The Sandbox is partnering with Kiev-based NFT incubator Ikonia to bring the real-life mural celebrating Italian soccer icon Andrea Pirlo, located on New York’s Lafayette Street, to the metaverse.
The collaboration offers shoppers the chance to own the strip of New York’s Lafayette Street that houses the real-life mural within the metaverse
The 15×6 meter mural, painted by famed Italian street artist Jorit, is being sold as a one-of-a-kind NFT edition, meaning the piece will be completely unique and exclusive to the owner.
Titled The Hero NFT, it allows the buyer real-life ownership of the mural for one year, as well as digital rights in perpetuity to the monolithic piece of street art.
We are partnering with @IKONIALabs to immortalize New York NFT mural of soccer legend Andrea Pirlo in the metaverse 🔥 ⚽
Painted by famous Italian street artist, Jorit, the real-life mural is being sold as a single edition one-of-one #NFT
Learn more 👇https://t.co/16CV06gbIy
— The Sandbox (@TheSandboxGame) June 2, 2022
Together with MetaLabs, Ikonia has recreated Lafayette Street, including Jorit’s Pirlo mural in The Sandbox, allowing players to walk the digital street where the mural will be the centerpiece.
This collaboration, which pushes the boundaries of the digital art space, offers a unique opportunity for dual ownership in both the physical world and the metaverse.
A tribute to Pirlo’s illustrious sporting career
Andrea Pirlo , one of the most well-known and respected names in world soccer, played 116 games for Italy, the fifth highest number of all time.
He led the Italian national team to the bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics and the Euro 2012 final and led Italy to win the 2006 World Cup
He also won the Bronze Ball and was selected for the Team of the Tournament after a man-of-the-match performance in the final against France.
Pirlo also won two Champions Leagues and 7 Scudettos in Italy, in addition to playing for New York City FC, where this mural is located.
In addition to The Hero NFT, other collectibles will also be available. The animated art, video and sculptures will allow Pirlo fans to delve into the excitement and nostalgia of his illustrious career and greatest achievements.
For a chance to purchase one of the collectibles, potential buyers can sign up for the shortlist on the NFT website.
Potential buyers receive points for inviting more people to the shortlist and for completing certain tasks, which increases their chances of getting rare collectibles and winning special prizes.
These exclusive NFTs will give buyers entry into an extra sweepstakes with a chance to win:
- Dinner with Pirlo (Hero Mural buyer).
- 15-minute zoom call with Pirlo and four guests (one buyer)
- Personalized video messages from Pirlo (15 buyers)
- Pirlo’s handwritten autographs (32 buyers)
“Participating in this project has been incredibly captivating; the mural alone is an incredible feat, and a fantastic work of art in its own right. To then see it immortalized in the metaverse adds to the awe. Giving the buyer the opportunity to own a work of art in multiple realities is a rare opportunity, and not something I’ve encountered in other projects.” – Andrea Pirlo
“Our goal was to capture the prestige and importance of Pirlo’s career in a way that no other NFT project has previously attempted,” adds Patrik Arenesson, CEO and founder of Ikonia. “While many recent soccer NFT projects have been slavishly based on name value, it was important for all involved to create a project that not only embodies Pirlo’s illustrious career, but also pushes the boundaries of previous NFT projects, providing a utility to buyers beyond owning a piece of digital art. In an increasingly digitized world, preserving historical moments is more important than ever. By commemorating Andrea’s achievements in a way that can inspire people both in the physical world, and in the metaverse, it highlights the innovative ways in which technology can play a key role in passing on stories and legends to the next generation.”
“As The Sandbox and other metaverses expand, they have a key role to play in properly and appropriately preserving the art, culture and achievements of real-world heroes like Pirlo. As younger generations increasingly look to socialize and learn online, projects like this have the ability to inspire the next generation of soccer fans.” – Sebastian Borget, co-founder and COO, The Sandbox
Jorit’ s Pirlo mural represents the first occasion where street art of this scale has been created for the purpose of becoming an NFT.
Emulating the elegance and vision of Pirlo’s style of play, the mural itself, and its digital counterpart, mark a watershed moment for NFT projects.
The NFT Hero went up for auction on June 1, 2022, at 15:00 UTC, via the project’s website, with additional collectibles to be released over the following four weeks.
