X-man (@okburu) • Hey

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⚠️ Long Reading 💢 🚬CM CigNet. I wrote this text about @lens/cigawrettepacks from my own perspective. Your interpretation might differ, and that's perfectly fine. Smoke it as you wish! @lens/t2world @lens/orb @lens/creators @lens/lens ———— 🚬CIGAWRETTE PACKS: A SMOKEY PHILOSOPHICAL DISCOURSE One cig can alter your world, but every puff comes with a price! Cigawrette Packs is an avant-garde literature project, comprising 9999 NFTs that probe the nebulous intersection of PFP, utility, and aesthetic value. It’s a countercultural manifesto and an incisive OnChain critique, transforming the mundane cigarette pack from a basic nicotine dispensary into a potent symbol of creativity and art’s pivotal role in our crypto-capitalist lore. The collection includes unique specials like ‘Ainslie Country Exploration,’ a recent ad series in collaboration with Lens. This collection highlights the project’s commitment to artistic innovation and cultural commentary. These basic cardboard boxes, initially designed to hook consumers and obscure the health risks of the dirty substance’s intake, are reimagined here as canvases for creation and fast-consumed literature. This move challenges us—degens, canceled, supra-nihilists, NEETs, and techno-philosophers—to reassess the significance of daily objects and their potential to generate new meanings and narratives within various contexts. Its intentional ambiguity calls for personal interpretation, with meanings that shift based on one’s background and worldview. Here’s my take, with some insights from Lofo Verboten, who manages the project after the artist’s departure. TAKING BACK CONTROL WITH ART AND WORDS The Cigawrettes’ blank warning labels are a bold confrontation to the consumerist culture that shapes our perceptions through omnipresent messages. Showing these spaces as empty, the packs help us consider the plots that are regularly imposed on us by advertising and government bodies. The act of inscribing these "fill as you wish" blanks is emblematic of reclaiming one’s voice in a society that often relegates us to the role of passive consumers (or smokers). ABSURDISM MAXXING Rooted in deep absurdist philosophy, Cigawrette Packs become a support where traditional symbols of health hazards and addiction are turned into vessels for artistic expression. This contrast cultivates a sense of the absurd, challenging the conventional stories that cling to the good ol’ cigarette packs. “Cigarettes with eyes is pretty absurd, no?” Lofo mused when I asked about the themes of absurdism and nihilism the project seems to convey. “As to nihilism, from my understanding Pappachaga—the artist behind this project—approached it as a positive belief system. Not in terms of happiness or sadness, but as affirming rather than negating. Perhaps he found absurdity in the belief that nothing matters. I share this perspective. It is a belief, and as such, it imparts meaning, regardless of the nature of that belief—even if it is often perceived as avoidant and depressing.” He added, “Not sure what it has to do with cigawrettes.” Perhaps the blank labels are the key. Perhaps it invites people to find their own meanings in spaces traditionally marked by caution, thus welcoming the chaos of existence to discover personal significance. Who knows? EXISTENTIALISM AND METAMODERNISM Cigawrettes seem to have something to say about existential themes, especially the idea of defining yourself through creation. Using the blank labels (via Cigbot.life), everyone can join in a kind of self-creation, shaping their identity with their contributions. The engagement strategy is multifaceted and resonates with different audiences. While interactive elements—similar to Choose Your Own Adventure and Interactive Theatre—are not central to the experience, they add a layer of participation. However, not everyone prefers this mode of interaction. “I’m not really sure. I always hated those Choose Your Own Adventure books. I want to watch the show, not wonder if there’s another TV I need to watch to figure out who killed so and so,” Lofo expressed. This perspective underscores the importance of providing a cohesive narrative that doesn’t require viewers to seek out additional paths to understand the core story. This endeavor is definitely situated within the framework of metamodernism, which reconciles the polarities of sincerity and irony, hope and doubt. It exemplifies this oscillation, encouraging creativity while acknowledging the ironic twist of repurposing consumer goods as art mediums. THE CIGAWRETTES CONUNDRUM In this conceptual script, the cigarette pack leaves its physical form to become a simulacrum—a representation without an original. This resonates with Baudrillard’s hyperreality, where the lines between the actual and the simulated move away. It challenges the authenticity and relevance of digital artifacts in an era where tangibility is no longer paramount. By co-opting corporate aesthetics, Cigawrette Packs engage in a subversive act, employing the language of marketing to critique the systems it mirrors and to reflect on the pervasive corporate influence in our daily lives. In the same vein, while downstream of influential NFT collections, Cigawrette Packs contribute to this evolving narrative. Derivative works and collaborations within it, such as those related to Milady, enrich the ecosystem by weaving shared cultural references and symbols. “The whole internet is awash in images and symbols mashed together. It is all essentially one massive collaborative effort,” Lofo added. The influence of Remilia’s Milady, with its community-driven approach, sets a precedent for projects like Cigawrette Packs. The integration and interaction with such pioneers are not just about the transfer of aesthetic or thematic elements but also about the fusion of communities and the shared evolution of value. As Cigawrettes or CigNet as its members call themselves navigate this landscape, it invites the community to explore its utility and potential through Cigbot.life, alt accounts, bot accounts, and rabbit holes. It promises a back-and-forth through an interconnected ecosystem. CYBERBOTANICAL PARADISE Cigawrettes state that they are an initial building block to bring about a cyberbotanical paradise that seems to symbolize a utopian intersection where technology and ecological mindfulness merge. This vision critiques prevailing environmental practices and offers an optimistic perspective on what might be accomplished through progress. It represents a hopeful future where art and technology are leveraged to forge a more balanced existence. In this context, Lofo’s observation that ‘Cigawrettes are carbon neutral’ adds a provocative dimension to the discourse. It invites us to scrutinize the environmental impact of our actions and the products we consume. The statement encourages a deeper understanding of the full lifecycle of products in our pursuit of sustainability. From my understanding, the notion of cigarettes being carbon neutral is a complex one, as it involves considering the entire process from production to disposal. The environmental footprint of cigarettes is indeed significant, and efforts to reduce their impact are crucial as we strive for a carbon-neutral future. AN EVOLVING DISCOURSE Cigawrettes are both fluid and vaporous. They invite tons of interpretations, and my current text is just a super tiny facet of what the project has to say. As a collective artwork and story, it evolves with each new expression, emphasizing the power of shared creativity and the impact of the network. Understand it as you wish/can… B.
