From a comic strip about the climate crisis to a motion painting that uses environmentally harmful cryptocurrency, Trese has come a long way.
Thirteen ‘Trese’ motion paintings are now up for auction as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) despite the many fans opposing its sale citing environmental concerns of cryptocurrency mining.
After the launch of the Netflix animated series, the local comic based on the supernatural and Philippine folklore has garnered popularity not only among Filipinos but internationally.
(Also read: Filipino mythological creatures from komiks to animation )
To further “speak to Trese fans all over the world”, its co-creator and artist Kajo Baldisimo teamed up with Luis Buenaventura, the Philippines’ first NFT artist, and guitarist Marco Palinar.
The series of NFT collectibles titled “Trese x Cryptopop” featuring the characters Alexandra Trese, the Kambal, and Maliksi the Tikbalang is now available. Each piece will include a musical soundscape by Palinar.
Bidding for "Alexandra" is sold as a single-edition auction, starting at 2.666 Etherium (ETH). "Kambal" and "Maliksi," meanwhile, have 13 editions each priced at 0.666 ETH.
As of writing, the current rate for 1 ETH is P123,600.
However, for 2022 alone, the average equivalent for one Etherium is P 173,124.981.
Since its announcement, long-time fans of the comic have decried the Trese creators’ decision to sell NFT.
Not only is NFT inaccessible but it’s also reliant on using massive amounts of computing power leading to massive carbon emissions.
(Read: Kazakhstan experiences power shortage due to cryptocurrency mining )
“You literally [have] a story about climate change,” wrote one fan. While many others flooded the Trese official social media pages with the message, “Very disappointing to hear”.
In 2021, the creators released ‘The Siren’s Executioner’, an 8-page Trese comic that touches on the problem of micro plastics and marine pollution as part of the comic anthology.
The anthology, ‘10 Years to Save the World’, is a worldwide project supported by the British Council and KOMIKET to stimulate climate action among the readers.
To their defense, co-creator Budjette Tan appealed to their fans that they are trying out the new platform “because it looks like a fun, new way” to share their stories.
“If you, dear reader, don’t agree with the platform/format/network/channel/medium/partner/etc., then you are free to come over to the bar, sit down with us, and tell us why,” he wrote. “Instead of throwing curses and accusations at us.”
The auction is now open but so far has no offers.
Tags: #trese, #nft, #technology, #localcomics, #art, #cryptocurrency, #environment