An NFT of Chadwick Boseman created by Andrew Oshea as part of “Everyone Wins” swag bags for Oscar nominees is being redesigned in the wake of his Best Actor snub.
The decision was made by Distinctive Assets, an LA-based entertainment marketing company, which was auctioned off with 50% of the proceeds going to the Colon Cancer Foundation, which fights against the same disease that took Boseman’s life last August.
America collectively gasped in surprise when Anthony Hopkins received the final prize of the night for his performance in Florian Zeller’s The Father, making him the oldest actor to receive an Oscar in history instead of Boseman for his performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Everyone expected Boseman to win after taking home the Best Actor award at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Not only is there controversy surrounding that Oscar upset, there is now controversy surrounding the design of an NFT commemorating what should have been Boseman’s Academy Award win.
The NFT (non-fungible token) of a 3D digital tribute dedicated to Boseman was created by animator Oshea, who works on NFT artwork that explore futuristic and spiritual themes.
“The way to immortalize an artist, is to honor them with art,” Oshea tweeted on Saturday. “I was tasked to create a tribute NFT for Chadwick Boseman for the Oscars! Bringing this piece to life has been one of my most challenging & rewarding experiences as an artist.”
The way to immortalize an artist, is to honor them with art.
I was tasked to create a tribute NFT for Chadwick Boseman for the Oscars! Bringing this piece to life has been one of my most challenging & rewarding experiences as an artist.
Bidding on @rariblecom begins tomorrow pic.twitter.com/EYCJYWbtIZ
— ●●● (@andreoshea) April 24, 2021
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Many Twitter users have accused Oshea of plagiarizing the 3D print model of Boseman’s head after one user discovered a royalty-free license for the exact same model of Boseman’s head that can be purchased on CGTrader for $50.
According to the general terms and conditions posted on the website of the 3D model marketplace, if the seller does not indicate any contradicting licensing conditions, the buyer has the right to distribute the artwork as an “incorporated product” in any rendered still or moving images.
While Oshea was planning on auctioning his NFT of Boseman on Rarible, he took down the auction and released an official statement on Instagram regarding the controversies surrounding his artwork. Calling the past week “a huge learning experience,” the artist said he will be redesigning the artwork and putting it up for auction later this week. Oshea is still planning on donating half of the funds raised to the Colon Cancer Foundation.
“I wanted to create a digital monument that embodied Chadwick’s influence as a hero to all the Black kids everywhere while raising awareness about colon cancer and its impact on Black communities,” Oshea said in a statement. “I now recognize that Chadwick’s face is a triggering reminder of his death rather than life, and I will be redesigning the artwork to be auctioned off later this week. I appreciate all of the love and support from both community and strangers and I’m motivated to push forward this piece.”