⧝ cronum

The Timeless Surround of Art

Public and unlockable content, permanently connected to artworks and NFTs

cronum | ˈkrō-nəm | noun

Plural: cronums

1) The expanded digital presence surrounding an artwork or artifact, composed of stories, records, media, and interpretations that extend beyond the physical object.

“The cronum of the sculpture includes its sketches, conservation records, and a video of the casting process.”

2) The living, evolving continuum of knowledge, memory, and experience tied permanently to a work.

“Every museum contributed to the cronum of this piece, building a complete picture of its history.”

Etymology: from chrono (“time”) + continuum, suggesting a timeless surround.

Iconography: cronum is represented by the tie-over / connected infinity Unicode symbol U+29DD

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crona | krō-nə | noun

Plural: cronas

1) An individual contribution or record added to the cronum of an artwork; such as a document, image set, conservation note, interview, scan, provenance entry, etc.

“A conservator added a crona documenting the last restoration, including before-and-after images, and a treatment summary.”

2) A story, media piece, or contextual element that enhances understanding or appreciation of the work.

“The crona of related paintings helps situate this piece in its original series and deepens our appreciation of it.”

Relationship: Each crona forms part of the larger cronum.

Iconography: crona are represented by the incomplete infinity Unicode symbol U+29DC

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Why Cronum Exists

Art doesn’t live only in a frame or file. It exists in memory, in context, and in connection. Cronum exists to make these layers permanent.

Amplify

Give works a larger presence than their physical scale or limits allow.

Restore

Reveal and revive what time has obscured.

Preserve

Protect the legacy of care and ensure continuity for the future.

Contextualize

Deepen understanding and appreciation through story, culture, and people.

Connect

Situate works within a larger cultural and historical network.

Tools Coming Soon

Cronum Viewer

Web • WordPress Plugin • Browser Extension
See the Cronum of any NFT wherever you browse.

 

Cronum Uploader

Web • WordPress Plugin • Browser Extension
See the Cronum of any NFT wherever you browse.

Content Types

  • Unlockable Crona — token-gated, secure, permanent, solving the failures of past unlockable NFT projects

  • Public Crona — openly accessible, adding universal layers of context and story

 

Physical Connection

The cronum uploader will provide QR code and NFC tag URL generation, which can be set to open the cronum viewer on your own site.

Through pNFT tags (developed by ArtAreas.io), artworks in the real world can be authenticated and linked directly to their cronum.

Touch the object. Access its cronum.

Open Standard & Future

Cronum is more than a tool — it is an open cultural protocol.

  • Defined as a JSON schema, allowing anyone to publish Crona to Arweave

  • Tied to the Art Identification Standard (AIS) for permanent identification

  • Guided by a governance roadmap: from institutional wallets to DAO management

Cronum is designed to last.

 

A Shared Cultural Layer

Cronum is a community effort. Artists, collectors, curators, and institutions all contribute.

Add a Crona. Expand the Cronum.