Between sales mechanism and medium: Art in the age of blockchain and NFT

The text considers the status of NFT artwork and how it is affected by its close relationship with blockchain. Doubts about the media character of NFT art are raised. Two perspectives are juxtaposed: one that denies NFT art the status of a medium and treats it as a certificate of authenticity and ownership for sales purposes (Richard Vigniel, Dave Krugman), and another according to which the meaning and value of NFT art can only emerge when the NFT is not solely a sales mechanism but becomes a medium of art (Christiane Paul). In the former case, the media and artistic nature of NFT-related works will be determined outside the blockchain platform and the NFT. The author, referring to the selected works of Eve Sussman and Masaki Fujihata, points out that the two aspects can be combined, and the deconstructed sales mechanism can become a medium for NFT art. The question of whether this is the only possible kind of NFT media art remains open.