Based on real-world physical spaces, an animated rebirth into a digital realm has been created.
The results are a surreal collision between the past and future, natural and manmade, physical and digital, and the real and imaginary.
The aim of the artwork is to create a sense of surreal tranquility whilst referencing the themes of architectural history, urban exploration, and the resurgence of nature.
Many of the buildings depicted in The Wild Within have been demolished in recent years, further emphasizing the theme of time passing in the cycle of growth and decay.
The first mint of The Wild Within occurred on March 24, 2021.
This begin the genesis chapter of a project that has been widely celebrated, exhibited and acquired by some of the World's premier collectors of digital art.
See the complete series minted on SuperRare
Jump to the Press about The Wild Within
See Exhibitions of The Wild Within
Timeline of The Wild Within
Chapter
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Number of Artworks
13
4
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Year
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
Chapter 1. The Wild Within Genesis (2021)
Series
The Wild Within Genesis
Everlasting
Symphony
Realms
Symbiosis
Echos
Spectrum
Revival
Essence
Awakening
During the Soviet Union, the Georgian town of Tskaltubo was a popular health destination famed for its therapeutic water and luxurious sanatoriums.
Between the 1940’s to 1980’s thousands of people visited each year, including Stalin and his high-ranking officials from Moscow.
The town was renowned for its therapeutic radon-carbonate mineral spring water believed to treat an array of ailments.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, the buildings were deserted and fell into disrepair. Floors were ripped up for firewood, and the metal salvaged as scrap.
Since the early 90's, the buildings have been slowly dismantled and stripped of their valuable materials, leaving empty shells of what were once grandiose classical structures.
Koopmans visited this region over several years, exploring the ruins and photographing these spaces that have undergone dramatic transition.
In collaboration with Alice Wexell, upon returning he digitally introduced vegetation, manipulated the lighting, modified the structures, and animated the scenes with the intention of reviving the empty spaces, essentially bringing life back into the rooms.
With these pieces, Koopmans and Wexell aim to bring the viewer into an alternate place and time.
The Wild Within: Devotion
Collected by Jim Carrey
The Wild Within: Elevate
Collected by Forever Lands
The Wild Within: Hollow
Collected by GBLSTS
The Wild Within: Ambition
Collected by Cryptonio123
The Wild Within: Gathering
Collected by Art On Internet
The Wild Within: Harmony
Collected by Art On Internet
The Wild Within: Departure
Collected by Art On Internet
The Wild Within: Eternity
Collected by 888
The Wild Within: Harvest
Collected by Bharat Krymo
The Wild Within: Secrets
Collected by Brian 14
The Wild Within: Balance
Collected by Aure Gimon
The Wild Within: Promises
Collected by Cuerno Group
The Wild Within: Visions
Collected by Noun 53
Chapter 2. Everlasting (2022)
Everlasting: Levitate
Collected by jayc99
Everlasting: Insight
Collected by landbaron555
Everlasting: Desire
Collected by The Vault
Everlasting: Remedy
Collected by Turing Fund
Chapter 3. Symphony (2023)
Symphony: Once Upon a Time
Collected by Flying Beagle
Press Links about The Wild Within
Condé Nast Traveler - Deserted Soviet Town Is Attracting New Visitors Through Art
Tabi Labo - Garden Of The Gods
New York Post - Jim Carrey Buys NFT
Visual Atelier 8 - Surreal Architectural Realms By Ryan Koopmans
Fast Company - These Abandoned Soviet Buildings Got A Hauntingly Gorgeous Makeover
Design Boom - Abandoned Soviet Architecture Digitally Revived With Dancing Flowers
SuperRare Editorial 2021 - The Wild Within
Architectural Digest - Photographer Spent Five Years Capturing Abandoned Soviet-Era Spas
Calvert Journal - Home From Home
CNN - The Abandoned Soviet-era Spas A Community Of Refugees Calls Home
GQ Magazine - Inside The City That Time Forgot
WIRED - The Abandoned Soviet Spas Inhabited by Georgian Refugees
Creative Boom - Decaying Spas of the USSR
SuperRare Editorial 2022 - The Power Of Nature Compels You
Exhibitions of The Wild Within
2023 - Paris, France - Natively Digital Exhibition and Auction at Sotheby's France
2023 - Boston, USA - Steve Aoki Hiroquest Tour
2022 - Miami, USA - Monolith at SCOPE Miami Art Week
2022 - Miami, USA - Floating Pixels at Miami Art Week
2022 - Miami, USA - Unfold x SHILLR exhibition at Art Basel
2022 - Montreal, Canada - SuperRare & 0x Society Present - The Wild Within
2022 - Prague, Czech Republic - Non Fungible Castle at House of Lobkowicz
2022 - Los Angeles, USA - ‘Frame of Mind, State of Time, Life Online’
2022 - Beijing, China - Yongle Auction Spring 2022
2022 - NYC, USA - MODA presents A Question For Time exhibition
2022 - NYC, USA - SuperRare Gallery x Jonathan Little exhibition
2022 - NYC, USA - Ben Skaar Curation at the South Street Seaport
2022 - NYC, USA - Time Square Showcase by NFT NYC
2022 - NYC, USA - The Pyramid Screen by NFTSea
2022 - Venice, Italy - Decentral Art Pavilion
2022 - NYC, USA - Crypt Gallery x Dream Downtown
2022 - Miami, USA - Blackdove Gallery at BTC Miami
2022 - Liverpool, UK - NFT Liverpool
2022 - Stockholm, Sweden - My Way Gallery
2022 - New York, USA - SuperRare Monolith
2022 - Stockholm, Sweden - OtherLands NFT Festival
2021 - Montreal, Canada - 0x Society
2021 - Calgary, Canada - Photoville 'The Fence'
2021 - Tokyo, Japan - NEO Shibuya Screen
2021 - Miami, USA - SuperRare Monolith
2021 - Miami, USA - The Temporal Gallery at Flagler Street
2021 - Miami, USA - MoDa The Wall at Factory Town
2021 - Dubai, UAE - WOW Summit
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