In the contemporary era, the overwhelming inundation of information and data is a ubiquitous and pervasive reality. This saturation is often accompanied by a sense of disorientation and fragmentation, making it challenging to extract meaningful and valuable insights. As humanity progresses and evolves, this gap between our biological, cognitive, and perceptual capacities and the rapid advancements of our digital world becomes increasingly significant.

Infinity, chaos, complexity, self-reproducibility, coherence, and layering are epithets that apply to this work.

This artwork seeks to capture the complexity and chaos of our digital existence, utilizing various visual techniques to convey its message. Layering and fragmentation visually depict the scattered and fragmented nature of our digital lives, with each layer representing a different unit of information. This fragmentation is further underscored by the grid of "transport" lines that permeate the canvas, symbolizing the interconnected networks and corporations that seek to control and manipulate our attention. Despite the strict rules governing the forms in the artwork, the overall effect is one of chaos and impending tragedy. This tension between order and disorder is a recurring theme, conveying that we are on the brink of losing control and being consumed by information overload. The visual elements of the artwork convey a "technological coldness" and emotionlessness, reflecting the detachment that can result from our immersion in the digital realm. Some of the elements are unfocused, which creates the effect of discomfort and the inability to concentrate and embrace all the available space at once. A kind of frame is the "traces" of data gathering toward the center - in our minds - and intertwining into an endless tangle of something massive and noisy but with no precise shape.

To reinforce the concept, I placed an infinite rotation of all the layers used in the art behind the main canvas. They alternate at great speed, constantly changing their "compression" and background, symbolizing the endless flow of digital information overwhelming our consciousness.

Through its visual elements and composition, the artwork urges us to reflect on our collective responsibility to engage with technology more ethically and thoughtfully. It reminds us that while technology can offer many opportunities and benefits, it also significantly challenges our values and ethics. In this sense, the artwork serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a balance between technological progress and human values.

I used many techniques to create this art. Because of the large number of generated elements and big canvas size, it takes quite a long time to make, "overloading" your device and then entirely using its resources, which is also part of the concept.

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This art is static until you touch it. You can use the mouse wheel to examine the details, and you can also drag the surface of the art. Also, this art is created in two parts. Behind it is an infinite rotation of the layers used in it.

Controls: 

Mouse wheel: zoom in/out
Mouse click, hold and move: drag the static part
Mouse double-click: reset (go static)
Press 's' to save the image

WARNING: PHOTOSENSITIVITY/EPILEPSY SEIZURES

Overload

Flows uses the mathematics of aerodynamics to animate colorful particles and forms that move through underlying flow fields. Potential Flow Theory, a cornerstone of traditional aerodynamic analysis, is the basis for all outputs in this project.

From an aerospace engineer's perspective, these functions are powerful tools to simulate airflow on the wing of an airplane or weather patterns over a geographical area, but rarely are we given the freedom to explore the potential for beauty. Generative art is a wonderful platform to showcase this because it is simply math and physics given shape and color.

Subtle nods to my background in the aerospace industry are given throughout the project. Outputs include particles that traverse along pathlines, simulating particle tracer analysis methods. Some palettes limit their colors to the conventional analytical color spectrum of red to blue. Regions of smooth color gradients are broken up by discontinuities, inspired by Schlieren photographs of shockwaves.

Flows, however, intentionally breaks away from many analytical conventions. This is largely representative of my personal journey out of the aerospace industry and into the world of generative art. Streamlines are replaced by winding, spiraling forms that twist through underlying scalar potential fields instead of aligning with them. Pixelated, analytical graphs are replaced with smooth GPU animations rendered in real-time.

For a more detailed overview of this project, including more details about the choices behind each color palette, a breakdown of the underlying aerodynamics, and a summary of how shaders are being used, please see [ryley-o.com/flows](https://ryley-o.com/flows).

An extra personal touch is given to this project, inspired by my son born with Down syndrome. Token #21 will have a unique blue and yellow palette titled "Inclusion". 100% of artist royalties from sales of that token will be donated to Down syndrome related charities, in perpetuity.

