Today’s guest is the absolutely hilarious and fun, Rinko. A collector and patron of the arts, he is also a very honest and straightforward individual that comes with a heavy dose of common sense mixed in with optimism.
Very early into our conversation, he states that for him, “art was a commodity” before, and as an Italian he has always had a great appreciation for art. NFTs changed his relationship with art, after he was introduced to it early on (by Kenshiro), and that led to the start of him acquiring pieces from artists on his own terms in April of 2021.
He calls the phenomenon of NFTs we are experiencing a “digital renaissance.” I can hear his conviction when he says it. He has some insights about where we are in the history of crypto and art, and some expectations about what’s coming next. Furthermore, he understands the use-case potential of the technology from a first-hand experience basis. This is not some theoretical shit shooting; Rinko’s opinions are coming from anecdotal experience over some years now.
His sentiment that he would like everybody to be a collector or an artist, left me with the impression that he truly believes in this culture, and can see through the bullshit. The concept of provenance, and the model by which we build communities here is something I believe in as well, though I often feel less optimistic about it all than he does.
From a collector’s perspective, he draws a comparison between how things were when Beeple blew up and where we are now, later on in the timeline. He identifies greed as a big part of the market mover at the beginning of the boom, and how so many folks became artists because of the potential for making some money in the space.
Going from being mesmerized to building a strategy, Rinko and his partner Kenshiro traversed a timeline highlighted with big names, as well as unknown individuals who had no prior name in art. For me what stands out is his recurring emphasis on creating a relationship between collectors and artists. He makes some great points about expectations and necessity, and I find they are insightful for those thinking about survival in a space that moves so fast.
Breaking down some points about behavior in the space, he really outlines how the space is changing, and how our behavior as artists are changing to adopt, whether it is because of necessity or not. And this is not limited to creators; it extends to collectors as well. His notion that one should, “stop focusing on money, get your life straight, and produce your best work,” is solid advice for anybody that may be feeling like they can’t keep up with the bullshit.
Admittedly, I don’t always have such a positive outlook about where things are headed, in relation to most things on or off chain. I do believe in positive outcomes, but tend to lack conviction in most things. Inversely, I found that Rinko has a healthy dose of common sense, and simultaneously maintains an incredibly positive approach to things. I believe it’s born of a dedication to having fun and enjoying life.
Relatedly, admitting that one has changed during an experience is something most folks won’t do. He actually focuses on, and embraces how he himself has changed, and how this is the case for many others in the space, that have continued a balanced relationship with the culture. If you take, you have to give back.
What’s fascinating, given the nature of anonymity in the space, is that we are still focused on building relationships. Or, perhaps that’s what we should be focused on, according to Rinko. As an example, his partner Kenshiro and himself have started Art Asylum, which is centered around helping artists with things that they don’t do as artists (read: marketing).
As we get deeper into it, Rinko traverses many points ranging from community affairs, to innovation, to pure fun. He even emphasizes the importance of physical art, which naturally feeds my happy receptors. One of my biggest takeaways from our conversation is how genuine Rinko is about his approach to all of this madness. He’s genuinely just here to have fun, and it’s inspiring - especially during a time when things seem kind of bleak and full of uncertainty.
Tune in for lots of laughs, insights, and honesty. And stay for some consideration on how we can adjust our approach to things when they no longer bring us enjoyment.
Be sure to connect with Rinko on Twitter, and check out his OnCyber gallery.
Next week, I get into the weeds of mental health and art with one of my oldest guests from back when this was a weekly Twitter Spaces! Alejandro has always blown my mind with his art and the story behind it. Check him out on Twitter!
Transmission #33 - Rinko