The release of Julian Assange closes an important chapter in the modern history of human rights and press freedom. This news also marks the end of an artistic project: Pascal Boyart’s NFT “Dollars Assange” collection.

A collection in daily evolution

“Assange Dollars” is an NFT collection created by artist Pascal Boyart on Ethereum. The collection, launched in February 2022, is an artistic and political initiative interacting directly with the number of days Julian Assange has spent in prison.

Every day Julian Assange was imprisoned, a new NFT was automatically created. And these NFTs were randomly distributed to owners of the “Nakamoto Dollars” collection.

A work of art and resistance

The inspiration behind“Dollars Assange” goes back to a physical work by Pascal Boyart created in March 2021. Composed of one hundred real US $1 bills torn and glued to canvas, the work reproduces the portrait of Julian Assange. Boyart used art to highlight the sacrifices made in the name of freedom of expression and transparency.

This work was sold for 1 bitcoin at auction. 30% went to support Assange.

Solidarity and support

The “Assange Dollars” collection was designed with philanthropy in mind. The first 1031 NFTs were distributed free of charge to collectors of Boyart’s works. And the royalties generated by the secondary market were donated in full to Julian Assange’s defense. This initiative supported Assange in his legal battle.

The End of an Era

With the release of Julian Assange, the “Assange Dollars” collection reaches its conclusion. No new NFTs will be created, and the total number of tokens has been definitively fixed at 1805. This finality marks a new milestone for holders of these NFTs, who now possess a fragment of this eventful and resilient history.

Political application of digital art

The “Dollars Assange” project is a perfect example of how digital art and technology can intersect to champion social and political causes. By making the creation of each NFT dependent on the days Assange spent in prison, this initiative not only raised awareness of his plight, but also strengthened a community of support through art and technology.

We celebrate the release of Julian Assange. But also the power of art as a vector for change and mobilization. The “Assange Dollars” collection will go down in history as an outstanding example of artistic commitment and technological innovation in the service of just causes.

About Pascal Boyart

Pascal Boyart is a Parisian painter. He started out as a graffiti artist, influenced by the terrain vague de la Chapelle, a landmark of European graffiti. For fifteen years, he made a name for himself in urban art with his ultra-realistic frescoes and figurative style.

Today, he concentrates on monumental portraits, exploring the expressiveness of the human gaze and its complex relationship with the soul. His artistic approach combines urban culture and classical sensibility, combining new technologies with traditional painting techniques.

An innovator, Boyart is the first muralist to integrate QR codes for Bitcoin donations and transform his frescoes into NFTs. His influences include masters such as Bruegel, Goya, Pollock, Seurat and Freud.