Once Upon a Time there was Humanity (PARIS)

NFT exhibited during ARTBASEL Miami 2023 at CONTEXT. The series of digital artworks "ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS HUMANITY" is inspired by his previous series titled "EXCLUSIONS," maintaining an aesthetic and symbolic coherence. This time, it invites us to reflect on the importance of consciousness and gratitude while exploring the relationship between the physical and the digital. In this series, Rauhut utilizes 3D animation of maps of major metropolises to represent a contrast between the present and an uncertain, apocalyptic future. The colorful geometries spin on their axis within a glass box, creating a constant flow of time and space. However, at specific moments in the animation, there is an interruption that briefly reveals a world destroyed and decadent. This impactful visual representation confronts us with the consequences of our current habits and urges us to reflect on the importance of caring for our planet and considering future generations. The focus present in Rauhut's work can be appreciated through the exploration of consciousness and gratitude. As we contemplate the contrast between the beauty of the animated geometries and the fleeting glimpses of a destroyed world, we are reminded of the impermanence of all things and the importance of valuing and appreciating what we have in the present. This notion reflects the concept of transitoriness and the need to cultivate an attitude of gratitude towards our daily experiences. Furthermore, Rauhut's work invites us to question the dichotomy between the tangible and the intangible, raising questions about the value of objects compared to experiences. Through his innovative use of animation and the fusion of the physical and the digital, the artist challenges conventional perceptions and leads us to reflect on the illusory nature of reality. In doing so, he suggests that value does not reside solely in the tangible but can also be found in the intangible, such as emotions, experiences, and our connection to the world around us. The approach of "ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS HUMANITY" is also manifested in Rauhut's invitation for younger generations to identify with his work. By breaking barriers between the physical and the digital, the artist opens new possibilities for artistic expression and storytelling. In doing so, he seeks to create a dialogue between different generations and convey a message of consciousness and gratitude that transcends the limitations of time and space.