# NOUNS x NOIR

This proposal is to fund and execute phase 1 of the NOUNS X NOIR project.

## Summary of Phase 1: 

This phase relates to the design and scouting aspects of the project.

#### Objectives:
- Originate the forms of each sculpture.
- Decide which Noun the Nouns sculpture shall be based on or to design the process for selecting the Noun.
- Scout for locations for the sculptures.

#### Timescale:
- A timeline of 3 months is anticipated in order to achieve the above objectives.

## Nouns x Noir Proposal

### Origin of the Project

To further proliferate Nouns, a NOUNS X NOIR collab for a public art project is proposed. The project entails creating two 4 metre (12 foot) high bronze sculptures that will stand side by side in a major international city. One sculpture shall be of Nouns and the other will be of Noir.

### What is it?

#### Art
The Nouns sculpture will be based on one Noun. The selection process of the Noun could be contentious and the process will need to be established, or at the least explored, in advance of any funding. The process needs to be collectively agreed on by the Nouns.

Noir's sculpture will be an iconic 'Super Classic Head' of the kind Noir originated on the Berlin Wall in the 1980s. Noir’s early physical world avatars clandestinely painted on the Wall were a form of political activism through art and represented the people of Berlin at the time.

The NOUNS x NOIR sculptures are intended to be harmonious. Equal in height and overall proportions. Yet a juxtaposition will be apparent between the pixelated Noun and the more rounded analogue Noir. The sculptures are intended to be original works of original art and are not statues.  
  
#### Method
Both sculptures will be cast at the largest fine art bronze foundry in Europe and either traditionally patinated or painted. A suitable permanent and prominent public location will be secured in a major international city and the sculptures will be installed together in dialogue.

The entire process of creation at the foundry through to installation shall be documented through film (ground and drone), photography and timelapse. Each stage of traditional bronze casting shall be captured.

The story of the project shall be told.

The resulting documentary will attract an audience drawn from both the native crypto world and the art world and propagate a crossover between the two worlds.

### Scope of the Project
#### Project management and fabricators
Thierry Noir and his studio team will oversee the day to day management of the project.

The proposed bronze foundry is Pangolin Editions ([https://pangolin-editions.com](https://pangolin-editions.com)). Pangolin Editions is one of the foremost fine art bronze foundries in the world and extremely highly regarded.

For transportation and public installation, MTEC are proposed ([https://www.mtecfreightgroup.com](https://www.mtecfreightgroup.com)). MTEC specialise in the installation of public sculptures internationally.

Both organisations have already been engaged about the project and have provided quotations for the work.

#### Public location
To justify the effort and expense of the project, the intention is to situate the NOUNS x NOIR sculptures at a permanent location in a major international city such as New York, London, Paris, Seoul or Tokyo.

A major public area within the selected city is also essential to the legacy of the project. A public park or square will be the desired location. This will allow the sculptures to become an iconic landmark within the city and also serve as a meeting point.

Such a location will also facilitate the greatest number of people as possible to enjoy them, provide an aesthetically pleasing and iconic backdrop and create high culture impact internationally.

The ideal is to locate the sculptures on municipal land and not privately owned land. This chimes with the themes of freedom within the art of both Nouns and Noir.

A 99 year lease (based on a standard form public art precedent) of the sculptures will be granted to the location.

#### Past Discussions
[Initial discussion on Nouns DIscord](https://discourse.nouns.wtf/t/nouns-x-noir-proposal/87)
[Further discussion on Nouns DAO Discourse](https://discord.com/channels/849745721544146955/884419393864495114/884513517535912026)

This project is phase specific with further advancement based upon the success of the preceding phase as decided by the Nouns DAO.

  

## Phase 1: Design and Scouting

This proposal relates to the first design and scouting phase of the project.

#### Objectives:
- Originate the forms of each sculpture.
- Decide which Noun the Nouns sculpture shall be based on or to design the process for selecting the Noun.
- Scout for locations for the sculptures.

#### Timescale:
- A timeline of 3 months is anticipated in order to achieve the above objectives.

  

### Progression to Phase 2: Fabrication and Installation

Should the outcome of the design process be deemed unsuccessful from a collaborative, aesthetic or other standpoint the project will likely not progress to Phase 2.

Should locations for the sculptures not be forthcoming then the project will likely not progress to Phase 2. If a location should then present itself in the future the option will remain to resume the project, such a decision will be subject to NounsDAO decision making.

An initial outline draft of Phase 2 is below. This draft document provides and overview of the bronze casting process and detail around the public installation of the sculptures. A budget based on official quotes from suppliers is also laid out.

[Phase 2: Fabrication and Installation](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q8ZomF3u5WzWsQtWeg_QCW0KbOlAG5VAiI0dshLAF0E/edit#)

### Compensation
The artist is not seeking any compensation for his work on this project, will dedicate over a year of studio time to both phases of the project and is donating all project management resources. The artist can also add extra funding if needed.

Following an invitation from the Nouns, the NOUNS x NOIR project is envisioned as a collaboration. It is therefore fitting that both sides should provide resources to the project.

The hope is that the project will be regarded as an important art historical crossover between two distinct artistic movements. Purely from an artistic standpoint, the prospect to work on an important public art project such as this is compensation alone.

The nature and spirit of Noir’s artworks originated on the Berlin Wall has since resulted in a largely self funded public art practice outside any top down commissioning processes. This project is being approached in a similar fashion.

### Budget
Some hard costs arise do arise out of this phase of the project to a total of Ξ5

- (i) sculpting and CAD design at the bronze foundry Ξ2;
- (ii) CNC milling and 3D printing of maquettes Ξ1;
- (iii) initial structural engineering work Ξ1; and
- (iv) travel provision for international site visits Ξ1.

#### Funding Schedule

Ξ5 payable at the onset of the project.
  
### Who is building this:

Thierry Noir is a French artist based in Berlin. You can read more about him here: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thierry_Noir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thierry_Noir)  

Thierry Noir will manage the project in collaboration with the Nouns. Thierry Noir has assembled an in-house team highly experienced in delivering international public art projects, including monumental bronze public sculptures, from inception to completion.

Outcome: EXECUTED