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Collect Generative Art with fx(hash) and Temple Wallet on the Tezos Blockchain


Be part of the generative art movement! Collect generative art on the fx(hash) generative art platform using Temple wallet to manage transactions and the Tezos blockchain to securely manage provenance. This article is designed to serve as a concise introduction and to get new collectors excited about generative art.

Article thumbnail features a live view high resolution download of Ataraxis #268 by Liam Egan.

In this article, we will explore the following topics:

  • What is Generative Art?
  • Why Get Involved?
  • Show Me the Art!
  • Build Your Own Gallery
  • Why Collect Art on the Tezos Blockchain?
  • How Can I Collect Art on fx(hash) with Temple Wallet?

What is Generative Art?

Generative art is art created by an autonomous system or process. A more extensive definition has been written by author Philip Galanter:

"Generative art refers to any art practice in which the artist cedes control to a system with functional autonomy that contributes to, or results in, a completed work of art. Systems may include natural language instructions, biological or chemical processes, computer programs, machines, self‐organizing materials, mathematical operations, and other procedural inventions." [1]

Generative art began in the 1950's. Sometimes referred to as the algorists, some important pioneers of generative art include Harold Cohen, Chuck Csuri, Herbert Franke, Manfred Mohr, Vera Molnár, Frieder Nake, Joan Truckenbrod, Roman Verostko, Jean-Pierre Hébert, George Nees and Sol Lewitt [2, 3]. Jean-Pierre Hébert wrote a clever algorithmic self-definition [4]:

Javascript
if (creation && object of art && algorithm && one's own algorithm) {
include * an algorist *
} elseif (!creation || !object of art || !algorithm || !one's own algorithm) {
exclude * not an algorist *
}

Why Get Involved?

Get involved because you love art. You can own unique artworks that no one else in the world owns. Generative art is considered 1 of 1 of the total number of iterations. If the collection contains 256 iterations, you own a 1 of 1 of 256, which is a unique piece of art.

You can support artists that you admire. Some artists make generative art on the side as a hobby while others have transitioned into full-time generative artists and make their sole income from their art.

You can enter a community of like-minded art enthusiasts! Engage with fellow collectors on Discord, Twitter and other social media sites. Acquaintances and friendships may be borne out of a common interest in generative art.

Show Me the Art!

The fx(hash) beta launch was October 10, 2021 (source ↗) and the fx(hash) 1.0 launch was April 16, 2022 (source ↗). The fx(params) feature was launched on March 20, 2023 (source ↗) which is an optional feature which allows artists to define a set of parameters that collectors can explore before minting. Recently, artists have extended this functionality to allow for co-creation within fx(params).

Artworks featured in this article and were collected by the author from the fx(hash) platform using the Temple wallet. Thirty artworks have been organized into the following 6 categories from which 5 artworks of each are on display: still images, animations-to-draw, continuous animations, audiovisuals, interactives and co-creatives.

Still Images:

These artworks are some highlights of my collecting on fx(hash) and would look impressive in a frame on a wall.

  1. Ataraxis #268, 2022. @Liam Egan
  2. Retroscapes #11, 2022. @Pawel Grzelak
  3. Attachment #115, 2022. @jeres
  4. Alien Signs #26, 2022. @akella
  5. Bloc.Plan #14, 2022. @Dirbots

Animations-to-Draw:

Press play! Animation-to-draw artworks often start with a blank canvas, the animation begins and eventually, the design reaches its final resting place. These pieces are also highly frameable!

  1. Padina #204, 2022. @Pawel Grzelak
  2. Obliques #92, 2022. @cc0x0x0
  3. Snail Tree #47, 2022. @Felix Deimling
  4. Triangular Dreams #31, 2022. @Leonardo Solaas
  5. Entanglement #43, 2022. @kusakari

Continuous Animations:

These artworks are very special. They continue to evolve—some in simple ways and others, in complex ways.

