🍔 🍟 In this messed-up, crappy-talistic hideout, where those golden arches throw their glow, the die-hard crew assembles—a secret society of avant-gardist foodies.

Their holy vessels, once just wrappers, now carry the smudges of oily fingerprints and half-chomped fries. They belt out their anthem, voices merging with the greasy air: ‘fries & burgers, our freaking divine feast’.

‘The Cholesterol Chronicles’, 2024

⚠️ Long Reading 💢

🚬CM CigNet. I wrote this text about @cigawrettepacks from my own perspective. Your interpretation might differ, and that's perfectly fine.

Smoke it as you wish!

@t2world @orb @creators @lens

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🚬CIGAWRETTE PACKS: A SMOKEY PHILOSOPHICAL DISCOURSE

One cig can alter your world, but every puff comes with a price!

Cigawrette Packs is an avant-garde literature project, comprising 9999 NFTs that probe the nebulous intersection of PFP, utility, and aesthetic value. It’s a countercultural manifesto and an incisive OnChain critique, transforming the mundane cigarette pack from a basic nicotine dispensary into a potent symbol of creativity and art’s pivotal role in our crypto-capitalist lore. The collection includes unique specials like ‘Ainslie Country Exploration,’ a recent ad series in collaboration with Lens. This collection highlights the project’s commitment to artistic innovation and cultural commentary.

These basic cardboard boxes, initially designed to hook consumers and obscure the health risks of the dirty substance’s intake, are reimagined here as canvases for creation and fast-consumed literature. This move challenges us—degens, canceled, supra-nihilists, NEETs, and techno-philosophers—to reassess the significance of daily objects and their potential to generate new meanings and narratives within various contexts.

Its intentional ambiguity calls for personal interpretation, with meanings that shift based on one’s background and worldview. Here’s my take, with some insights from Lofo Verboten, who manages the project after the artist’s departure.

TAKING BACK CONTROL WITH ART AND WORDS

The Cigawrettes’ blank warning labels are a bold confrontation to the consumerist culture that shapes our perceptions through omnipresent messages. Showing these spaces as empty, the packs help us consider the plots that are regularly imposed on us by advertising and government bodies.

The act of inscribing these "fill as you wish" blanks is emblematic of reclaiming one’s voice in a society that often relegates us to the role of passive consumers (or smokers).

ABSURDISM MAXXING

Rooted in deep absurdist philosophy, Cigawrette Packs become a support where traditional symbols of health hazards and addiction are turned into vessels for artistic expression. This contrast cultivates a sense of the absurd, challenging the conventional stories that cling to the good ol’ cigarette packs.

“Cigarettes with eyes is pretty absurd, no?” Lofo mused when I asked about the themes of absurdism and nihilism the project seems to convey. “As to nihilism, from my understanding Pappachaga—the artist behind this project—approached it as a positive belief system. Not in terms of happiness or sadness, but as affirming rather than negating. Perhaps he found absurdity in the belief that nothing matters. I share this perspective. It is a belief, and as such, it imparts meaning, regardless of the nature of that belief—even if it is often perceived as avoidant and depressing.” He added, “Not sure what it has to do with cigawrettes.”

Perhaps the blank labels are the key. Perhaps it invites people to find their own meanings in spaces traditionally marked by caution, thus welcoming the chaos of existence to discover personal significance. Who knows?

EXISTENTIALISM AND METAMODERNISM

Cigawrettes seem to have something to say about existential themes, especially the idea of defining yourself through creation. Using the blank labels (via Cigbot.life), everyone can join in a kind of self-creation, shaping their identity with their contributions.

The engagement strategy is multifaceted and resonates with different audiences. While interactive elements—similar to Choose Your Own Adventure and Interactive Theatre—are not central to the experience, they add a layer of participation. However, not everyone prefers this mode of interaction. “I’m not really sure. I always hated those Choose Your Own Adventure books. I want to watch the show, not wonder if there’s another TV I need to watch to figure out who killed so and so,” Lofo expressed. This perspective underscores the importance of providing a cohesive narrative that doesn’t require viewers to seek out additional paths to understand the core story.

This endeavor is definitely situated within the framework of metamodernism, which reconciles the polarities of sincerity and irony, hope and doubt. It exemplifies this oscillation, encouraging creativity while acknowledging the ironic twist of repurposing consumer goods as art mediums.

THE CIGAWRETTES CONUNDRUM

In this conceptual script, the cigarette pack leaves its physical form to become a simulacrum—a representation without an original. This resonates with Baudrillard’s hyperreality, where the lines between the actual and the simulated move away. It challenges the authenticity and relevance of digital artifacts in an era where tangibility is no longer paramount. By co-opting corporate aesthetics, Cigawrette Packs engage in a subversive act, employing the language of marketing to critique the systems it mirrors and to reflect on the pervasive corporate influence in our daily lives.

In the same vein, while downstream of influential NFT collections, Cigawrette Packs contribute to this evolving narrative. Derivative works and collaborations within it, such as those related to Milady, enrich the ecosystem by weaving shared cultural references and symbols. “The whole internet is awash in images and symbols mashed together. It is all essentially one massive collaborative effort,” Lofo added.

The influence of Remilia’s Milady, with its community-driven approach, sets a precedent for projects like Cigawrette Packs. The integration and interaction with such pioneers are not just about the transfer of aesthetic or thematic elements but also about the fusion of communities and the shared evolution of value. As Cigawrettes or CigNet as its members call themselves navigate this landscape, it invites the community to explore its utility and potential through Cigbot.life, alt accounts, bot accounts, and rabbit holes. It promises a back-and-forth through an interconnected ecosystem.

CYBERBOTANICAL PARADISE

Cigawrettes state that they are an initial building block to bring about a cyberbotanical paradise that seems to symbolize a utopian intersection where technology and ecological mindfulness merge. This vision critiques prevailing environmental practices and offers an optimistic perspective on what might be accomplished through progress. It represents a hopeful future where art and technology are leveraged to forge a more balanced existence.

In this context, Lofo’s observation that ‘Cigawrettes are carbon neutral’ adds a provocative dimension to the discourse. It invites us to scrutinize the environmental impact of our actions and the products we consume. The statement encourages a deeper understanding of the full lifecycle of products in our pursuit of sustainability.

From my understanding, the notion of cigarettes being carbon neutral is a complex one, as it involves considering the entire process from production to disposal. The environmental footprint of cigarettes is indeed significant, and efforts to reduce their impact are crucial as we strive for a carbon-neutral future.

AN EVOLVING DISCOURSE

Cigawrettes are both fluid and vaporous. They invite tons of interpretations, and my current text is just a super tiny facet of what the project has to say. As a collective artwork and story, it evolves with each new expression, emphasizing the power of shared creativity and the impact of the network.

Understand it as you wish/can…

B.