The curved LED screen showed an animated tiger running between two dragons. Another showed colorful rabbits descending a staircase. Both artworks nodded to Chinese astrology, where 2022 is represented by the tiger, and 2023 by the rabbit, on the 12 zodiac signs of the lunar calendar.    

The animations kept rolling in front of amused spectators in downtown Dubai's Art in Space gallery. The art exhibition is organized by Project 22, where 22 artists feature their creative interpretations of a chosen theme on the 22nd day of every month. The art is then sold as NFTs. 

“I believe digital artists should be present in galleries. It is a bridge to connect the digital with the physical world,” said Evgeniya Romanidi, founder and curator of Project 22.

For most of her life, Romanidi was a brand and commercial director for major Russian brands. When she moved from Moscow to Dubai a year ago, she got in touch with the growing number of digital artists interested in NFTs and web3. She launched Project 22 in June of 2022, in partnership with Binance NFTmarketplace. 

“With digital art, galleries do not have to abide by the old rules of making exhibitions,” she shahid. 

Romanidi elaborated that digital art frees curators from the limitations of space and prints. One screen is enough to showcase many pieces, and an exhibition can run around the world at the same time. 

While the crypto winter has crashed the NFT market, Romanidi says some artists grew in popularity, and she has witnessed how the price of their work climbed over the months since they started participating in Project 22. 

“It is all about building a long-term relationship with collectors and building a name for themselves,” she said.

In that aspect, the physical space of a gallery helps. A community of art lovers and NFT aficionados visit the exhibition every month to enjoy the Project’s new theme. 

Past themes ranged from dance to sustainability. Not surprisingly, the theme of Arabian horses was among the most popular among the locals. 

As for December’s theme, it was the coming of the new year. One piece showed the inside of a complicated mechanical watch, with the sun, earth, and other celestial bodies incorporated in its intricate design. Other artists opted for a personal and whimsical approach. “Wednesday Morning” revolved around the creator’s wish that the new year carries more of his favorite day of the week. 

For Romanidi, her new year’s wish is to add more artists to Project 22’s roster worldwide and continue curating the exhibition for as long as possible. 

“This project is currently my life, my soul,” she said.