The 5th Ruoshui NFT Art Award Call for Entries: Exploring the Boundaries Between Reality and AI with "Generative 2.0"

The 5th "Like Water NFT Art Prize" is officially launched with the theme "GENERATION 2.0," inviting global creators to redefine reality, creation, and authorship in the era of AI. (Context: NFT is definitely not dead. Animoca’s Yat Siu says high-net-worth collectors are still buying, and this is long-term value.) (Background: From a $70 million myth to $9 figurines, is the NFT market really "dead"?) The 5th "Like Water NFT Art Prize" is now open for submissions! This year’s theme, "GENERATION 2.0," invites global creators to use NFTs as a medium to respond to the redefinition of reality, creation, and authorship in the age of generative AI. The event is co-hosted by the Taiwan Art and Technology Association and akaSwap, and continues to partner with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) to promote the development of NFTs and digital art. Submissions will be accepted until June 30, 2026. Since its inception in 2022, the "Like Water NFT Art Prize" has become a significant NFT art competition platform in Asia, consistently encouraging creators to explore the possibilities of digital art through blockchain technology. Past themes—ranging from peace and sustainability, daily observations, fluidity and collective creation, to the pursuit of memory and time—have all sought to respond to the cultural and technological shifts of their respective eras. Entering its fifth edition, "GENERATION 2.0" focuses on the profound impact brought by generative AI. This year, the Like Water NFT Art Prize continues its partnership with TAICCA to support market-forward NFT creations through the "TAICCA Special Award." As the highest honor of this edition, the winner of the "TAICCA Special Award" will receive 1000 Tezos and 1000 akaDAO, continuing to encourage creators to explore new forms of artistic expression at the intersection of Web3, blockchain, and generative AI. The Like Water NFT Art Prize has long focused on cross-disciplinary practices in technology and cultural content, and through this collaboration with TAICCA, it aims to bring more visibility to Taiwanese and international creators, further expanding the possibilities of NFT art in contemporary culture. As AI quietly permeates images, text, sound, and daily information, we are gradually entering an era where it is difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood. "Does the face you see exist? Has this melody ever been hummed by a human? Who designed this building?" If the answers all stem from generation, does "reality" still have a clear boundary? The Like Water NFT Art Prize invites creators to face this fissure and propose their own perspectives and attitudes between human creation and machine generation. There are no restrictions on media for this year’s art prize. Whether it is traditional painting, illustration, photography, or digital art, interactive art, generative art, and AI creations, all can be minted as NFTs via the akaSwap platform to participate. The organizers hope to use an open creative framework to encourage artists to transcend media and technical boundaries, exploring artistic possibilities in the generation era. Additionally, the "Annual NFT Project Award" will continue this year, with nominations made by the community and selections made by the professional jury of the Like Water Prize. By reviewing innovative NFT projects in the Web3 and blockchain space over the past year, the award aims to showcase the energy of digital creation and community co-creation. The awards ceremony and exhibition for the 5th "Like Water NFT Art Prize" are scheduled for August 2026, with specific details to be announced later. The exhibition will feature selected and winning works, presenting a diverse and thought-provoking landscape of creation at the intersection of generative AI and NFT art. About the Organizers - Taiwan Art and Technology Association is dedicated to promoting exchanges in art and technology, enhancing research and creative development in the field, and fostering cross-disciplinary integration. - akaSwap, established in 2021, is an NFT creation and trading platform based on the Tezos blockchain. It is committed to promoting Web3 applications and the development of the digital creation ecosystem, providing a stage for creators to freely showcase and exchange their work. Partner: Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) Co-organizers: Quanta Research Institute, Research Center for Information Technology Innovation (Academia Sinica), Taiwan Art and Technology Education Association, Taiwan Metaverse Association, 23 Design, c2x3, TZ APAC, Volume DAO, FAB DAO, MaiCoin Group Submission Link: 5th Like Water NFT Art Prize Application Form Nomination Link (Annual NFT Project Award): Annual NFT Project Award Nomination Form More Information: https://akaswap.com/event/likewater26 Contact Email: [email protected]