Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fryer: Edwin Wants His Potatoes Back
As a countercultural icon attempts to regain control of his potato artwork, his daughter steps up to the plate with her own inaugural NFT collection — a commentary on meme culture.
Known only as Edwin, the enigmatic creator behind the historic Crypto.com NFT-curated collection “Potatoes Are Humans Too” is renowned in the fine art community for his universally profound works of breathtaking beauty — including visceral masterpieces such as “Angels Sorting Garbage” and an untitled series of finger paintings that he claims are now on display “in this current reality, in the space they currently occupy.” Released on April 1, his NFT debut — a 10,000-piece profile picture (PFP) project attempting to humanize the potato — was met with a fervent response, selling out in less than half an hour and raising $50,000 in primary sales for charity.
Despite his prior lack of a digital footprint and with no promised utility, website, roadmap or even an official Discord server, “Potatoes Are Humans Too” defied odds and quickly fostered a community of collectors centered on Edwin’s sole social media account — a Twitter handle run by his then 11-year-old daughter Karen, who also attends to his prized AOL email address. Perhaps inheriting a touch of her father’s mystery, she now identifies as 14 — and only supplied a photo of what appears to be a children’s doll when asked for a headshot — but ambiguity runs the extent of their similarities. Whereas Edwin grew up with strictly carnivorous parents in an earthen-floored yurt, homeschooled by his “family shaman” and almost completely out-of-touch with conventional society until attending college, Karen was raised on a steady diet of popular culture and social media — and has even been withheld from school to manage Edwin’s newfound online presence and communicate with his following.
An experienced poster, unlike her father, Karen generally serves as an intermediary between Edwin and his community — with the artist dictating all of his digital correspondence — but occasionally Tweets from the account in her own voice and has become exceedingly popular with its followers. In fact, when polled about the future of the project, an overwhelming majority favored a collection by the young creator — regardless of her professed lack of artistic experience.
Allegedly, according to Karen, her twin sister LifeForce Hyperion is actually a well-known social media influencer with her own significant following — but requested comment on her public persona was declined. Even more secretive is the children’s mother, Edwin’s “soul partner,” who prefers not to be named. “To be honest, I know very little about this soul either,” the evasive artist revealed in his first-ever interview, granted exclusively to Crypto.com NFT in promotion of “Potatoes Are Humans Too.”
In spite of his inaugural collection’s success, however, Edwin was not satisfied with its response — distraught that it did not “challenge minds” or “change the world” as intended. Fueled by what his family describes as an unhealthy growing obsession with Twitter and the internet in general, Edwin’s initial unease progressed into a deep depression — one that he claims can only be consoled by the return of his NFTs. “No cap, my dad wants his potatoes back,” explained Karen. “He’s been weird about it.”
Worried by the many solitary nights Edwin has since spent in his backyard yurt, where the tortured artist often retreats for meditation and deep reflection, his entire family has vowed to help him retrieve his potato artwork piece by piece. Acknowledging that simply requesting its return would likely prove unfruitful, Karen has decided to take the initiative and give collectors what they asked for in exchange for some potatoes — following in her father’s footsteps and sharing her own art with the world for the very first time.
After some experimentation, and more missed school, Karen’s creative vision has taken the form of an NFT collection titled “DaNK DrOP” — a series of memes inspired by those the internet-raised pop culture aficionado grew up misunderstanding and a questionably intentional social commentary on the commodification of meme culture. Furthermore, like “Potatoes Are Humans Too,” proceeds from the drop’s primary sales will be donated to an organization that supports children in war-torn countries. Pertinent details can be found on the collection’s drop page, along with applicable terms and conditions.
Crypto.com took advantage of the opportunity to catch up with the famously private artist, who has historically been opposed to participating in media engagements. Like the prior interview, the conversation was conducted via text message with Karen — who eagerly agreed to answer some questions about her artistic debut as well. Though she initially requested that her responses specifically be published exactly as sent, after some deliberation, she agreed to allow edits to portions of her text for basic legibility — on the condition that the integrity of her self-described “words aesthetic” remain intact.