  1. Stellar Nurseries #198, 2022. @ella
  2. Colorleaves #18, 2021. @Aleksandra
  3. Impossible Landscapes #20, 2021. @quentinhocde
  4. Botanical Ghosts #345, 2023. @Leonardo Solaas
  5. A Slight Case of Overbombing #67, 2022. @revdancatt

Audiovisuals:

Turn on your speakers and press play! The integration of sound into an artwork seems like a very challenging creative task. These artists specialize in art and sound integration. Consider playing one of these as you read the rest of the article.

  1. Terrain #65, 2023. @agoston nagy
  2. k3rnel #155, 2022. @agoston nagy
  3. Sap Song #115, 2022. @yamiburgenet
  4. Öresund #142, 2022. @Rami Awad
  5. Alphabits #93, 2022. @Rami Awad

Interactives:

Click and or click/drag to change camera angles, influence shapes or alter designs.

  1. Crude Acceptance #231, 2022. @Victor Doval
  2. Puzzled Picture #45, 2023. @katoten
  3. Lines #88, 2021. @Johan Holwerda
  4. Strata Changes #15, 2022. @Aleksandra
  5. Sticky #8, 2021. @bgola

Co-Creatives

The artist @Alejandro released a series called Pensado a Mano in which collectors play a role in creating the output. While a mouse could be used to draw the input design, this author purchased an entry level drawing tablet specifically to take a more active role in the co-creation of the artwork. The outputs below are the results of my co-creative efforts.

  1. Pensado a Mano #828, 2023. @Alejandro
  2. Pensado a Mano #832, 2023. @Alejandro
  3. Pensado a Mano #860, 2023. @Alejandro
  4. Pensado a Mano #861, 2023. @Alejandro
  5. Pensado a Mano #862, 2023. @Alejandro

Build Your Own Gallery

Organizing your art collection into digital galleries is an enjoyable way to appreciate your art collection. This author has created 2 galleries using the 30 artworks above using 2 different third-party gallery platforms. Artworks have been organized into the following categories: still image, animations-to-draw, continuous animations, audiovisual, interactive and co-creative. Links to galleries are available below.

Why Collect Art on Tezos?

The Tezos blockchain is sustainable, scalable, affordable and secure. The Tezos testnet launched on June 30, 2018 and the Tezos mainnet launched on September 17, 2018 (Source: Twitter ↗).

Sustainable

  • Tezos is a proof-of-stake smart contract blockchain which is energy-efficient and sustainable.

Scalable

  • Tezos uses an on-chain governance mechanism which allows for continuous upgrades without the need for hard forks.

Affordable

  • Due to low cast transactions, the Tezos blockchain is an easy entry point for many people and is a great place to experiment.

Secure

  • Tezos uses formal verification which mathematically proves smart contract properties.

How Can I Collect Art on fx(hash) with Temple Wallet?

Temple Wallet is a cryptocurrency wallet for the Tezos blockchain. It is available on desktop as a web extension wallet and on mobile as an app on Android and iOS. For beginners, get familiar with the desktop version first. Visit the Temple Wallet website at https://templewallet.com/ and select “Web Extension”. Follow the on-screen prompts to establish a new wallet. Fund the wallet by sending XTZ from a cryptocurrency exchange. Proceed with one of the following transactions each of which have video demonstrations.

1.) Mint a Generative Iteration:

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2.) Purchase on Secondary:

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3.) Make an Individual Offer:

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4.) Make a Collection Offer:

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5.) Claim an fx(params) Ticket:

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Sources

  1. Galanter, Philip. “Generative Art Theory.” A Companion to Digital Art, Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken, NJ, 2016.
  2. Paul, Christiane. “NFT Art-a Sales Mechanism or a Medium?” The Art Newspaper - International Art News and Events, 18 Feb. 2022, www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/02/18/nfts-are-a-sales-mechanism-not-a-medium .
  3. Hencz, Adam. “What Is Generative Art? Artists & Tools.” Artland Magazine, 10 Feb. 2023, magazine.artland.com/generative-art/ .
  4. Kent, Charlotte. “Beyond the Janus-Faced Typologies of Art and Technology.” The Brooklyn Rail, 8 July 2022, brooklynrail.org/2022/07/art-technology/Beyond-the-Janus-Faced-Typologies-of-Art-and-Technology .



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