Hardo’s High Frequency Trading
Welcome to Hardo’s High Frequency Trading world
Connecting seven F1 tracks within the Indy500 ring, against an old-fashioned Nanex ping-backdrop, Hardo brings together a global HFT playing field that is obsessively filled with intellect, speed and wit.
Out of the total series of eight prints, six are still available. Price is increased after every turn, not apologetic about the limited arb opportunities here.
€16.411,57
Only 8 full-scale prints will be produced and sold
Only eight numbered prints will be produced
These eight floating pieces are sold one-by-one, with limited arbitrage opportunities but at least with linear returns built in despite the lack of an auction exchange mechanism and given that I can’t exactly ask anyone to PFOF.
The listing price is increased by 11% after every sale. Pricing started at EUR 12,000. Initially I planned to raise it by the same amount for which p presents a Mersenne prime starting from the 11th number for which 2^n-1 is prime, but despite my love for these primes that would just be nonsense.
Terms & Conditions: Each print is forever subject to 9% re-sell rebate to flow to Hardo & Co (Hardo’s transaction tax) – and a 24-month lock-up. No exceptions.
The size is appr. 121x171cm or 4’0”x5’7”; shipping costs up to EUR 1,500 are on the house – but your back office is responsible for handling any local tax regimes on imports. Larger size (e.g. for a full office wall) can be discussed. Comes in heavy duty wooden ISPM15 art shipping crate.
Art details: Canson Infinity Platine Fibre RAG – under 3mm Diasec (as used by the Louvre); printed by a specialist in the Netherlands.
Who the low-latency-fuck is Hardo?
I am a Dutch author and fihnance concept-artist with a lifelong passion for the world of haute fihnance. At age 11, I persuaded my parents to let me use some future college savings and start trading through the first Dutch online brokerage. Though I made enough to buy a racing bike, my returns were no doubt driven by riding years of the dotcom boom rather than by genius stock picking, let alone any fancy ghost hunting or arbitrage identification. I did get invited to visit the broker and the stock exchange, and even got to call in some orders to the floor (speaking of latency…). In the years that followed, I read many financial thrillers; somehow I think the books by Paul Erdman triggered me to think that #monetarypolicyiscool.
Over the past decade, I worked in M&A and PE & PE advisory, started a crowdfunding platform, worked for a VC, and as chief of staff to the CEO of a commodities trading firm in what may well be called ‘fantastic niche markets and how to become a market maker in them’. All over the fihnance world, mainly around the deal cycle, always passionate about understanding global money flows. I had no idea at the time it would eventually lead me to create Hardo & Co.
Despite not being an HFT practitioner, I am an absolute lover of the space, following Belgian tower auctions and Aurora dish disputes with the same delight as reading a detective novel, watching a James Bond – or a thrilling F1 rain race, for that matter.
€16.411,57
What is Hardo & Co? Unique collectible coffee table books and art works about the world of haute fihnance
In 2018 I founded Hardo&Co, a fictive “European boutique investment bank that may look like David but slays deals like Goliath”. As its sole intern, Associate, VP and Managing Art Director, I spend my nights creating intricate, intelligent and satirical worlds of haute fihnance art. The first Hardo book is ‘Advanced Valuation Techniques – A modern guide to complexity and guidance for navigating future financial crises’; all about Hardo, a young Associate making some money shorting the VIX (first edition of 420 copies). Eventually this will be a series of 8 books, including for instance a book called ‘Haute Fihnance 101’, which includes the final version of the HFT print.
The total Hardo & Co universe, of 8 books, 120-140 artworks and ancillaries that will make Hardo look like the Hello Kitty of the haute fihnance space will take me another ~7-10 years to complete. If you want to check back in when Hardo’s full series is complete, set an alarm for in 2031. I understand and am highly committed to what this timespan and the corresponding challenge entails. Along with the books, which with all its artisanal craftsmanship involved represent the ultimate luxury in print, I market selected illustrations, some as (very) limited art editions (like the HFTxF1 work) and some as open
reproductions to brighten up a cubicle or home office and serve as reminders of purpose and to not take shit too seriously, as long as you bring your wit and brain to the game. The prints thus range from small gifts for interns that get a return offer to large sized collectible artworks for MDs, second homes, for on yachts, for bonus season flexing or office spaces. All first edition books and prints are OTC (self-published). Very selectively, I may do custom work as well, but please mind given the above I know a thing or two about opportunity costs.
