THE FIRST 5000 DAYS 

Beeple, born Mike Winkelmann, created "The First 5000 Days," a digital collage, using software as his primary tool. This artwork exists as a JPEG file, and the question of its ‘materiality’ is interesting, as digital artists have the possibility of creating art without recourse to the use of physical material. “The First 5000 Days” aggregates images made over more than thirteen years. Each component reflects the digital conditions in which it was made, and together they amount to a sustained engagement with tools of design and software programs, resulting in a file of immense size. "The First 5000 Days" is a product of digital labor, with each image representing a unit of time and creative input. The commodification of this digital work raises questions about the value of virtual creations in a market traditionally focused on physical objects. Ultimately, the work challenges our understanding of what constitutes art, and the blurring of boundaries between art, design, and technology.