“Based on the small notes left for me on the website Twitter, my potatoes did not challenge minds. It was as if they were coloring book pages hung on the refrigerator of the internet.”
Read the Q&A with Karen and Edwin below, and visit the “DaNK DrOP” drop page for more information.
First and foremost, congratulations on all of your success in the NFT space! Did you expect the reaction to “Potatoes Are Humans Too” and how did it make you feel?
Edwin: I’ve been meditating on the word “success” lately. The art was all purchased quite quickly and we were able to raise quote-unquote “money” for charity, but that does not denote success for an artist. Artists are only successful when they challenge minds. And based on the small notes left for me on the website Twitter, my potatoes did not challenge minds. It was as if they were coloring book pages hung on the refrigerator of the internet.
I understand you have some regrets about the project. Why do you want your potatoes back?
Edwin: The world was not ready for my art. Potatoes are still being eaten every day. People may or may not be getting eaten every day. The messages did not change the world, and therefore I would respectfully ask for my art to be returned so it may be released at a future time when the world will be receptive to my message — or perhaps never if the world remains cold and unfeeling. My family, realizing my depression is tied to this mission, is going to help: my soul partner who prefers not to be named, and my daughters LifeForce Hyperion and Karen — who many now know as my “social media word artist.”
“If you don’t believe that feeling the strongest feelings you’ve ever felt in your life is a ‘utility,’ you are dead inside and are therefore no longer a human or a potato.”
How have both your lives changed since the collection’s release?
Edwin: Nothing has inherently changed except for my unnavigable depression, newfound learnings about the internet and a drastic increase in digital letters in my America Online electronic mail account.
Karen: It’s been CrAzY!!! My dad didn’t let me go to school for like two weeks, so he could see what people were writing on Twitter and stuff. Then he was like, “I guess you can do whatever,” so I went to school and everyone thought it was so weird that I got to be on Twitter all day — because that’s like for old people.
Some collectors have been concerned about your wellbeing; how much school have you missed and has it affected your grades?
Karen: I miss school all the time and my dad is so bad at learning it sucks. My grades weren’t that bad, cuz everything I need to learn I can learn from the internet — like programming or who Pete Davidson is hooking up with.
Edwin, I know you were yurt-schooled. Have you and your soul partner considered homeschooling your children?
Edwin: This current reality has gotten too complex, and I have too many other activities occupying my time.
Do you still maintain a carnivorous diet and expect your children to?
Edwin: I do, but I allow my children to decide their own fate: as vegetable murderers or as animal eaters.
How would you say your parenting style differed from your parents’?
Edwin: Being yurt-schooled on a solely carnivorous diet throughout my childhood, with not but my family and family shaman as my social bonds, was perfect. Unfortunately, it required all of my family’s attention. 100% of my attention must be to my art, so I am only able to provide 20% attention to my family. This has led to a permissive household, where we have allowed our daughters to choose their own path from the time they were born. Karen spends most of her time computing on her detached phone. LifeForce Hyperion is really into classic literature and BTS. My soul partner prefers not to share her hobbies.
Karen, what can you tell us about your mother?
Karen: She prefers not to be named…
How about your sister, LifeForce?
Karen: LifeForce Hyperion is CrAzY!!! She’s so smart, she was into K-pop way before everyone else, so she’s got like billions of followers. She goes by a different name publicly, but I’m not gonna tell you what it is.
You and your dad seem very close; what has he taught you about making art?
Karen: I feel like we teach each other stuff all the time. He’s like practically Amish and I didn’t really know art, except that he’s always talking about everything being art — so maybe I do? He’s always like, “Just let your spirit control your body and change the world,” but I don’t know what that means — so I mostly just learned Photoshop instead.
Is there any other talent in the family?
Karen: There’s someone my dad always calls “Uncle,” but I don’t think he’s really our uncle — and he’s really good at juggling, but I don’t think that’s a talent because clowns can do it.
Tell us about your upbringing, in general. What was it like to grow up in such an… untraditional environment?
