THE REVENANT


Sovereign Portraits for a Faceless Future








A story about bitcoin, death and digital art

Available on Gamma or Magic Eden



THE REVENANT

476 on-chain GIFs that delve into enduring nature of bitcoin and digital art amidst a backdrop of repeated dismissals and skepticism.

Works were inscribed on the bitcoin blockchain April 17th, 2024. Works can be collected on the secondary market via Gamma or Magic Eden.

Each GIF is 2 colors and 4 frames looped
Files are 10-15kb and 256 pixels square
Back Into The Dark Ages
Dying Whatever
476 bitcoin 'deaths' immortalized as Ordinals. Works in The Revenant include metadata taken from each instance bitcoin was proclaimed ‘dead’ in the media, 2010 - 2024.


METADATA

Title: Dying Whatever ID: 006
Dedicated To: Transaction Verifiers
GIF Speed (Pulse): 0.75
Bitcoin 'Death' Notice: Gizmodo Australia
Day: August 9 Year: 2011
Bitcoin Price at 'Death': $10.95

The Revenant, 2024 
Early Obituary
Opinions Are Still Divided
Not Built To Last
Infinite Supply of New People
Select unique works, 256px bitmapped 2 color GIFs, 4 frames
The Revenant: Sovereign Portraits for a Faceless Future is a series of 476 animated works by Travis LeRoy Southworth. This collection delves into the themes of identity, resurgence, and the enduring nature of bitcoin and digital art amidst a backdrop of repeated dismissals and skepticism.

The word ‘revenant’ refers to something that has returned after death or an extended absence. Southworth leverages this metaphor to reflect the perseverance of the bitcoin blockchain, which, despite being frequently dismissed as worthless by various media outlets, continues to thrive. By early 2024, bitcoin was proclaimed 'dead' around 476 times. Each of Southworth’s artworks bears a title sourced from fragments of dialogues and headlines that prematurely announced bitcoin's downfall. These narratives are transformed, reinterpreting them as affirmations, questions and ambiguous statements. For example, a headline by the Underground Economist in 2010 reading "Why Bitcoin can't be a currency" is reimagined as "Be A Currency," acknowledging the fluctuating nature of perception and value, and a responsiveness to technological evolution and societal shifts.

Drawing inspiration from his engagement with machine learning technologies since 2018, Southworth utilizes synthetic photography (A.I. text-to-image prompting) to craft the portraits that symbolize a future where identities are ambiguous and fluid. These portraits are set against a vague, cloud-like milieu, embodying both the universal and the anonymous. Shrouded in a thick, swirling mist, they resist easy recognition, mirroring the enigmatic character of digital identities and the fleeting attention given to cryptocurrencies.

In this evolving narrative, Southworth has chosen to render The Revenant as a collection of bitmap GIFs. Each work uses only two colors to further deepen the dialogue between the origins of digital art and blockchain. This decision is a deliberate nod to the binary nature of computing – where information exists in a state of zero or one. The choice of using GIFs, a format deeply entrenched in the digital culture, echoes a continual cycle of death and rebirth.

The Revenant was inscribed on the bitcoin blockchain through Gamma on April 17th 2024. Works can also be collected on the secondary market via Magic Eden.

Additional information can be found on the artist’s website at https://travisleroysouthworth.com/the-revenant

Dollars Are Killing
Wired Tired Expired
Dying Whatever
From One Libertarian To Another
Helpful Ordinals Guides


Ordinals wallets have 2 addresses! One is for sending Bitcoin and the other is for sending Ordinals. Do NOT transfer Bitcoin to the Ordinals (Taproot) Address.


Essentials

Introductory guide to Ordinals

How transaction fees work on Gamma

Ordinal Theory Handbook

How to setup Xverse Wallet (recommended for collecting Ordinals)


Troubleshooting

Rescuing Bitcoin accidentally sent to Ordinals Address
Early Obituary