Pixels with Purpose: Jonas Kastenhuber  

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length. The full, unedited version is available in our .ART Odyssey: SUCCESS, now on sale on Amazon.

Based in Zurich, Kallistik (kallistik.art) is at the forefront of innovation under the leadership of founder and creative director Jonas Kastenhuber. Committed to driving positive impact through cross-media initiatives, Kallistik specializes in blending ecological and social sustainability with artistic expression. The organization combines its creative projects with client and third-party mandates to maximize impact, amplifying ambitions by weaving together inspiration, creativity, and cultural experiences. 

One of their standout projects is “Kallisdicks,” Switzerland’s first social NFT art initiative, which transforms unsolicited explicit images into pixelated NFT artworks, with proceeds supporting victims of digital harassment. In collaboration with artist Daniel Brandt, Jonas also spearheads the “Multi Faith Prayer Room,” an immersive audiovisual installation fostering global unity and understanding. Additionally, the “Here We Grow” initiative integrates music and NFTs to support reforestation, showcasing digital art’s potential to drive social change. 

Can you tell us about your current collaborations and upcoming projects at Kallistik?  

Currently, we are collaborating closely with artist Daniel Brandt on the audiovisual installation Multi Faith Prayer Room—a black box time capsule of hopes, fears, and dreams transformed into a multidimensional polyphony of recorded messages for the future. 

In the Multi Faith Prayer Room, people can listen to other people’s fears, thoughts, and visions about the future without prejudice and be inspired by them. It removes the element of feeling obliged to any inherent social norms by hiding behind a machine. Too often today, we are divided, isolated, or otherwise distant. We hope this immersive experience will bring people and different opinions together without judgment to create a positive manifesto for a livable future, encouraging people to be together in sound rather than alone on their phones. 

The first installation at Art Basel Miami, in collaboration with Robot Heart, was just the beginning and the project’s first activation before touring major cities worldwide. 

In connection, we are preparing for Daniel’s first digital artwork release titled “Fragments,” which will be available as NFTs on objkt.com. “Fragments” serves as a memory capsule, capturing fleeting moments in time and processing them through analog circuit-bent video gear. This project contrasts the traditional photograph by highlighting the ephemeral nature of memories, adding a layer of field recordings that merge with the visuals to create an immersive experience. It’s an exploration of abstract forms, movements, and frequencies, allowing viewers to travel the world through Daniel’s eyes and ears. 

In addition, we are thrilled to announce that we are building a digital art collection for a Swiss financial institution with strong ties to art collector Steve Cohen. This collection will reflect the intersection of finance and contemporary digital art, highlighting our commitment to merging cultural and economic spheres. 

How has the response been from the community and participants to the initiatives promoting the use of NFTs for social and environmental causes? 

People are amazed at how art and technology can be combined for good. During our shows, they learn about crucial social and environmental topics playfully through art. Additionally, they have the opportunity to learn about NFTs and even purchase their first one, supporting worthwhile causes. It’s like killing two birds with one stone. 

What impact do you believe Haus der Kallistik’s projects have had on raising awareness about issues such as digital harassment and environmental conservation? 

One of the latest projects Kallistik catalyzed is Dickbits, the digital response of Web 3.0 to sexual harassment in the digital age. 

This social NFT project specifically supports victims who have received unsolicited explicit photos via messaging apps or social networks. Recipients can submit these unwanted photos to the Swiss artist duo behind the project, who then transform these distasteful images into pop-art-inspired pixelated NFT artworks. The profits generated from these artworks are given back to the victims. Each Dickbit artwork is based on its unique “submission story” and is artistically expressed accordingly. This initiative turns the negative aspects of digitalization (Web 2.0) into positive outcomes using Web 3.0, blockchain technology. 

We were also accelerating the Here We Grow initiative, which revolutionizes the concept of charity by blending inspiration, creativity, and cultural experiences to make charity a lifestyle. This cross-media charity project focuses on climate and ecological sustainability, leveraging Spotify’s platform where artists contribute music and rights. Streaming and festivals generate revenue, which is then donated to NGOs to promote environmental conservation and sustainability. 

The first project under this initiative, Music for the Rainforest, features the “Here We Grow” album on Spotify, which includes 25 pieces by international artists. Each streaming session generates revenue for rainforest reforestation, with eight hours of streaming equating to the reforestation of one square meter of rainforest. Additionally, audiovisual artworks are offered as NFTs to raise extra funds. This project seamlessly integrates music and NFTs to support environmental causes, demonstrating how art can be a powerful tool for social good. 

What challenges have you faced in integrating Web 3.0 technologies with traditional art and culture, and how have you overcome them? 

People often react with fear when they hear terms like Web 3.0, blockchain, or NFTs. This fear usually stems from a lack of understanding and the presence of numerous scams in the space. When engaging with individuals in the traditional art and culture community, I tend to avoid these specific terms. Instead, I discuss digital art, new media art, or multimedia art. If the topic of Web 3.0 and NFTs does come up, I explain that NFTs are essentially digital certificates of authenticity, stored on an incorruptible digital ledger, and can be transferred with a simple mouse click. It’s more of a legal-tech concept than something inherently tied to art. 

How do you see the role of NFTs and digital art evolving in the next few years, particularly in terms of social impact and community engagement? 

I believe NFTs will become the new standard for authenticating and transacting art, whether physical or digital. This shift will bring greater transparency to the art world, ultimately benefiting all participants, especially artists. Additionally, the use of NFTs opens up new avenues for raising funds for impactful projects. People can collect NFTs not just as art but also as tokens of support for various causes, proudly sharing with friends the projects they back. This blend of philanthropy and digital art offers a unique and meaningful way to engage with both the art community and social impact initiatives. 

How has the audience’s perception and acceptance of phygital (physical + digital) art changed since you started, and what trends are you noticing now? 

There is still some lingering skepticism around NFTs, as the traditional art world is cautious about their trustworthiness. This mistrust has led to a growing interest in phygital linking, where a physical item is connected to a digital asset. This trend seems to resonate with people who prefer the tangible assurance of a physical object alongside their digital investment. Over time, this approach may help improve the public’s perception of NFTs. 

One emerging technology that I believe will set a new standard in the art and collectibles world is SmartStamp. It uses advanced AI to create non-invasive links between physical objects and their digital counterparts, enhancing authenticity, traceability, and flexibility in what is still a predominantly analog market. To encourage widespread adoption, they offer a free app that allows anyone to securely register their private collections. This service adheres to the highest standards of data integrity, provided through blockchain technology, specifically data hashing, to ensure secure and transparent record-keeping. 

As an advocate for the use of technology in art, what advice would you give to emerging artists and cultural creators looking to explore the realms of Web 3.0 and NFTs? 

My advice is simple…