MOM NFT Public Sale Announcement

Dear NFT and Ocean Conservation Enthusiasts,

We are excited to announce that the MOM Project is about to launch a unique NFT collection, combining the creativity of Hong Kong local artists with the noble mission of ocean protection.

Project Overview

• 6 unique marine creature NFT designs (two butterfly fish, two turtles, two whales)
• Created by two Hong Kong local illustrators, both members of the Hong Kong Society of Illustrators (HKSI)
• All NFTs will be sold in a one-time public sale
• A total of 98 mystery blind boxes
• Including 29 each of the two butterfly fish types, 19 each of the two turtle types, and 1 each of the two whale types
• Official purchase link: OpeaSea

Artist Introductions

Gabriel Li @ tna.illus (IG: Timid and Ange (TNA)) Gabriel is a passionate Hong Kong illustrator who focuses on the topic of ecology and all historical stuff. He is good at using humorous and satirical stories and illustrations to convey his thoughts on ecology. Gabriel is a member of the Hong Kong Society of Illustrators (HKSI) and has contributed 3 stunning marine creature designs to this project.

Peanut @ MeanProduction (IG: @mean_production) Peanut is renowned for her unique style, with works that are relaxed, humorous, and rich in Hong Kong characteristics. Her creative philosophy is “to draw illustrations that belong to Hong Kong.” As another talented member of the Hong Kong Society of Illustrators (HKSI), Peanut brings 3 marine creature designs full of personality to this series.

Environmental Cooperation Partner — A Plastic Ocean Foundation (APO)

We are honored to collaborate with A Plastic Ocean Foundation (APO) to jointly promote ocean protection. APO is an international non-profit organization dedicated to reducing plastic pollution and protecting marine ecosystems.

• Official website: https://www.aplasticocean.foundation/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplasticoceanfoundation/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APlasticOceanFoundation/

We pledge that if the NFT series sells out, we will donate $1,000 (or equivalent in MATIC) to APO. This donation will be used to support APO’s “Coral Guard Initiative”, aimed at restoring coral habitats in Hong Kong. According to APO, $1,000 can clean up about 200 kg of underwater debris and rescue about 20–30 coral fragments.

Sale Details

August 1, 2024 — September 21, 2024 (or when sold out, whenever earlier)

Our NFTs will be minted on Polygon and sold uniformly on OpenSea. We adopt a one-time public sale method, with each NFT sold as a mystery box at a uniform price. You have the chance to obtain a unique NFT at a uniform price, and the quantity of each type of NFT is extremely rare, representing Hong Kong artists’ unique interpretation of marine life and ocean conservation. Please see our website and future announcements for details.

A Dialogue Between Art and Ocean: Gabriel Li’s Creative Perspective

Today, we will first share excerpts from Gabriel Li’s interview. Gabriel shared some of his thoughts on artistic creation and ocean conservation:

Question: As an artist/illustrator, have the ocean and marine life ever been a source of inspiration or insight for your creative work?

Answer: “I enjoy creating character designs based on living creatures. One of my illustration series explores the relationship between the environment and living organisms, including marine ecosystems, which is one of my sources of inspiration.”

Question: What is your understanding of the threats and damage being done to marine ecosystems?

Answer: “The increasing severity of marine debris, oil spills, microplastic pollution affecting organisms, trawling, and other human activities are causing irreversible damage to marine life and ocean ecosystems.”

Question: What role do you think art and artists can play in raising public awareness about ocean conservation?

Answer: “Illustrators can transform ideas into images, directly conveying messages about ocean conservation to the public.”

Question: How would you utilize your unique artistic form to convey the theme of ocean conservation?

Answer: “I create IP characters and use humorous and satirical stories and illustrations to convey my thoughts on ecology.”

Furthermore, Gabriel shared his views on NFTs with us: he believes that blockchain and NFTs are very helpful in protecting copyrights for creators and maintaining their creative enthusiasm, but the current entry barrier is still slightly high. The MOM project’s purpose is also to help more people from different fields (art, environmental protection) access and use blockchain technology with a lower threshold.

Question: Are you familiar with the concepts of blockchain technology and NFTs? What prospects do you see for blockchain and NFTs in the art field, e.g. what advantages or limitations do you perceive in this digital art form?

Answer: “The decentralized nature of blockchain and its ability to record information in an immutable, distributed database are beneficial for protecting authors’ copyrights and effectively safeguarding the origin of their works. This ensures creators’ earnings and creative freedom.”

Question: Some environmental organizations are exploring the use of NFTs for fundraising. What are your thoughts on this? As an artist, would you be willing to donate or create NFT artworks for environmental causes?

Answer: “I am willing to use blockchain as a medium for illustration creation.”

Question: If you had the opportunity to collaborate with an environmental organization, what method(s) would you prefer to support ocean conservation (e.g. artwork donation, NFT issuance, offline events, etc.)? Do you have any other suggestions?

Answer: “I am willing to use various illustration modes, including single pieces, character creation and storytelling, various online and offline creations, merchandising, or physical workshops to collaborate with environmental organizations.”

Question: In your opinion, is the integration of art and technology (such as blockchain and NFTs) an opportunity or a challenge for increasing public awareness and influence on environmental issues?

Answer: “Enhancing the popularization and application of blockchain among the general public will bring greater momentum to the blockchain-ization of artworks. To achieve this, blockchain needs to be integrated into every aspect of life. Lowering the cost or application threshold of blockchain to make it more accessible is necessary.”

Special Thanks

We would like to express our special thanks to two key partners: the Hong Kong Society of Illustrators (HKSI) for their support and promotion of this event, and The Posemesh for their multifaceted contributions. The Posemesh not only helped promote our project but also served as our crucial technology partner. Their comprehensive support has been invaluable to the success of this project.

Conclusion

This NFT project is not just an artistic creation, but also an environmental action. By purchasing these NFTs, you not only own unique digital artworks but also contribute to ocean protection. Let’s work together to use the power of art to protect our blue planet!