Loading New Conflict... Redux 6 is part of XCOPY’s first ever series on SuperRare, minted July 24, 2018. There are 7 parts to this series: an original version and 6 “Redux” versions. The original version was gifted to Artnome for being an early Ascribe collector, while 4 of the 6 Redux versions were gifted to other early Ascribe collectors. The other 2 Redux versions were sold to collectors, including to Hackatao for .2eth back in 2018. It is very rare for works from this series to come to market; the last sale was 2 years ago, when DCinvestor purchased Redux 5 for 74eth. Based on the incredibly low transfer and sales activity, the rest of the series is believed to be vaulted, which makes this a truly remarkable occasion for XCOPY and glitch fans alike.

As we dig deeper, it becomes clear that this series originated in concept nearly a decade ago. On August 8, 2014 XCOPY posted an early version on tumblr, titled LOADING NEW CONFLICT. As we can see here, the work features multicolored tank(s), moving quickly from the left to the right in a loop. In June 2017, XCOPY posted the original version for the first time, seen here, which was then minted on SuperRare nearly a year later. The series is a powerful example of XCOPY's unique style; the figure in the center of the piece appears to be a tank, and some versions have grim reapers or other figures, which can be interpreted as a merging of technology and human biology. The use of pixelation and glitch effects give the impression that the image is being corrupted, reflecting the theme of conflict that is central to the piece. The use of geometric shapes and patterns also adds to the sense of chaos, giving the impression that the figure is being pulled in multiple directions at once. The provenance and context for the series encapsulates that this series is truly a full circle moment for XCOPY, bringing together early supporters of his and encouraging new collectors to dive into this history.

There are definitely some aspects of the early work from 2014 that carries over into the original (2017) and following Redux versions, namely the movement of the tanks, color scheme and use of geometric patterns. Below is the original Loading New Conflict, which has a black and white color scheme with fairly quick movement as it loops.

In Redux 1, we see similar movement but there appears to be a grim reaper quickly flashing between frames of the tank rolling. See below.

The glitched movement patterns standout across the rest of the series, as shown below in Redux versions 2,3, 4, 5, and 6. Each image is a frame capture from its respective piece, further emphasizing the difference in color and pattern found between the series. This is key in that, while connected, these works ought to be treated as unique from one another. Their subtle nuance says as much.

About Shayne Coplan (ethsquiat)

Shayne Coplan, also known as ethsquiat, is a New York-born entrepreneur and cryptocurrency enthusiast. He first became interested in the world of cryptocurrencies in 2013 and quickly realized the potential they had to revolutionize the way we think about ownership, art and transactions.

In 2018, Coplan founded Polymarket, the world's largest prediction market platform. Polymarket allows users to trade on the outcome of various real-world events, including politics, sports, and finance. The platform has gained significant attention for its innovative approach to prediction markets and has attracted millions of users from around the world. In addition to his work with Polymarket, Coplan is also a prominent NFT art collector. Under the pseudonym ethsquiat, he has amassed one of the largest collections of NFT art in the world. He has been a pioneer in the NFT space and has been the first collector of multiple now-famous artists, including XCOPY, Max Osiris, and FEWOCiOUS.

Coplan is also notable for being one of the youngest first-generation collectors to sell the marquee lot in a Sotheby's auction. This achievement is a testament to his passion and vision in the world of digital art. His success has helped to elevate the profile of digital art and has inspired many others to get involved in this exciting new space. Coplan's spirit and commitment to innovation are fitting for the presentation of XCOPYs Loading New Conflict... Redux series.

About XCOPY

The London-based digital artist XCOPY was an early pioneer of GIF art via the websites Giphy and Tumblr but today is most widely known as an early adopter of crypto art, having been invited to participate in the launch of the SuperRare marketplace in 2018. His neon-colored illustrated GIFs are instantly recognizable for their dark, punk-inspired themes of apathy and dystopia and the distorting “glitch” elements and visual loops which, due to their low frame rate, move and vibrate with a frenetic energy that brings the images to life on screen.