Op-Ed: Ready for change – Alec Monopoly set to terraform the world of NFT
Seeing gifted artists such as Alec Andon, better known as Mr Monopoly by his adoring fans, entering the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) is impressive. Andon is not simply creating art; he is crafting culture.
The weird and wonderful world of NFT is not novel to other talented artists such as Mike Winkelmann, otherwise known as “Beeple”.
Beeple created and sold the revolutionary Human NFT at the world’s most famous auction house, Christie’s, for a staggering $29 million last year. Other notable NFT creations such as CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club from Yuga Labs are great examples of crypto projects that attracted renowned celebrities, including soccer icon Neymar Jr and prodigious rapper Snoop Dog.
So what can we expect in the next coming weeks from Alec Monopoly?
Let’s take a close look at Alec’s RAGS to RICHIE project. It is rapidly gaining traction across social media, including its bustling Twitter account and viral word-of-mouth marketing.
So far, the collection has received excellent feedback, with buyers keen to become early adopters worldwide. As with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, the fear of missing out has also been a factor for participants.
Keen to substantiate its digital roots, the RAGS to RICHIE online community plans to collaborate via a dedicated Discord channel where all participants will be able to share their experiences. Many collectors are hopeful of being whitelisted and, therefore, obtaining the opportunity to acquire rare digital artwork that could potentially appreciate over time.
To understand what makes Alec’s work special, one can look at several of his previous designs, including art displays at the famous Jimmy’s club in Monte Carlo and Nammos restaurant in Mykonos. His work has also been exhibited in high-profile locations, by the Eden Gallery in Soho and Madison Avenue in New York, Aspen, Miami, New Bond Street in London and Mykonos in Greece. World leaders have also snapped up his work.
According to publicly available information, Alec grew up in New York before moving to Los Angeles in 2006. LA was where his talents exploded onto the world stage. Even graffiti artists have been inspired by his digital creations.
First and foremost, as the centrepiece of his digital art portfolio, Monopoly Man wears his multicoloured top hat in addition to his rainbow-covered waistcoat while puffing on a cigar. The lighthearted character portrays success, achievement and abundance – who doesn’t take himself too seriously. Fans can also experience the jovial side of NFTs through hidden messages and so-called easter eggs left behind by the artists to surprise fans.
Today, RAGS to RICHIE leverages a widely popular character called “Richie Rich” — a flamboyant eccentric who wants to show the world that anything is possible and that attaining a lavish lifestyle can be a worthy milestone. Acquiring riches connects people while incentivising the development of collaborative communities and sharing common interests in art, technology and finance.
As you can see, I am excited about the project, and I hope you are too. Alec Monopoly is on course to make waves in the world of NFT, including launching a new collection that will likely create quite a buzz in the NFT world.
By Dr. Demetrios Zamboglou
Dr. Demetrios Zamboglou is a leading financial executive in the Middle East, with over a decade in management board positions. He heads business operations of CFI Financial Group, one of the biggest, most advanced and technology-driven financial brokers in the MENA.
He is recently recognized as a GCC Young Achiever in 2021 (ex-40 Under 40), he is also the first Cypriot to join the Young Circle of Leaders (YLC) at the Milken Institute and holds multiple awards for his research by tech giants such as Microsoft & Amazon.
