David Cronenberg ventures into ‘crypto-art’ with auction of one-minute film

Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg is delving into the world of so-called “crypto-art.”

The cinematic master of body horror has released his first non-fungible token — an electronic tool that uses blockchain technology to certify ownership of a digital asset, including art — in collaboration with his daughter, Caitlin Cronenberg.

The one-minute short “The Death of David Cronenberg,” which stars and was written by its subject, hit the digital art marketplace SuperRare on Wednesday.

The younger Cronenberg shot and produced the film, featuring “The Fly” director clad in a rob as he stares into the camera before turning his gaze to a motionless figure on the bed.

Collectors can bid on the father-daughter project in the cryptocurrency Ether until Tuesday.

The reserve price is 15 ether — the equivalent of roughly $4,500 as of Thursday.

Non-fungible tokens — or NFTs — have recently emerged as a hot commodity on the art market, including the nearly $70 million sale of a digital collage at Christie’s in March.

The technology allows collectors to prove ownership of a digital asset by recording the exchange on a digital ledger known as a blockchain, which also facilitates the exchange of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ether.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2021.