Oika project

The Oikanomics model is implemented in Europe by the Locative Media Supercluster NGO leaded by the artists Fred Adam and Geert Vermeire (supercluster.eu)

The production of the artwork has to be done in a local context of a territory chosen and explored by the artist. The artwork has to reflect the essence of the land, be inspired by nature. From Supercluster we facilitate access to several key ecosystems in Spain (wetlands) and Greece (mountains). We also facilitate the hosting, the art studio and the discovery of the territory to prepare for the creation of the artwork and understand what is at play.

The artists adopting this alternative Oikanomics model for the production and selling of their artworks have previously participated in online and/or offline events organized by the scientist Rich Blundell creator of the project OIKA (Oika.com)

Each ecosystem has their own challenges, an equilibrium between species, the climate and the management of the land by people. For each environment we will define a list of species and parameters called a “biomarker” to monitor the land. This biomarker will be used to connect the monetary value of the artwork with the land. However, there is a distinction between the artwork itself and the environmental marker: the artists are free to choose a biomarker independent from the conceptual and physical representation of the artwork. Although it is possible for an artist’s work to be inspired by the biomarker, the biomarker need not affect the artists’ work. Rather, the biomarker is named to establish conditions for a natural connection between the artists’ practice and ecologic and economic system health.

To proceed to sell the artwork the artist has to define the territory, the biomarker, and the local agents contributing to the healing of the land. This can be individual people and/or environmental organizations with a capacity to improve the situation of the land. Supercluster facilitates the discovery of the land and the communication with the people during the production phase of the artwork. Oika facilitates the understanding of scientific elements and Oika philosophy as well as the integration of these within the creative Oika research process.

When the artwork is ready, we create a digital representation of the artwork we upload on our online NFT galleryWhen the artwork is ready, we create a digital representation of the artwork and upload it onto our online NFT gallery. In partnership with the artist, we create an Oikanomics Smart Contract that establishes the value of the artwork, the beneficiaries of the selling, and the dynamic parameters to re-evaluate the value of the artwork each year. The idea is that as the ecosystem’s health is restored, this is reflected in the chosen biomarker (for example the number of otters at the wetland) and therefore the value of the artwork increases accordingly. On the contrary, if the ecosystem’s health deteriorates, the artwork loses its value.

If the artwork is sold, the buyer of the artwork gets the artwork in the physical and/or digital format (as agreed upon by the artist, Supercluster, and Oika) and the ownership of the “Oikanomics Smart Contract” hosted in the Blockchain.

gallery: https://oncyber.io/ie

There are two ways to change the value of the artworks every year regarding the evolution of the biomarkers we use. One is by programming and is a technical bridge between a smart contract and a database with the ecological data we are looking for. The other one does not require technology and is based on what we call "proof of trust". Proof of trust is an Oika original concept based on establishing trust between local people monitoring the land and the buyer of the artwork. It relies on human observation of specific ecosystems sustained along the years. These observers are landkeepers and they can be the artists, ecologists, the local community, or even the owner of the artwork - anyone who can follow the evolution of the land from which the artwork was made.

A unique and important aspect of Oikanomics is that the buyers circulate the artworks they acquired regularly, especially when the value of the artwork has increased. Although unusual in a traditional art marketplace, this additional element reflects abundant, collaborative, and dynamic qualities of a natural ecosystem, thus creating a more sustainable, diverse, and resilient system of exchange. This profitable, restorative positive feedback loop links the ecological health of the land to the economic health of the art object, the artist, the art consumer, and the art partners (Oika, Supercluster). Each time the artwork is bought by another person, a percentage of the increased value is distributed among all parties, including the land, so that additional projects may continue and all parties may reciprocally flourish.

We will create an online digital platform where the artists and the buyers can monitor the status of the biomarkers and the corresponding value of the artworks. This monitoring of data will be articulated with the gallery where people can discover and buy artworks to sustain the creative participants as well as the land.

The wetland El Hondo in Elche - Spain is the place for the creation of the first prototype in collaboration with the local community and several environmental organizations. The monetary value is linked with the population of almost extinct marbler ducks present at the wetland. Part of the money goes back to the wetland to sustain ecological regeneration. Our local partners are the ecologist organizations ANSE and AHSA working on preserving the wetland and the marbler ducks.

https://www.oikaspain.com/curiosite/

https://www.cerceta-pardilla.es/en/