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Runtime Art on an Always On Computer

We Donโt Need More Collectors. We Need Better Patrons.
One of the quiet downsides of blockchains (especially in the context of art) is how good they are at making transactions easy. This sounds like praise, and often it is framed that way. Frictionless markets. Global access. Instant liquidity. No gatekeepers. All true... And also deeply consequential in ways the NFT space hasnโt fully reckoned with. Historically, art didnโt become valuable because it was easy to buy. ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐...

DriFella I. The Legend of DriFella
๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. A Dratini (a faithful companion, a symbol of gentleness) lies dead. The world it leaves behind is grey and empty. In that hollow moment a figure steps forward from the shadows: a Shinigami, a gatekeeper of the underworld. The bargain it offers is simple, brutal... irresistible. Your friend can return, but only if you bind it to another soul. ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐๐๐. The sou...

Runtime Art on an Always On Computer

We Donโt Need More Collectors. We Need Better Patrons.
One of the quiet downsides of blockchains (especially in the context of art) is how good they are at making transactions easy. This sounds like praise, and often it is framed that way. Frictionless markets. Global access. Instant liquidity. No gatekeepers. All true... And also deeply consequential in ways the NFT space hasnโt fully reckoned with. Historically, art didnโt become valuable because it was easy to buy. ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐...

DriFella I. The Legend of DriFella
๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. A Dratini (a faithful companion, a symbol of gentleness) lies dead. The world it leaves behind is grey and empty. In that hollow moment a figure steps forward from the shadows: a Shinigami, a gatekeeper of the underworld. The bargain it offers is simple, brutal... irresistible. Your friend can return, but only if you bind it to another soul. ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐๐๐. The sou...
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Dragons by William Mapan isnโt just a generative art collection; itโs a meticulously crafted universe that mirrors the intricacies of life itself. Among its defining features, the Age trait stands out, weaving a narrative of growth, wisdom, and transformation into the visual tapestry of each dragon.
From the moment Dragons launched on FXHash in December 2021, it captured imaginations with its stunning textures, fluid motion, and an underlying sense of life coursing through its forms. Yet, itโs the Age trait, arguably one of the collectionโs most profound, that breathes a deeper meaning into the work. Mapan has described Dragons as a world of living creatures, each with a unique personality, a journey, and an essence. The Age trait encapsulates these journeys, giving us dragons that range from young and vibrant to ancient and legendary.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐
At the beginning of their lifecycle, young dragons brim with colour and vibrancy. These dragons are devoid of grey, their textures smooth, their energy palpable. They embody a sense of potential, raw and untamed, as though they are still discovering their place in the world. The visual representation of youth here evokes the innocence and boundless possibilities of new beginnings.
๐ป๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐: ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐
As dragons age, grey begins to weave itself subtly into their scales, representing maturity and the wisdom that comes with life experiences. These adult dragons are grounded, balanced, and powerful, showcasing Mapanโs unparalleled ability to create not just art but emotion. The interplay of colour and texture in these dragons feels deliberate, portraying a phase of life where strength meets understanding.
๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ป๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
Itโs in the oldest dragons that Mapanโs intent becomes most poignant. These dragons are heavily marked by grey, their palettes muted yet striking. Far from appearing diminished, they exude a sense of weathered majesty. Inspired by cultural traditions that revere age as a symbol of wisdom, Mapan uses grey to reflect the depth and complexity of a life fully lived. These old dragons command attention, their intricate textures suggesting stories etched into their very being.
At the pinnacle of this concept lies the rarest of all: the ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ dragons. A select few, upon reaching the age of 16, undergo a stunning transformation, glowing with an otherworldly golden hue. But Mapan challenges traditional notions of transcendence as something tied to the afterlife. Instead, in Dragons, transcendence occurs within life itself, at the peak of vitality and self-expression. These dragons, in their golden radiance, represent a moment of unapologetic vibrancy and self-assuredness. They are not fading into the ether but shining at their brightest, embodying a legacy of confidence, brilliance, and individuality.
๐ป๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐
Mapanโs inclusion of the Age trait is no accident; itโs a deliberate choice rooted in his desire to evoke connection and reflection. In his interview with @collectors_xyz, he revealed his fascination with how aging affects living beings, particularly how grey hair serves as a visible marker of time. Yet, he flips the narrative, presenting age not as a decline but as a journey toward something greater.
In Dragons, age is not a constraint but a celebration. It challenges our preconceptions of beauty, showing that youthโs vibrancy, adulthoodโs balance, and old ageโs intricacy are equally compelling. By incorporating the concept of Turned Gold, Mapan elevates the aged dragons to a mythical status, reminding us of the timeless wisdom and beauty inherent in lifeโs final chapter.
๐จ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐
What makes the Age trait in Dragons so powerful is its universality. It speaks to the shared human experience of change, growth, and the passage of time. As collectors explore the collection, theyโre not just acquiring art... theyโre encountering pieces of themselves. The young dragons might evoke memories of carefree beginnings, while the old dragons serve as a quiet reminder of the strength and beauty found in resilience and wisdom.
The magic of Dragons lies in its ability to blend the technical brilliance of generative art with the emotional depth of storytelling. And at the heart of this lies the Age trait, which turns each dragon into a mirror reflecting lifeโs most fundamental truths.
h/t to @collectors_xyz, @jared_poz and @astamcloud for the wonderful interview with William Mapan โค๏ธ
(Picture attached shows Dragons #398, #260 & #433, all in the COMETY colour palette but at diff ages).

