UNFPA and artist Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrøm launch AI-generated NFT collection to celebrate global population reaching 8 billion
PATTAYA CITY, THAILAND, November 15, 2022 – On the day the world’s population reaches 8 billion, UNFPA, the UN agency for sexual and reproductive health, and award-winning digital artist Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrøm are launching the agency’s first ever NFT collection. Entitled “Stronger Together, the collection reflects and celebrates humanity’s collective ingenuity that has led to the impressive advances in healthcare and reductions in global poverty that have enabled the population to reach 8 billion.
Created exclusively for the occasion, the 800 pieces use innovative technologies while emphasizing the human experiences that unite us all. To generate the artwork, Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrøm trained an artificial intelligence algorithm to recognize patterns in thousands of images taken from UNFPA’s digital photo archive.
The resulting portraits are both visually striking and technologically unique. Hosted on the energy-efficient Ethereum blockchain, the artworks transform each time they change ownership – a nod to the demographic changes and endless possibilities at the heart of UNFPA’s 8 billion campaign.
“Inspired by the underlying themes of growth and diversity, each artwork celebrates what makes us unique as individuals. At the same time, the images create a unified series that reflects our strength and power as a collective. Stronger Together is an endless meditation on our shared humanity, and beyond the limitations of our collective imagination, says Waagner Falkenstrøm.
The initiative also marks UNFPA’s first venture into the Web 3 area. “We believe that in a world of 8 billion people, we can unlock 8 billion opportunities. Innovation can open up new opportunities for UNFPA, including new ways to raise money,” says UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem. “We are excited to work with such a visionary artist.”
All profits from the collection will go to UNFPA’s work to support maternal health, sexual and reproductive health, and prevent gender-based violence.
Priced at 0.02 ETH (around $25 USD), the 800-piece collection will be released on November 17 at 12.30 GMT.
About Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrøm:
Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrøm is an award-winning artist and founder of the art technology studio ARTificial Mind. Cecilie and her team explore what it means to be human in the 21st century by combining cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and blockchain with a sharp artistic eye. Her previous exhibitions include the Victoria and Albert Museum and Ars Electronica. She also created the first artificial intelligence artwork in space aboard NASA’s International Space Station. Cecilie is the recipient of the prestigious Lumen award and the TECHNE award.
About UNFPA:
UNFPA is the United Nations agency for sexual and reproductive health. UNFPA’s mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA calls for the realization of reproductive rights for all and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, quality care for mothers and comprehensive sexuality education.
