Sydney Xiong is the director and co-founder of the APENFT Foundation, a multichain metaverse platform for GameFi and NFT trading activities. ^[1]

Career

Xiong is the director of the APENFT Foundation. She oversees APENFT's art collections and has initiated projects such as the “Second Life” Art Dream Fund and the APENFT GameFi Hackathon. She curated the NFT show Digital Wanderlust, led investments in over 20 NFT and metaverse projects, and launched the APENFT Marketplace supported by TRON. Additionally, she has guided the development of Tron and APENFT metaverses in Cryptovoxels, Decentraland, and The Sandbox. ^[1]

Interviews

Five Questions for Xiong

In a 2022 interview with Artnet Gallery Network, Xiong answered questions about the APENFT Foundation and shared her views of NFTs in the modern art world. She started with an explanation of what the foundation is and who it’s for: ^[2]

“APENFT is the world’s first NFT art foundation dedicated to bridging the traditional art world and the virtual world while building the next generation of NFT infrastructure and an entertainment and cultural ecosystem. We do this by collecting culturally significant artworks and NFTs and by supporting well-established and emerging artists working on projects at the intersection of blockchain and creativity.”

“I believe that art is for everyone and NFTs have the power to democratize the existing art world by reaching a whole new audience of both creators and collectors. The traditional auction houses are tapping into the space by selling NFT artists’ works. According to a Sotheby’s 2021 report, 78 percent of NFT bidders are new to the auction house and more than half of them are under 40.”

She then explained her role as director of APENFT: ^[2]

“My main responsibilities include APENFT’s art acquisitions, collection management, and curatorial planning and implementation. I usually start my work very early in the morning, by checking emails for 30 minutes. Very often I go from meeting to meeting all day long, therefore I have to make plans and prioritize work based on importance and urgency in the morning. I work until very late and sometimes even have meetings with international partners at midnight due to time zone differences. But no matter how busy I am, I always ensure that I have time to research some new NFT art or newly launched NFT projects. It’s important to keep learning in this fast-changing field.”

Xiong then shared her thoughts on rumors that NFTs would “kill” traditional art and her views of IRL art in blockchain: ^[2]

“I don’t think the age of IRL is ending and, in fact, the art world will only be more inclusive and diverse because of the advent of NFTs. I believe that NFTs and traditional art will definitely coexist in the future and we are already seeing these two worlds merging together. It is also important that art is seen and appreciated everywhere, which means having both a virtual and physical space to showcase the artworks will be equally important.”

Digital Wanderlust

On July 25th, 2022, Whitewall interviewed Xiong about the APENFT Foundation, starting with how they created “Digital Wanderlust,” an art exhibition the Foundation held for its anniversary: ^[3]

“H.E. Justin describes himself as a digital nomad. In fact, this nomadic lifestyle using digital and technological tools to not only work, but also socialize and entertain, is a reflection of most people’s lives, which is even more true for the post-pandemic future. During the pandemic when in-person exhibitions became extremely difficult, we recognized the importance of having a digital presence to enable art lovers and our community from around the world to appreciate art. Thus, part of the exhibit has been designed to allow the offline exhibition to run in conjunction with our virtual exhibition on APENFT Art Museum on Cryptovoxels. Selected artworks are connected by the concept of the exploration of technology as a new medium to own and interact with art and intangible objects, and form new social bonds and connections on a deeper level.”

She then discussed how the show used various digital and interactive works, such as videos, AI, and more, to create a larger narrative: ^[3]

“One of the key questions we asked ourselves was: “Why do we need a physical space to display NFTs and purely digital artworks?” My takeaway is to recontextualize digital artworks in a physical space and bring a multisensory experience to life.”

“For example, the first layer of “Digital Wanderlust” is the exhibition inside of an exhibition showcasing more than 30 NFT works. When viewers walk into the enclosed space, consisting of 360-degree translucent screens, they are greeted by a floating architecture in motion, which is the APENFT Art Museum floating on the east coast of Miami on Cryptovoxels. We call it a “hyperspace” connecting the physical and digital worlds. Although people have access to the exhibition on Cryptovoxels, the gigantic screens make the in-person experience much more impactful and captivating.”

Panels

Future of Art Patronage

In November 2022, Xiong participated in the "Web3 and the Future of Art Patronage" panel hosted by JJ Charlesworth from Art Review magazine, which explored how NFTs and blockchain technology are transforming the art world, particularly in terms of art collecting, commissioning, and patronage. She highlighted the significant role of NFTs in offering artists new freedoms, forming vibrant communities, and redefining the concept of digital art ownership. She discussed the challenges of integrating NFTs into the traditional art market, including regulatory issues and the need for broader education about the technology. Xiong emphasized the potential for NFTs to merge digital and physical art experiences, suggesting a future where these technologies enhance and expand how art is created, collected, and appreciated. ^[4]

NFT Artworld

Xiong participated in the “How the NFT Artworld Can Create New Agency” panel discussion, chaired by JJ Charlesworth of Art Review magazine, which explored how NFTs transform the art world by democratizing access and enabling new forms of artistic expression and public engagement. Xiong highlighted the influx of younger, tech-savvy individuals into the art world as collectors and artists. She emphasized NFT platforms' global, borderless nature, which allows for a more inclusive and diverse art market. Xiong noted the dramatic expansion of new audiences for NFT art, particularly younger demographics, and the importance of fostering creativity and visibility for emerging NFT artists. Despite market fluctuations, she remained optimistic about the future potential of NFTs in enhancing the accessibility and reach of contemporary art. ^[5]