ALEXANDER WATANABE | Unsigned Algorithms, Artistic Pursuits Via NFT's & Japanese Books/Philosophy

Alexander Watanabe is an artist, coder, architect and creator of the 'Unsigned Algorithms' on the Cardano blockchain. In Conversation #76, Alexander and I discuss: why he had the time to read lots of books during his useless undergraduate, how he went about creating the code for his NFT's on-chain, his views on art and using new mediums for expression, why the universe isn't 'fair', how a lot of philosophy is all talk but examples of some practical philosophical books that are out there. Hope you're having a fantastic day wherever you are in the world, Kyrin out! Timeline: (0:00) - Intro & useless degree (2:27) - Yukio Mishima (9:20) - Other Japanese authors and heritage (13:46) - Taking a compliment (17:09) - Becoming a writer (23:49) - What are Unsigned Algorithms? (30:33) - Optimisation Problem: colour vs form (32:59) - Creating limitations (36:06) - Compositions of unsigs (39:59) - Rarity is arbitrary (42:17) - Art is about the story (49:15) - Value of allocating capital (52:50) - Power law & uneven distribution (58:02) - Mind and body connection (1:10:00) - Not V2: What is art? (1:18:51) - Philosophy: useless sometimes, good other times (1:26:21) - Daoism, Stoicism, Absurdism (1:40:07) - Learn more Connect With Alexander: Website: https://www.unsigs.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/BzrutRYktW Twitter: https://twitter.com/monad_alexander Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ Support the show