Simpson Marine and Ali G jointly launch their first NFT Collection – ODE TO THE SEA – NOW LIVE

Simpson Marine is delighted to announce the official launch of its first NFT collection, ODE TO THE SEA, curated by Hong Kong’s established professional photographer and NFT creator Ali G of Ali G Studios.

Although the concept of a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) has been around since 2014, it is only since early 2021 that NFTs have become increasingly popular digital assets, representing real-world objects like art, music, in-game items, and videos. In 2021 the word NFT also became the Collins Dictionary word of the year!

Considering Asia’s many crypto investors and collectors, and their high interest in digital and new technologies and innovations, Simpson Marine decided to create a unique and exclusive NFT collection. This special creation celebrates Simpson Marine’s maritime roots, adding a touch of performance art to give a true homage to the sea. This tribute is apt, as the sea has been Simpson Marine’s reason for being throughout the last 37 years since the company first established itself in Hong Kong.

Dancers on Bluegame BGX70 against the iconic Victoria Harbour.

Having decided on a creative concept of a ballet dance at sea on board two selected yachts, a Sanlorenzo SX76 and a Bluegame BGX70 became the heart of the campaign. This direction was selected as part of a broader collaboration with the worlds of ballet and performing arts, with Simpson Marine becoming an official member of Club Hong Kong Ballet and a Corporate Patron of the Hong Kong Ballet, Asia’s premier ballet company, effective June 2022. Through this support of the Hong Kong Ballet, Simpson Marine will proudly contribute to its artistic development and expansion and deliver a unique value proposition to its yacht owners and customers with a dedicated VIP entertainment and benefits program.

The photoshoot took place in Hong Kong, Simpson Marine’s historic headquarters and the unquestionable yachting centre of Asia. A couple of experienced Hong Kong ballet dancers were photographed by Ali G in the iconic locations of Victoria Harbour (Central & TST) and the Southern Side (Repulse Bay & South Bay), reinforcing the company’s attachment to Hong Kong and the recognition of its uniqueness as a true wonder of nature with an unrivalled energy.

Ali G captures the expressive emotions and subtle dance movements by the dancers

ODE TO THE SEA is an exclusive premiere collection of 15 unique photography NFTs, each a 1/1 edition. They will be available for collection via Ali G’s official account on Foundation, an NFT marketplace that aims to build a new creative economy based on the Ethereum blockchain. The collection is launched on 28 July 2022 and collectors can simply connect their wallets to this account to purchase the NFTs: https://foundation.app/collection/ODETOTHESEA

The first collectors of ODE TO THE SEA will be entitled to receive a set of attractive extras in addition to the digital art piece:

• The first collectors will be eligible to use their NFT towards the purchase of a yacht, the exact value of which will be based on terms and conditions, 
• A museum quality print of their NFT signed by Ali G in a 1/1 edition,
• Access to one VIP event hosted by Simpson Marine in 2022 (to be proposed individually),
• Two premium tickets to a Hong Kong Ballet show in 2022 (to be selected by the collector) and for collectors from outside Hong Kong an alternative will be proposed.

With the launch of the ODE TO THE SEA collection, Simpson Marine is Asia’s first yachting company to create a NFT collection, reinforcing the company’s forward-thinking approach towards the still-growing, phenomenal NFT market and the promising Metaverse digital marketplace. 

Behind the scenes – Dancers with fabric in motion on the Sanlorenzo SX76

“This has been an exciting project to work on with Ali G, as we have been witnessing Hong Kong’s creative NFT effervescence for the past few months,” says Ewa Stachurska, Group Marketing Manager at Simpson Marine. “We are conscious that many of our yacht owners are crypto investors and thought that this creative project would appeal to them, and they would want to have a piece of this exclusive collection in their growing portfolio. We are proud of our new relationship with the ballet world as we have just become official patrons of Hong Kong Ballet and are committed to supporting its artistic growth as part of our community projects.”

“Simpson Marine has been synonymous with luxury yachting and is known for being a pioneer in the yachting world,” says Ali G of Ali G Studios. “I am honoured to be part of this collaboration and to use my art to bring alive a vision that we planned for months and executed flawlessly together.  I hope this paves the way for more brand and artist collaborations in the future!”

Simpson Marine marketing team, Ali G and the dancers, at the end of the shooting day.

The company will continue its creative productions and NFT collaborations as a new added value for its yacht owners and clients, many of whom are actively engaged in this new form of expression and asset ownership.

The collectors wishing to be whitelisted and pre-order their NFTs before the launch date, please contact Simpson Marine team.