And so we return to a classic vanitas style — a fresh new look, or a warning of the fun and games we let ourselves be consumed by. Oh, the Cherries. Crowns, jewelry, machines! Each more decked out than the last, reaching, seeking to rise above its counterparts. Colors, symbols, insectoid sidekicks! In each, a striving for some stable, deviant identity. All this! Is it real? A distraction, perhaps, from what it really is. A rotting fruit emblematic of death. Or is it hope, because it exists now, and now is all that ever exists? Whatever your view, we’re glad you’re here.
On June 6th, the Ludo Cherries DAO Proposal passed with a whopping 55% voter participation! Launch day will proceed on mint.fpdao.app according to the proposal specs as described at the end of this post. Now that Cherries are moving forward, it’s time to share their story.
Ludo’s first-ever cherry arrived on the scene in 2010, next to a flower shop on the busy streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn:
This is undoubtedly one that stuck in Ludo’s heart, as it is rotting fruit and skulls that have been the focal point of vanitas works for centuries. A rendition worthy of taking this lineage into the current millennium had just been found.
In 2012, the Cherries reappeared in Paris for their debut at << Super Discount >>. Ludo set the stage for this hyper-modern version of this classic European style by merging it with one of the most provocative artistic critiques of industrialization, Warhol’s Soup Cans.
When asked what the Cherries mean, Ludo shared this:
Apart from the very easy and appealing visual of the cherries and human skulls, this series is a self interpretation of us, human beings, living in an endless duality. We like when the weather’s shining but enjoy watching murderers on TV. As my colors, my technique, everything is a matter of duality, a constant psychological fight in between the good and the bad angel leading us.
When asked about past works that inspired him and the passion for the Cherries, he shared:
The ancient Greek smile and sad masks, Melpomene is the Muse of tragedy, thus the sad face on one mask, while Thalia is the Muse of comedy, represented by the smiling face.
The two cherries, us, the good and the bad, linked by a thin stem, a fine line in between tragedy and comedy that some of us manage and others break.
Since << Super Discount >>, the Cherries made the rounds on city streets around the world.
In Ludo’s Paris hometown, Absolute Cherry is of the most ironic billboards you’ll ever find:
Cherry Martinis brought the vanitas alcohol theme all the way to Melbourne.
… and to fancy NYC dinners.
In Amsterdam, the Cherries made their appearance on the outskirts of a shopping hub.
In Berlin, transforming an otherwise repulsive underpass into a thing of beauty.
And in Tokyo, one without any particularly exciting backdrop or accessories, appear reduced to semi-transparent holographs in a bland, urban setting.
But I suppose that’s exactly the point of the Cherries, for like us, they are dust, and to dust they shall return.
Luckily, we have the Internet Computer to immortalize them at this early stage in the life cycle, and the trait variety for us to enjoy goes well beyond that of any other FP DAO collection. While those traits are fully outlined, their appearance has yet be unveiled.
Launch Details
Tier 1:
As of today, all snapshots have been taken, and Cherries have been airdropped to Punk holders at a 1:2 ratio (Canister ID: y2ga5-lyaaa-aaaae-qae2q-cai).
Tier 2:
Begins tomorrow, June 12th, at 1 pm EST and will last for 6 hours. Cherries will be available for purchase by trilogy holders (at least one even triple of BTC, ETH, ICP Flowers in a single wallet) at 3.5 ICP/Cherry.
Tier 3:
Immediately follows Tier 2, beginning at 7 pm EST, and lasts for 6 hours for all BTC Flower holders. The remaining Cherries will be available at 5ICP.
Tier 4:
Immediately follows Tier 3 at 1am EST if any Cherries remain. They will be publicly available for purchase at 7ICP/Cherry.
All Tiers can participate directly on the FP DAO Minting Page, https://mint.fpdao.app. There are unlimited mints for each Tier for anyone with access.
Directly following the sale of all Cherries, they will be revealed in their final form and made available for secondary trading on major marketplaces shortly thereafter.
Happy minting : )
