Six works from the _Placement_ series were on exhibition at the Art Blocks Gallery in Marfa, Texas from May – October, 2022. 

_Placement_ is a series of 500 artworks that are iteratively generated by an algorithm built by the artist. These hard-edge color-fields are visual representations of the underlying code; their color juxtapositions provoke a long look that goes beyond ‘seeing’. The frame assists in this process as it emphasizes concentration akin to the design of a digital display. The mechanisms of production – code and silkscreen – fade away to present artworks of pure color projected onto a screen or laid on top of paper. In this way, the artist relates the allure of vivid, saturated ink to the mesmerizing glow of a digital display. Cooper is engaged with themes such as digital materiality and the phenomenological.

Placement

Inspired by Max Tegmark's book Life 3.0, we envisioned what it is going to look like when a general AI starts a media company for the first time. An AI able to create and stream unique content to every human watching. 

Soon though, we realized that there was something else going on.

As the work progressed it became clear that Supermental is a way to question and express much of the friction that we see in NFTs and Web3. Especially around mental health.

While we are firm believers in this new world we do have questions. And we do see red flags.

We often complain that some Web2 companies are causing depression and online addiction. And they are. But while the data and the assets might be free in Web3, are we better off when it comes to our mental health?

In the land of NFTs our online identity now consumes. Not only time, but money and assets. The mimetic status games are no longer confined to likes and followers. Now we deal in tangible value. This expansion of the mimetic scoreboard does not make it easier to live a balanced life. The benefit of being online has just increased dramatically for a lot of people. But it comes at a cost.

How do we ensure that we don’t recreate our mistakes of the past? How do we make sure that online addiction does not become worse? How do we make sure that our mental health is not sacrificed once again.

If we really do own the platforms, the assets, and the memes, it should be in our best interest to create an online environment where proactive mental health is the default UX. 

With Supermental we hope to draw attention to mental health issues in the Web3 and NFT space.

Supermental is made by a duo. My partner wants to stay anon.

Take care,
Jarl Rosenlykke

---------

Controls

- Click on the animation to change your mental state

- Press space to pause and take a deep breath

Supermental

Darwin’s Orchid wasn’t discovered by Darwin, but he correctly hypothesized that its long blooms, up to a foot and a half tall, coevolved with a moth with a very long tongue—just long enough to extract its nectar. This flower embodies the great variety of and fascination with the orchid family. Orchids come in all shapes, sizes, colors, textures and scents—perhaps this is why they’ve entranced cultures dating back well over five millennia, becoming symbols of virility, beauty, peace and prosperity in the process. Named “Cattleya” after my first rare orchid, this work is my Ode to Orchids—a mystical flower that brings me endless delight.

Read more about my [inspiration & process↗](https://bensnell.medium.com/7c943673d54f)

*Notes:*
*— This project is intended to be run on modern devices, operating systems and browsers. Older ones may yield undesired or undefined behaviors.*
*— This script includes a modified version of [glsl-fast-gaussian-blur](https://github.com/Jam3/glsl-fast-gaussian-blur), licensed under the MIT License (MIT) Copyright (c) 2015 Jam3.*

Cattleya

As the sun sets on the 70s, things become bigger, bolder and brasher. 80s Pop enters a new decade of extravagance with cutting-edge vector graphics, stylish modern patterns, cable TV and mainframe access.

A celebration of 1988, a whole year of games, tech and art crammed into one variety pack. The only way we could fit more in would be to put it on laserdisc.

Purchasing is suggested for expert users only and those already familiar with 70s Pop; fortune shines on the brave, and rarity is an illusion.

**Keyboard controls - _not mobile_** 
Space - Start, perhaps.
, . - Left/Right, sometimes.
Q A P L - Up-ish, Down-ish, other times.
s - Save screenshot (slow).
h - Toggle highrez (even slower).  

Interactive elements are for desk/laptop only as they require keyboard input, Chrome recommended for the smoothest experience. Highscores 👀 may be kept in localStorage on your browser.

80s Pop Variety Pack - for experts only 🕹

A track. Some vehicles. An endless chase for lovers of loops.

Art Blocks Presents

24 Heures #51

Alexis André

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Cattleya

Ben Snell

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