A Rhinoceros Named Genda
From Dürer to Dali and beyond
In 1515, a rhinoceros arrived in Lisbon - a gift from the Sultan of Gujarat to King Manuel I of Portugal. The animal, named Genda, became a sensation across Europe and was immortalised by Albrecht Dürer in his renowned woodcut, despite the artist never having seen the creature himself.
Dürer’s image went on to shape artistic and scientific imagination for over five centuries, inspiring generations of artists - from his contemporaries through to Salvador Dalí and today's contemporary creators. Its most recent interpretation is a sculpture composed of 90 pieces of silver, crafted by Asprey Studio in collaboration with the British Museum.
OCTARR continues and expands this five-century legacy, through the creation of exciting new works of art.
Genda's Journey
Genda’s story is one of exploration, empire, and ambition - entwined with the age of geographic discovery led by Vasco da Gama, the forces of colonisation, and the geopolitical Iberian rivalries mediated by Pope Leo X, himself a Medici.
OCTARR plans to complete Genda’s unfinished journey. The rhinoceros tragically perished in a shipwreck en route to Rome, never reaching the Vatican - a symbolic destination we now wish to honour through art.
Together with the Asprey sculpture and accompanying academic research, our collective of artists, under the artistic direction of Harto, will create a new body of work that brings Genda’s extraordinary story full circle.
The Collection
The sculpture will be tokenised and the 90 tokens will be made available for purchase at $3,000 each.
Genda Guardians will benefit from priority access and revenue share from all downstream artworks created as part of the Genda Project.
Rewards of Patience
- You receive full, transferable ownership of your allocated shares in the sculpture, with the freedom to sell or gift them at any time.
- Your share covers all insurance costs – you pay nothing further for the upkeep of your stake in Genda.
- Enjoy free access to the sculpture wherever it is exhibited.
- You receive complimentary Platinum membership with OCTARR, including priority access to all future projects.
- As a co-owner, you will derive ongoing income from the sale of all downstream art and artisanal collectables emanating from the Genda Project.
- You will also enjoy priority access to acquire any of these collectables before they are made available to the public.
Genda’s Passport
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