This article is part of the #30NFTArtists30days challenge, where I write a daily newsletter edition about a different NFT creator during March 2022.
If you are into minimalistic and abstract designs that still resemble physical objects or scenes, then you will love Yazidβs work. Like many other creators, the generative artist started his journey on the Tezos blockchain in April 2021 through the hic et nunc marketplace.
His work in professional services led him to crypto and eventually into NFTs. Thatβs when he decided to get his hands dirty by minting to grasp all the concepts behind this emerging technology.
Hashed Cities #95 by Yazid. One iteration from Yazidβs most famous work.
I work in innovation for financial services and around late 2020 I started to notice a few trends which were starting to converge, such as more mainstream adoption of crypto, and the emergence of new groups of investors and asset classes (such as art, collectibles, or fractionalized assets). My research led me to NFTs and I eventually decided to do what I usually do whenever I want to get a better understanding of something technical, which is to get my hands dirty and actually try it. The fact that I was already familiar with crypto and comfortable with both technology and visual design made it slightly less daunting for me.
You could say Hashed Cities is his most popular generative collection until today. With a total volume of over 16k Tezos (~ $60k) and a market floor of 225 Tezos (~$800), it is one of the most iconic collections on the FxHash marketplace. This series continued his genesis drop on the same platform, titled Hashed Arcs.
Hashed Arcs #163 by Yazid This is one piece out of his FxHash genesis collection.
This year, Yazid released a new series called 365. Described as βMinimalist representations of each day of the year,β he mints a new piece each day and is sold through open auctions on objkt.com. I wonder for how long will these series run?
365 Collection, #001 by Yazid. This work symbolizes the 1st of January, 2022.
When asked about his creative process, the artist has an open method, where he explores different ideas and sees where they get him. Sometimes, he said, those will not materialize into a final piece, so he saves them for future references or inclusions.
I usually set out by attempting to execute a concept or some kind of imagery by code and just take the process from there. The initial spark of inspiration could be anything from old/traditional artworks to anything visual that Iβve seen really. These explorations donβt always materialize into finished products but there would typically be some kind of function or component that Iβd create in the process which would come in handy later. So Iβm just amassing these reusable primitive bits and pieces as I go and pull them back up whenever the need arises.
I find this way of designing very interesting. Especially when toiling with code, it might be wise for generative artists to think about βcomponentsβ or βmodulesβ that can later be reused or improved, similarly to building software products.
FxApes by Littlesilver is one example that incorporates Yazidβs Artificial Imperfection. His Hashed Cities series inspired the background.
Other creators found inspiration by his particular style and incorporated it into their pieces. For example, M J Lindow mentioned βArtificial Imperfectionβ in the tweet below and attributed the concept to Yazid. The Non-Spaces evolutionary feature from ismahelio was inspired by this idea. Also, FxApes by LittleSilver included attributes like the artificial imperfection on the sunβs background. Finally, Complicare by nichhib included Yazid, among other artists, as his inspiration source.
Complicare by nichhib included Yazid in his inspiration list.
When I asked what he is currently focussing on, he pointed out a special algorithm he has been developing since September 2021. The βSharpie Botβ has kept Yazid busy for several months, and it seems like it might be dropping very soon (although the platform and blockchain are still TBD).
βπΈ ππ πππππππππ π πππ πππ ππππππ ππππππ ππππππ ππ πππππ ππ’πππππ ππ ππππππ ππππππππ. πππππ ππ π πππππ πππ πππππ π πππππ πππππππππ, ππ ππππππππππ ππ πππ ππππππ ππππππ π πππ π πππππππ ππ πππππ, ππππ πππππππ π ππ’ππππ. ππππ ππ ππππππ ππ πππ πππππππππ, πππ ππππππ, πππ πππππ.β
Automatism' is inspired by the practice of artists where they are given a writing implement and a blank surface, and they go freestyle, almost mindlessly filling up the space with whatever comes to their minds and out of their hands. I've often wondered where a machine's mind and "hand" would wander given the same opportunity.
The way "Sharp-E" draws the strokes is through a mix of various movements β irregular curves, straight lines, sudden changes in direction β in a classic random walk algorithm.
So where does your mind wander? What forms do you see?
Ooβ¦ This was the look I was looking to achieve generatively with my Sharpie bot! π
Donβt forget to follow Yazid on Twitter to not miss this exciting new drop.
Until next time,
- Kaloh
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