Opt Out! (2025)

This artwork was created and selected as part of the Art of Freedom Project for Las Vegas 2025.
The project features 21 artists, each presenting their own interpretation of the theme inflation. All works share the same format (DIN A2) and are limited to an edition of seven prints per piece.

My idea was to portray Satoshi, represented through Dorian Nakamoto, as a quiet worker who sparked a monetary revolution and now, in the wake of hyperinflation, helps clean up the remnants of the old financial system. The wall behind him was designed to be covered with references and writings from the Bitcoin revolution.

Since the piece was created for the Las Vegas conference, I wanted it to be bold and slightly meme-inspired. I added a number of subtle details to reward a second look: the manhole as a reference to the rabbit hole, the Art of Freedom logo, “everything divided by 21M,” “open source everything,” and “SHA256” on the jacket. There is also Zetra’s brilliant inflation poster, The Times newspaper from the Genesis Block with an adjusted headline and updated prices, and mugshots of notable Bitcoin figures. Satoshi also wears Hal Finney’s shoes.

Originally, I planned to give him a blue CIA jacket, but decided against it for visual balance.
The prints are signed and labeled on the back, and each piece also includes a UV-ink numbering on the front.

During the painting process, I used myself as the model, prepared the composition digitally to experiment with different color schemes, and then built up the final piece on paper layer by layer.