ADDX Fireside: Non-Fungible Tokens – Investments or Hype?

Jan Larsen

American Neo-Pop artist, JLA Studios

One of the most operationally-interesting, entertaining, and exciting voices in contemporary art, American Neo-Pop artist Jan Larsen’s body of multimedia work reflects the tenor of our times.

Born in the American Midwest in the ‘Summer of Love’ of 1967, Jan began his schooling as part of a cultural-integration program at a predominantly African-American school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and proceeded through the American public school system to earn his undergraduate degree from Harvard University, and a Master’s degree in business management from Oxford University in England.

In 1997, Jan moved to New York City, to complete what he calls “an inquiry into the character, history, and living, breathing, Beuys-style experiential-sculpture professional practice of fine art.”

Starting-up and building four galleries under his name in New York City from 2000 to 2015, representing scores of artists, producing hundreds of exhibitions, and loaning works in partnership with the US State Department as part of its Art In Embassies programme, Larsen built Jan Larsen Art into a global fine art practice. He educated himself in art history and learned the tools-of-the-trade of fine art, while refining his own approach – to contemporary culture, and to market.

Launching his solo career in 2015 in New York City, Jan’s work speaks to his American experience, responds to world events, and reflects on the quality of our contemporary moments, world-wide.

In 2019, he began setting up his new home-base and production studios for Asia, which he calls Robertson House in River Valley, Singapore, and he is delighted to present and be joined in his work by collectors, artists, and for-profit, charitable, and governmental institutional partners in the US, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Hafiiz Karim

Art Director and Artist, @thenextmostfamousartist

Hafiiz goes by the name of The Next Most Famous Artist (a take on The Most Famous Artist) on Instagram. Born in 1992 and am based in Singapore. He is a Digital Art Director by day and an artist by night.

Hafiiz graduated with a degree in Communications and New Media. He then went on to take my Masters in Asian Art Histories. After realising that he is not cut out to be an Art Historian or a curator, He decided to stay in advertising and create art on the side. Hafiiz work has been featured in the news and magazines such as Channel News Asia. He also has a fanbase of 16.5k followers on Instagram.

Kevin Lim (PhD)

Deputy Director, Co:Lab X - An Innovation Lab, National Gallery Singapore

Working at National Gallery Singapore for the past decade, Kevin Lim has evolved through roles in Visitor Experience, to Corporate Planning, to CoLab X, an innovation collaboration role at the Gallery.

For both visitors and staff, CoLab X is aimed at delivering value-add through better ways of working with the Gallery. To further the Gallery’s innovation capability, his latest venture is YLab.sg where the Gallery aims to work with start-ups on cutting-edge ArtTech innovations.

Kevin Lim graduated with a doctorate in Communication theory from the State University at Buffalo, New York and his work has revolved around the reflexive architecture of society and online social networks.

Shengen Lim

Contemporary Artist and Founder,  Cult Tech

Shengen Lim, born 1981, his practice is geared in a multidisciplinary manner that seeks new presentations of traditional methods. Currently exploring the New Media with space, time, static and dynamics as aesthetic experiences. My work touches on issues in contemporary media art and culture, using alchemist-like processes and engineering methodologies to bring new contemporary perspective into New Media Art. The subject matters are related to notions of lost, interactions and negotiations.

His work has been exhibited in Artscience Museum Singapore, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore Fringe Festival, Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore, Alliance Francaise - Singapore, Kanto Gallery – Philippines, Sunshine Museum of Contemporary Art - China, ‘2e Biennale internationale de I’image de Luang Prabang – Laos and Salford University - United Kingdoms, Sunshower – Mori Museum, Tokyo, Japan. Having based in Korea, his exhibitions includes The Stranger, Loop Gallery, Flow International Performance Festival, Golmok Gallery – Seoul, On Video, Hongik University – Seoul, Ulsan Art Center and 7th Guemgang Nature Art Biennale and Asia Culture Center - Gwangju.

He is currently pushing for New Media Art in Singapore as an artist, an entrepreneur and an educator. He was trained in Fine Arts in LASALLE College of the Arts and spent some time in the Graduate School of Culture Technology in Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) as a scientist and researcher with Interactive Media Lab and Experience Lab. He is a member of The Artists Village (Singapore), Daejeon Arts Collective (Daejeon, South Korea), Axis of culture (Transpacific arts collective).

Sandra Helou

NFT & Metaverse Futurist, Zilliqa

With an extensive background and knowledge spanning across traditional and digital media with a focus on NFT & blockchain, innovation, strategy, marketing, audience growth & engagement, concept creation, partnerships & collaborations Sandra has worked with several agencies and clients covering Australia, Asia & Europe along with the Middle East.

She has always been at the forefront of the digital world and its rapid transformation and enjoys finding new ways for businesses and consumers to connect and share experiences and growth. Sandra has joined Zilliqa as NFT & Metaverse Futurist, with a focus on growth development & strategizing the future of the landscape. As the Zilaverse guardian, she overlooks NFT’s & the Metaverse, the creator economy, tokenization, and the creator fund.