The often said “we’re early” seems to be true within the digital art world stored on blockchains, but the project Here/After The Art (HATA) seems to take this even further. It focuses on the current state of affairs in the (digital) art world, but most of all envisions ‘what’s next’. The founders Richard Klocke and Jana Kubátová talk to Nina Knaack about their vision for the future of art.

Originally published on Zarastro.art

The founders

Richard Klocke is an artist with an extensive background in the art world. In 1975 he received a bachelor’s degree from a small liberal arts college in Kansas and in 1982 an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His career as an artist has always been intertwined with museums, spending 20 years working in history museums and 21 years as the Exhibitions Manager for the Spencer Museum of Art.

These museum environments, each in their own way, became lessons for observation, allowing him to think more and more about art as a concept and how this could possibly evolve. “My formative years as an artist were fairly standard. It was through my professional career associated with museums however that I really started to ask questions beyond the present state of affairs regarding art and art making.” This inquisitive nature spurred him to reach out to all kinds of (creative) thinkers – like physicists, philosophers, mathematicians, writers and in one case, a rocket scientist, to test views on creativity and the future of art.

Richard had many interesting conversations over the past decade, but he felt he needed to do more besides having these private discussions with interesting people. “When I heard about the possibilities of NFTs in late 2021, I strongly felt this could be a potential medium for my research. I remember wondering if NFTs could be programmed to do things on a timed schedule, somewhere in the future,” he recalls, “to really be able to open up a world wide dialogue.” Crafting a scenario for his idea, Richard began to reach out globally, which is how he met Jana Kubátová within the web3 scene.

Jana Kubátová has an extensive background curating solo and group exhibitions in Prague, alongside her experience as a digital professional in creative studios. Jana’s philanthropic vision is deeply intertwined with the web3 world: “For me, art, digital technology, and altruism all converged in this space.” It then inspired her to launch The Divergents, the first Czech NFT art collection in 2021, followed by Urban Structures and the production platform DVRG Collective. Upon her first encounter with Richard’s project, the concept instantly appealed to her. “Moving forward to explore ‘what art actually is on a global level and where it is going’, was a very logical and welcome next step for me,” she explains.

Here/After The Art

For the collaborative endeavor, they needed a name. Thinking about the future of art, ‘Here/After The Art’ came very naturally. “‘Here After’ also means future,” says Jana. “It seemed to say exactly what we set out to do: research the present and what will possibly follow for art, whilst taking the rich history in account.”

Richard and Jana’s project aims to explore the future and definition of art in new ways, using NFTs in the form of time capsules to ignite conversation around the concept of art both now and in the future. “We feel that in the emerging era dominated by AI, the Metaverse, NFT technology, and web3, the conventional beliefs about art and human creativity are being challenged,” Jana explains. “With Here/After The Art, we want to give voice to creators from diverse backgrounds across the world to expand our collective boundaries by envisioning different futures of art. We aim to elevate the discussion and provide extensive research on art as a concept beyond the traditional confines.”

Here/After The Art takes a meta approach to art creation; it’s not about a single outcome, but the collective contributions that provide a broader understanding of the subject. Richard explains, “It’s similar to calculus, in the way a possibility for infinitely small measurements can have meaning for drawing conclusions. Similarly, all these artists, with respect to their individual contributions, provide bits of information that form a comprehensive collection about the future of art. This can later be assessed, evaluated, and commented on.”

“My interest is in researching the porous boundaries of art, those transition points where the human element is suspect, and everything is up for debate.”

— Richard Klocke

Time capsule

Richard acknowledges, “It can be difficult to explain a thing when you don’t yet know what that thing is. Truly, the only requirement here is an active imagination, that ability to suspend a certain type of logic and consider an evolution of ideas without regard for time. This is a project for artists and collectors who are willing to explore across a spectrum of possibility.”

‘But how does it actually work?’, you might wonder. Well, collectors begin by acquiring a ‘mint pass’, which allows them to mint one time capsule. The creations, visions, and insights of the artists are sealed in these smart contract-controlled time capsules. Each capsule may contain multiple works of art or writings by one artist. Collectors mint a time capsule without knowing which artist is linked with it. Once the minting is complete, each collector can see the content of their time capsule. They then have the choice to reveal the contents publicly or keep them private for a while, potentially adding to the anticipation. Ultimately, all capsules are programmed to be revealed automatically, one at random each month, contributing to the discourse of the future of art.

