I launched a Zen-inspired generative cryptoart project called Ensō last month (ensō is a Zen symbol), and I need to spread the word about the project! The generative script lives on Ethereum and is ‘powered by a smart contract.’ Whenever someone purchases one from the platform, the smart contract does some magic and the generative script I wrote uses JavaScript to create a unique image of an ensō in sumi-e style! The smart contract will only ever create 1,000 tokens, and they’re each 0.108 Eth (plus transaction fees). (You can learn more about the platform I used to launch this and its technology here.)

The image above is the one I bought for myself at launch. (Sometimes the ink runs out before the circle completes! Just like a real painting, there’s infinite possibilities here.)

Note that the project creates resolution-independent images in your browser (I’ve rendered up to 16,000 x 16,000 pixels) and that the project and tokens are 100% hosted immutably ‘on-chain’ (big selling point for crypto ‘collectors/investors’). Oh yeah, and when run in a browser, the tokens have an interactive element: clicking on them shows/hides the signature stamp.

Cool huh? Anyway, I’ve sold 150 out of 1,000 so far, and I’ve just completed the first stages of a website for this and other Zen-inspired generative projects: Zenerative.com (update: I’m reworking the site into matto.xyz). There, I’ve got more examples of user-minted Ensōs, a walkthrough on how to buy an artblocks.io mint, high-resolution rendering tools, print-ordering tips, more links, and what I’m probably the most excited about: a roadmap for the larger project that Ensō started.

Without going into too much detail, I’m want to make 8 of these Zen-inspired generative art projects, and I hope to use those NFTs to start a Decentralized Autonomous Organization to support Eastern spirituality in the metaverse. (If you’re interested, you can learn about DAO’s here.)

This endeavor will take years, probably closer to a decade, but I’m really excited about it because it’ll allow me to continue to challenge myself, learn, make art, promote spirituality, and share it!

If you have any contacts that may be interested in learning more about this project, please send them a link to this post! I truly appreciate the help and interest.

Thank you for reading! 🙂

-Matto