I started to hear about it sometime around October 2020 with the first Beeple drop on Nifty Gateway. Initially it took a little to wrap my head around what NFTs actually were, but the more I learned the more I could see the potential and possibilities. I was then asked to join Makersplace as a featured artist in Jan 2021 and launched with Foundation V2 in February
What have NFTs enabled for you? (economically, creatively, community wise)
NFTs have created a mechanism and market for artists to sell digital art that previously didn’t exist. That in itself has been a game changer for me and my work, but I think we’re still only in the early stages of what’s possible with NFTs. The community aspect has been amazing and I’ve discovered and connected with so many talented artists this year. There’s so much enthusiasm in the space for something that genuinely feels like it could be a revolutionary new technology, for art but also for the way we interact in the digital space more broadly.
What attracted you about showcasing at Satellite?
I’m stoked to be exhibiting alongside so many amazing artists, and proud to be a part of something that I hope will help push this new format within Australia. Moving digital art displayed in physical spaces is super exciting and I love that we’re seeing more of this with NFTs gaining popularity.
Can you tell us more about the story and inspiration behind your Satellite submission?
The last two years had me considering the various ways we adapted to isolation, particularly around our relationship with the digital world. There were some surprising aspects to come from this, both positive and negative and this collection is a reflection on these thoughts.
How do you explain NFTs to someone who might not know anything about them?
NFTs (non-fungible-tokens) are a way of verifying authenticity using blockchain technology, They can be used to represent ownership of any unique asset. Primarily we’re seeing this with Digital art and collectibles – JPEGs/MP4s – at the moment, but there are many other use cases emerging all the time and I think we’ll continue to see the technology used in other areas.
Is there an NFT you’re most proud of, and why?
I think my short film Conceptions is probably my favourite release to date. This was an idea I’d had kicking around in my head for some time and took a few attempts to realise but I was quite happy with the end result, and my collaborator Timon Martin wrote a great score that brought a lot to the collection. This can be viewed here
Can you share any plans for upcoming projects?
I have a collaboration with Quentin Dupieux / Mr. OIZO that we’ll be releasing sometime soon. I’ve been a big fan of his work for a while now so I’m quite excited for this. I don’t think we would have crossed paths if not for NFTs and the community, so that’s another great thing to have come from NFTs.
In your crystal ball, what are your predictions for NFTs in the next 5 years?
The pace of change within the space over the last year has been insane, 3 months feels like a year with NFTs so it’s difficult to predict what 5 years will look like. But here goes:
Don’t miss seeing Greg Cooper NFTs at Satellite 2022
A month-long, digitally immersive and sensory experience Bringing together over 40 NFT artworks from leading influential Australian and international artists, in Bondi Beach this March.
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