Guest Stars: Robert Alice (Artist) & Marlène Corbun (Head of Curation at LaCollection.io)Episode Theme: Babel II – Art, Time, and Blockchain at La Monnaie de Paris

Introduction:

In this special episode, John and Rem reunite with two major forces behind one of the most impactful crypto art exhibitions in France: Robert Alice and Marlène Corbun from LaCollection.io. Their collaboration, initially launched at La Monnaie de Paris in 2023, returns for a second act.

Exhibition Part 1 Recap: The Blueprint Series

The original exhibition explored the symbolic and historical relationship between money, decentralization, and trust. Inspired by La Monnaie’s archives, Robert Alice created a series of physical and digital cyanotypes — blueprints combining institutional machinery diagrams with decentralized, blockchain-based themes.

One of the works, Garden City, was recently acquired by the Centre Pompidou, marking a significant milestone not only for the artist but for institutional recognition of Web3-native art. Notably, this acquisition was made through purchase — a rare move, as most institutional NFT holdings are donations.

Babel II: The New Series — Stasis Fields

Returning to La Monnaie de Paris, Robert Alice introduces a new body of work titled Stasis Fields, launching March 27th. Conceptually, these pieces dive even deeper into blockchain’s relationship with time, drawing from cosmology and the physics of black holes.

The centerpiece of the new series is a set of hybrid artworks: physical prints paired with dynamic NFTs. The NFTs evolve in real time, synchronizing with Bitcoin or Ethereum block heights. As new blocks are minted, a generative black hole grows, collapses into a white hole, and regenerates — embodying the perpetual cycle of time and data.

Philosophy, Science & Art Interwoven

Robert Alice discusses how his work departs from fast-paced crypto trends, looking instead to historical, scientific, and philosophical frameworks. From Kant and Einstein to Borges and AI, he positions blockchain not just as a technical tool, but as a cultural and temporal landmark — the printing press of our era.

Exhibition Details

Exhibition Title: Babel IIVenue: La Monnaie de ParisVernissage: March 27, 6–9PM CETPublic Exhibition Dates: March 27 – April 21, 2025

Phrase of the Episode :

“If the blockchain is a library, then each block is a page in the infinite book of time.” — Robert Alice

This poetic line encapsulates Robert Alice’s unique vision of blockchain technology — not as a cold, digital ledger, but as a living, evolving archive. It positions each block as a narrative unit within a limitless, decentralized library, continuously writing the story of our digital civilization.

Useful Links

Robert AliceWebsite: robertalice.comTwitter: @https://x.com/robertalice_21

LaCollection.ioWebsite: lacollection.ioTwitter: @LaCollectionOff

Marlène CorbunLinkedIn: Marlène CorbunTwitter: MarleneCorbun

Replay Video of the Episode here

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