Karen: I guess everything seems normal when you’re a kid, so it didn’t feel weird. The meat thing was weird and the art thing is weird, and I guess never knowing where money came from is weird. Where does our money come from? I don’t get it.
You mentioned that your dad has “been weird” about wanting his potatoes back too. What do you think about his existential crisis and why did you decide to step in and help him with it?
Karen: So, like, my dad got really weird after the potato art thing because he didn’t change the world overnight or whatever. He gets really into stuff. So he was like, “I want my potatoes back,” and I’m like, “You can’t just steal them or whatever,” and he was like, “Can we go into the computer and get them?” and I was like, “No, that’s dumb.” So I made this to help my dad get them back so he stops being depressed and finally takes a shower.
“I was led to believe that NFTs are very tiny art pieces built on circuits and magnified onto monitors so they can be seen. I now know that NFTs are pieces of art wherein owners of the art consistently ask you to drop them air.”
Edwin, would you say you have reservations about the NFT space, in general?
Edwin: I was led to believe that NFTs are very tiny art pieces built on circuits and magnified onto monitors so they can be seen. I now know that NFTs are pieces of art wherein owners of the art consistently ask you to drop them air. I am an artist. I make art. Once you own my art, I only expect you to speak to me through my art. And I believe I can hear you. Not audibly. But I can hear you.
What do you have to say to those who accuse your work of having no utility?
Edwin: If you don’t believe that feeling the strongest feelings you’ve ever felt in your life is a “utility,” you are dead inside and are therefore no longer a human or a potato.
What does the term “utility” mean to you?
Edwin: I’m led to believe by users of the website Twitter that utility is when someone is only allowed to talk to other life forces that also own similar art. Then you get non-money currency. Then you are dropped air. It’s all very postmodern.
What do you think about the concept of the metaverse?
Edwin: I have had my daughter Karen explain the concept of the metaverse to me multiple times. I still do not understand how to differentiate this concept from the real world. We are brain keyboards inside of flesh avatars in a digital reality known as this current reality. You can also purchase chats.
How about Web3? Surely, an artist such as yourself can appreciate its implications.
Edwin: Web3 has chains of blocks, neither of which I have ever seen. The implications are immense, as both are strong and universally accessible.
Might you consider any collaborations in the space, perhaps with BeeBop Rocksteady or another artist whom you admire and respect?
Edwin: BeeBop Rocksteady will never collaborate with another artist on a tangible work, as it’s exceptionally difficult to get too close to him without getting bitten. I did once see a panda performing movement art by somersaulting in a small terrarium, and I would like to explore that concept further.
“I once went to a bear market in Shlisselburg. When they asked me what I would like to eat, I said, ‘Inspire me.’ I was vomiting for six straight days and, I believe, looked directly into the face of God.”
Have you been affected by the bear market?
Edwin: I once went to a bear market in Shlisselburg. When they asked me what I would like to eat, I said, “Inspire me.” I was vomiting for six straight days and, I believe, looked directly into the face of God. She told me it wasn’t yet my time. I woke up somewhere on planet Earth in this reality where I reside to this day. But it was delicious.
What would it take for you to consider creating another NFT collection?
Edwin: I would need a 100% guarantee that my NFT art would enlighten every life force on Earth. I have a few other NFT websites that are ready to fulfill that order.
How do you feel about your daughter carrying the torch, as it were?
Edwin: I’m pleased my daughter Karen has chosen to make art, but I’ve already warned her of the implications of distributing pieces of her soul on the internet. It may be too late for me, but she still may have 100 years left in this current reality and infinite time left in the next reality. But she has made her choice.
“I think if I just keep making stuff and people say it’s good, then other people think it’s good, then that makes you an artist.”
And how do you feel about following in your father’s footsteps, Karen? Those are some pretty big shoes to fill! Are you at all intimated by the staggering weight of his artistic genius?