The first wave

For the first wave, these are the artists that thought about what’s ahead:

Osinachi (Nigeria), Willea Zwey (USA), Ivona Tau (Lithuania), A. L. Crego (Spain), Connie Bakshi (USA), Emi Kusano (Japan), Florencia S.M. Brück (Argentina), Georg Eckmayr (Austria), Danielle King (USA), GlitchOfMind (Dominican Republic), Ira Greenberg (USA), Jo+Kapi (Singapore), Jonas Lund (Sweden), Kate Armstrong (Canada), Lance Weiler (USA), Lucas Aguirre (Argentina), Mark Saab (USA), Max Osiris (USA), Orkhan Mammadov (Azerbaijan), Mark Amerika (USA), Zigor Samaniego (Basque/Spain), PosterLad (Czech Republic), Bård Ionson (USA), Roope Ranistro (Finland), Sasha Stiles (Kalmyk/USA), Sougwen Chung (Canada/China), Ubermorgen (Switzerland/Austria), Uczine (Turkey), Yoshi Sodeoka (USA/Japan), and Chris Maestas – 0009 (USA), and Kalen Iwamoto & Julien Silvano (Japan/Canada & France).

The trajectory of Here/After The Art is designed to unfold gradually, with one time capsule being revealed randomly each month. Some holders may choose to unveil their capsule contents sooner if the reveal has not already happened. “By the end of 2025, the project aims to involve 100 artists in total, each contributing to this evolving exploration of art’s future,” Jana lays out.

Of all the ways in which this project could be assessed – scholarly interpretations, citation metrics, sales figures, collectors’ comments, etc. – it seems fitting to first introduce three artists who exemplify a range of concepts and artworks that will be part of the Here/After The Art project.

Osinachi

Osinachi’s involvement in Here/After The Art offers a perspective rooted in his early use of technology as a creative tool. “As Africa’s leading digital artist for transforming Microsoft Word – a simple word processor – into a medium for his vibrant digital art, Osinachi has always viewed technology as an enabler rather than a constraint,” Richard explains. In his time capsule, with his work titled ‘Verify You’re Human’, he explores the interplay between human creativity and AI, offering an optimistic vision of how AI can enhance, not diminish, artistic expression. “His belief in technology as a partner in creativity aligns seamlessly with our project’s mission to re-examine and redefine art’s future in a rapidly evolving, digital landscape,” says Jana.

Willea Zwey

Willea Zwey is a multidisciplinary artist and musician based in Chicago. “Willea’s contribution to Here/After The Art delves into the balance between our aspirations and the unpredictable currents of reality – and therefore perfectly fits the project’s goal of exploring the future of art in a constantly shifting field,” Jana describes. Drawing from her architectural background, Willea creates layered digital works that blend video game aesthetics with vivid storytelling. Her time capsule features a visual piece inspired by video game progression and an audio recording of unfulfilled promises, reflecting on how choices shape our paths. Richard adds: “By blurring the boundaries between the physical and digital, Willea’s work encourages contemplation of human resilience in a changing world, resonating deeply with Here/After The Art’s exploration of art’s shifting definitions and possibilities.”

Ivona Tau

Ivona Tau’s contribution reflects her deep engagement with technology’s role in shaping artistic narratives. Known for her use of AI and neural networks in experimental photography and motion painting, Ivona merges technology with surrealism, creating immersive, dreamlike experiences. For her time capsule, she presents a video conversation between her deep fake alter egos, each exploring different visions of the future. This concept mirrors her continuous exploration of blurred boundaries – between reality and imagination, human and machine – bringing to life Here/After The Art’s ethos of questioning and redefining art in the digital age. “By using her alter egos, Ivona pushes forward the conversation on identity, agency, and the implications of technology on how we perceive ourselves,” says Jana, “aligning with our intent to provoke thought about what art and creativity mean in an uncertain future.”

'UnBeautiful’ by Ivona Tau (2024)

Get involved

As Here/After The Art moves forward, art institutions, collectors, and cultural stakeholders have the opportunity to become founding supporters of this project by minting a HATA Mint Pass. “Acting as an initial crowdfunding campaign, the Mint Pass secures vital funding for the production phase of this artist-driven exploration of the future of art, enabling Richard and me to maintain full creative independence, free from external influence,” Jana points out. “In return, institutions gain significant promotional benefits, including logo and name placement on the project’s website and PR materials, as well as public acknowledgment during the IRL launch event – effectively positioning them as partners in shaping the future of art,” she continues.

Richard adds: “Minting a Here/After The Art Mint Pass offers exclusive perks, such as securing a 1/1 NFT at a lower price before the official mint, alongside the opportunity to influence the direction of the NFTs and captivate both audiences and traders. The initial holders of these mint passes not only help in creating a collective benchmark for generations to come but also take part in shaping a cultural narrative around art’s evolving definitions in an era dominated by digital technology.”

The NFT mint of the Here/After The Art time capsules is a blind mint, making each capsule a rare and potentially valuable piece. “By participating now, you join a community of art visionaries and help lay the groundwork for a global dialogue on art’s future,” says Richard. “We welcome you to join us in this movement by minting a Here/After The Art Mint Pass and become part of an evolving narrative that questions, explores, and redefines what art can be,” he concludes.

Get your HATA Mint Pass at Here/After The Art website.

Here/After The Art: What Goes Beyond? An Interview with the Project Founders