Quitters never win and winners never quit.
**Love the life you live. Live the life you love.**
Attention all Bonsai Samurai! 🎉 We are excited to announce our Jingasa Hat Meme Contest! 🥷🌳 Put your creativity to the test and incorporate our unique Jingasa hats into your funniest and most original memes. 💰 Prizes: 25,000 $BONSAI total for the top 5 meme creators! Download the Jingasa below, create your unique meme and post it as comment👇 🔗 <https://bonsai.meme/download/jingasa.png>
Which is the purpose of @club/build club: 1️⃣This is a place where all users can share what they are building each day, and get the spotlight they deserve. You can share daily, weekly or monthly, doesn’t matter, JUST BUILD🫡 2️⃣Also, BUILD is a social game acorss the SocialFi ecosystem that rewards builders for their hard work via peer nominations. You can play the game by having a SocialFi account at build.top This club will be used to host updates about the upcoming season 2 of the game (Season #1 ends today with +150k participants and +1.5M nominations 🤯)
GM Frens! 💜 It's time to restart Phaver app to get latest updates. 🔥 We added a special feed filter for Phaver Creators. 🚀 We enabled Farcaster commenting. Also now you can recast/mirror posts to Farcaster. We are cooking hard, stay tune for the biggest summer: $SOCIAL SUMMER! 🏖 🦄
pleasrdao is this you?
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration
✂️📸🌸
bonsai design is getting crazy 🔥
C u l t u r e C u r r e n c y 🌳 $Bonsai 🌳 https://zora.co/collect/base:0xfa6dc2a0fb078205494d2b886bfdc91b6ae366dc/1?referrer=0x94734E11b78680a35b0A86ba3ce634d334d6d2A7
Do whatever just to stay alive
Happy Mothers Day to all the wonderful mothers out there!
Epicccc
Starting to collect more text based posts that are good takes or mark certain moments for people I follow and admire.
2h left Have a great Sunday y’all 🫶💙
who can send me some bonsai!
🦌
so we're playing chess.
yup
gm to everyone hitting pause on the scroll to boost some change-makers 🫡 https://twitter.com/gitcoin/status/1782754572496220161
**Weekly Recap 5/3/24** Hey friends Happy Friday!!! May 3rd holy cow. I'm now back in California and soaking up the sun while getting lots in order / creating. Been a good week and about to be a fun upcoming 7 days. This week been spending a good amount of time in the ocean surfing pre or post-work, then getting some yoga in. On top of that, been in the midst of lots of meetings, prepping for my mural on Sunday, and artists residency for June. Very very excited!!! 50 $Bonsai 7 days **Weekly Recap:** - As mentioned mural sketches are all done. Today I need to go to the supply store and map out all my colors. I fly to Portland on Saturday (tomorrow) and will begin painting on Sunday. My window to paint is small, that's why I'll start on the weekend. - I pitched a project to Gamma and an upcoming pitch with Counterfeit Culture for an Ordinal drop. Again very early stages but my concept is there and really seeing who want to partner with before I create this project. Cross your fingers. - I kicked off more web2 initiatives with a new partner of mine for IG ads. For prints, clothing, and merch, you gotta pay to play in this sector. I haven't done ads in so long as I've focused on my fine art. Handing this over to a new team will be quite helpful for me and testing them out for 3 months. Sorry if you get targeted on IG - I had a wonderful meeting with @selkie with her new artist's residency program. She invited me and a handful of talented artists to Brazil on June 17th to create for a week. Beyond thrilled to be participating in this!!!!!!! The meeting was with most of the artists talking shop on details. More to come! - I did a few more updates to my website. Always something to tweak in there. -Hit a new milestone of email subscribers to my website at 15k people. **UNREAL!!!** Been so many years building this up and so proud. Appreciate you all. More to come! Have a wonderful weekend! #alimo #weeklyrecap #artistlife #bonsai #lens #orb #beach
Stairs to nowhere
Don’t click any links from the X accounts we are investigating
I’m genuinely so happy for these smaller market cities having teams to be excited for, fanbases fired the fuck up! Beautiful. Except Detroit I’m truly sorry you just can’t catch a break even with pizzarena 🍕
hi guy