Karen: To be honest, I never really got the whole art thing, cuz I don’t know what’s good and what isn’t good. It all kind of looks the same. Like, if I didn’t know anything about the Mona Lisa and I didn’t know anything about a picture of SpongeBob, and you put them next to each other, I’d probably think SpongeBob is better. But I think if I just keep making stuff and people say it’s good, then other people think it’s good, then that makes you an artist.
On average, how much media would you say that you consume in a day?
Karen: ALLLLLL day.
Who or what are some of your favorite artists, musicians, movies, TV shows, etc.?
Karen: Taylor Swift, Kanye, anything “Minions,” “Eighth Grade,” “Mean Girls,” Beyoncé, “Spider-Man,” Lil Nas X, Olivia Rodrigo, “Stranger Things.” I’m gonna love all of these forever. They’re so good.
“I’m super into other things that aren’t on the internet, like doing TikTok dances.”
Tell us about some of your other interests and hobbies, in general.
Karen: I’m super into other things that aren’t on the internet, like doing TikTok dances.
Are you familiar with the concept of cultural appropriation?
Karen: Yeeeeeeeeeah, das bad.
Let’s talk about the drop; was it a collaboration with your dad or a strictly Karen affair?
Karen: Dis ALLLLLL me!
Why memes?
I’m like really into history and I remember, when I was a kid, I saw all of these memes that had that weird blocky text at the top and bottom and faces of stuff that were like “WHAAAAAAA!?” So I made a bunch of those pieces and mixed them all up and did this.
What are some of your favorite memes and how have they inspired you?
Karen: Memes are like black and white TV shows. They’re so weird and old. There’s one where a girl has crazy eyes and it’s like, “I’m overly attached to you and I’m crazy and weird,” and I was obsessed because it was so crazy and weird. That always stuck with me. That and the one where the frog is drinking the cup of tea and he’s like, “Everything’s fine,” but you know that it isn’t fine because he’s a puppet who lives in human world where there’s human tea. They make you think weird things.
The commodification of memes was an early phenomenon in the NFT space; is your collection at all inspired by or commenting on that phenomenon?
Karen: One thing I learned from my dad is that everything that happens with the art was meant to happen with the art — so if that makes sense, then yeah I’m totally commenting on that phenomenon.
Are you at all worried about “DaNK DrOP” being released in a bear market?
Karen: No, cuz they’re cool AF and everyone knows it.
What is your experience with and interest in NFTs? I understand you were into them even before your father’s foray into the space.
Karen: Yeah, I’m super into NFTs, but I can’t afford them yet because I’m not a famous artist yet. I’m really into the old stuff like “Lazy Lions,” but I know you do those “Loaded Lions” — so I’ll lie and say those instead. I got into them by following a bunch of weird people on Twitter who were like, “DEGEN, CRYPTO, FLOOR PRICE, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH,” then I just started talking like that too.
Do you have any goals or future plans for your art, in the NFT space or otherwise?
Karen: I want my art to be displayed in some of the most prestigious places in the world, like the Louvre or Times Square. Or get used in a commercial.
Collectors are dying to know, what are your thoughts about doing an airdrop for holders of either of your projects?
Karen: Now that I’m an artist and stuff, I’m going to probably do a bunch of weird stuff — cuz that’s what art is right?
Edwin: I’m still not quite sure I understand the physics of dropping air, but I do find the concept rather intriguing.
Edwin, finally, how has your triumphant return to finger painting progressed?
Edwin: Well, my finger paint art has been displayed in prestigious galleries across this current reality. If you would like to enjoy it, I recommend visiting galleries until you find it.
Browse the “DaNK DrOP” collection by Karen.
Please note that this article is a satirical work of parody written for promotional purposes and does not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Crypto.com. All characters appearing in this article are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any additional products or features of the drop (including redeemable items, charity donations, utility and/or giveaways) are provided at the entire responsibility of the Creator(s) unless otherwise noted on Crypto.com’s official channels. For more details, please refer to the drop page and the Creator(s)’ channels. Some products or features of the drop may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Nothing in this article should be taken as legal or financial advice.
Editor’s Note (Oct. 10, 2022): an earlier version of this article was originally published on July 18, 2022 and has since been edited and/or updated.
