Haiku NFT Collection by Photographer Sacha Dean Bïyan, "Visceral" Available on Rarible Marketplace

Photographer Sacha Dean Bïyan launches a breathtaking new collection of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) dubbed Visceral. The first volume of Visceral NFTs consists of five of his photographs, each paired with an original haiku by esteemed Japanese poet, Dr. Shunkichi Baba. These five photo-haiku NFTs will be available for purchase starting May 7, 2022 on Pinhole’s partner platform, Rarible marketplace.

The Visceral NFT collection is being released in collaboration with cutting-edge digital art gallery, Pinhole, which is also working with renowned photographers such as Marco Glaviano on separate NFT drops, and focusing primarily on photography in the NFT space.

The first volume of Visceral NFTs features the only five photographs in Bïyan’s collection that are accompanied by haikus. Moreover, Dr. Baba coined one unique haiku per photo, making these NFTs truly exclusive. These pieces are currently on display at the Decentral Art Pavilion’s first international NFT art exhibition during the 59th Venice Biennale. They are also part of a broader collection of images that will be streamed on Apple TV later this year in partnership with the Kyoto City International Foundation.

Each NFT showcases a once-in-a-lifetime experience of Japan during one of the country’s most daunting yet extraordinary times. In the summer of 2020, when Japan closed its border and declared a state of emergency, Bïyan discovered a silver lining to the pandemic. “In the absence of tourists, I could see the ghosts of Japan’s past,” he explained. “I'd be at a shrine or in an empty alleyway at night, and suddenly, a black cat or a geisha would slip out of the shadows like a throwback to the chiaroscuro films of Kurosawa and Ozu."

A modern incarnation of "Haiga"

Bïyan and Dr. Baba's collaboration brings to life a modern incarnation of haiga, an art form dating back to 17th century haiku masters who created simple paintings alongside haiku. These paintings and poems complemented each other and formed a complete visual and artistic expression. Similarly, Bïyan and Dr. Baba shared the belief that words and pictures together are more potent than either alone. “Each inspires the other, though neither defines the other,” observed Bïyan. “Both attempt to capture the essence of a moment, a feeling. To me, a photograph is a haiku.”

About SACHA DEAN BIYAN 

Sacha Dean Bïyan (born October 1, 1967) is a Canadian photographer, filmmaker and author who often describes himself as an Earth pilgrim. His body of work, gathered across the globe over three decades, is a celebration of the beauty and diversity of the human spirit. Bïyan holds a Master’s Degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, and was an entrepreneur in the aerospace industry before becoming a professional photographer. His editorial images have appeared in GQ, Details, Maxim, Vogue, and Marie Claire. He has shot advertising campaigns for Lexus, Diesel, Adidas and The Gap, among others, as well as documentaries for PBS and the Discovery Channel. Bïyan’s works have been exhibited in galleries and museums in São Paulo, Florence, Barcelona, Paris and Los Angeles — the latter as a benefit for Amnesty International. He is the author of two fine art books:"Spiritus Mundi" (2005) and "Eccentrics" (2012). 

About SHUNKICHI BABA

Born November 25, 1932, Dr. Shunkichi Baba is a renowned Japanese haiku poet, and critic of art, theater, cinema and music. He became interested in poetry in junior high school, studying under the haiku master, Keiji Hashimoto. Dr. Baba went on to graduate with a degree in medicine from Nagoya City University where he pursued his career as a professor of otolaryngology. After retiring from teaching, he served as the director of the Nagoya Boston Museum. Despite his busy schedule and diverse interests, he continued writing and publishing his haikus over the years. Dr. Baba’s best known haiku collections are: Danmen (Cross Section), Barairojigoku (Rose Hell), and Mutyuumu (Dream within a Dream).