Flows

Mazinaw is about the timeless struggle to express our humanity and communicate the ineffable. The title derives from Mazinaabikinigan-zaaga'igan, an Algonquin word meaning “picture” or “writing”, alluding to the dual nature of pictographs. 

Inspired by my encounters with neolithic cave paintings in Europe and indigenous pictographs flanking Canadian lakes, Mazinaw hints at etchings, drawings, and anthropomorphic forms. While Mazinaw draws on expressionists from Wassily Kandinsky to Norman Lewis, it takes abstraction one step further: each piece is constructed by the artist indirectly, via a generative code, allowing the emergence of new undreamt-of forms.

The 19 palettes are inspired by the natural world, but their roles are sometimes twisted: cerulean blue strokes appear over an ochre canvas, and green flashes of light hop across a gray expanse. I invite the viewer to spend time with each piece, finding their own order from chaos. Signed fine-art archival inkjet prints will be available for owners at a modest cost.

Note: Mazinaw is best viewed in large format (full screen), or printed. Each piece has infinitely fine details, some of which will only be visible in print. Mazinaw renders seamlessly in any aspect ratio; adjust the window size and shape as desired, click on the frame, and type 'f'. 

Controls:

 s   -- save as png
 spacebar  -- pause/unpause
  f   -- toggle square / fit-to-screen aspect ratio
   1-6  -- set pixel density (default=2 on retina displays)
   +/-  -- increase/decrease pixel density
   n -- enable/disable night mode
   p -- enable/disable pastel mode

Mazinaw

In the spirit of pushing forward the narrative of web3 interoperability & importance of on-chain NFTs, we have created the OnChainChain.  The OnChainChain is a whimsical high end piece of metaverse fashion that exemplifies the owner’s understanding of these important fundamental constructs.  A wide variety of chains, totems & accessories designed by Miguelgarest result in unique & prominent wearable chains. 

OnChainChains are standalone pieces of art that also provide the collector with the ability to wear it across multiple NFTs & platforms.  The ability to wear the same OnChainChain everywhere allows the user to become recognizable even while changing avatars across the metaverse.  Currently the OnChainChain is supported by several prominent projects and platforms with the intention of continued expansion.

-Press “b” to change the background color
-Press “z” and “x” to zoom
-Press “Space” to pause
-Press “s” to save the .vox file

*The script includes a modified version of vox.js (initially published by daishi_hmr and dev7.jp in 2015-2016, licensed under MIT)

OnChainChain

*“As we paint we move along step by step. 
We realize that we are guided in our work by awareness of life.”* 
― Agnes Martin, 1979

Steps is an invitation to slow down in order to explore a subtler dimension of reality,
where we can transcend our human nature,
where two successive moments are never exactly the same,
where we continually feel held and supported,
and where each step, even if insignificant in appearance, can reveal unbounded peace.

**Interaction**
Click or Tap or Space key: Pause / Unpause animation

**Prints**
The first 50 editions minted will come with a free signed print of the token at the size you choose among the 3 available (8.5” x 11”, 13” x 17” or 17” x 22”).
All token holders will be able to purchase a signed print of the Steps mint they currently own. 
For non-holders, a curated selection of unsigned prints outside of the minted set will be available.
More information on prints can be found [here](https://johan.studio/work/steps-prints).

**Thanks**
To my dear mother Colette, for taking me to art exhibitions at a young age and developing my enthusiasm & curiosity for visual art.
To my friend Patricio, for sharing his talent, experience and knowledge with such generosity.
To the Art Blocks team, for believing in this project and creating community & opportunities for artists.

Size Category

Size

Style

Curved

Reflection

# of Palettes

Palette(s)

This descending auction has a start time of {start_time} at the price of {start_price} Ξ and will decrease at an exponential rate until the resting price of {base_price} Ξ is met

Art Blocks Presents

Steps

johan

About Steps

johan

Algorithmic edition of 360

Charitable giving

Display notes

Additional details

More in Art Blocks Presents

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Flows

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OnChainChain

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