In 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic, in response to the situation where it was difficult to "invite" people and money,Takahiro Kogaannounced ``NEO MANEKINEKO'', an updated version of ``Maneki Neko''. It contains a strong desire to recover people and money without giving in to the difficult current situation. And in 2022, we will announce "NEO MANEKINEKO – CRYPTO-" which gives a new concept to "NEO MANEKINEKO".
Up until now, Koga has created works aimed at people who aim to reach great heights, regardless of their origins, under the banner of ``ceramics from the Age of Ascendance.'' So, what exactly is the greatest upheaval of the 21st century? This hypothesis may be due to the rise of blockchain and crypto assets - this hypothesis is the motivation for creating this work. Cryptoassets were born from the concept of ``creating currency that is not controlled by the government,'' and as a result, many people, regardless of their background or educational background, have become millionaires. Additionally, in 2021, NFTs are exploding in the art industry, and can be said to be a keyword that represents the modern era.
The ``beckoning cat'' in this work tramples on the US dollar, the representative legal currency, and wears Bitcoin around its neck. However, what they hold in their hands is a stablecoin designed to ensure price stability by being linked to fiat currency, which also hints at a contradiction. ``NEO MANEKINEKO - CRYPTO-'' is a work that gives a new concept to the ``beckoning cat'' and sharply captures the current situation surrounding crypto assets, strongly expressing one of the ``images'' of modern times.