Dragons by William Mapan isnโt just a generative art collection; itโs a meticulously crafted universe that mirrors the intricacies of life itself. Among its defining features, the Age trait stands out, weaving a narrative of growth, wisdom, and transformation into the visual tapestry of each dragon.
From the moment Dragons launched on FXHash in December 2021, it captured imaginations with its stunning textures, fluid motion, and an underlying sense of life coursing through its forms. Yet, itโs the Age trait, arguably one of the collectionโs most profound, that breathes a deeper meaning into the work. Mapan has described Dragons as a world of living creatures, each with a unique personality, a journey, and an essence. The Age trait encapsulates these journeys, giving us dragons that range from young and vibrant to ancient and legendary.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐
At the beginning of their lifecycle, young dragons brim with colour and vibrancy. These dragons are devoid of grey, their textures smooth, their energy palpable. They embody a sense of potential, raw and untamed, as though they are still discovering their place in the world. The visual representation of youth here evokes the innocence and boundless possibilities of new beginnings.
๐ป๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐: ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐
As dragons age, grey begins to weave itself subtly into their scales, representing maturity and the wisdom that comes with life experiences. These adult dragons are grounded, balanced, and powerful, showcasing Mapanโs unparalleled ability to create not just art but emotion. The interplay of colour and texture in these dragons feels deliberate, portraying a phase of life where strength meets understanding.
๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ป๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
Itโs in the oldest dragons that Mapanโs intent becomes most poignant. These dragons are heavily marked by grey, their palettes muted yet striking. Far from appearing diminished, they exude a sense of weathered majesty. Inspired by cultural traditions that revere age as a symbol of wisdom, Mapan uses grey to reflect the depth and complexity of a life fully lived. These old dragons command attention, their intricate textures suggesting stories etched into their very being.
At the pinnacle of this concept lies the rarest of all: the ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ dragons. A select few, upon reaching the age of 16, undergo a stunning transformation, glowing with an otherworldly golden hue. But Mapan challenges traditional notions of transcendence as something tied to the afterlife. Instead, in Dragons, transcendence occurs within life itself, at the peak of vitality and self-expression. These dragons, in their golden radiance, represent a moment of unapologetic vibrancy and self-assuredness. They are not fading into the ether but shining at their brightest, embodying a legacy of confidence, brilliance, and individuality.
๐ป๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐
Mapanโs inclusion of the Age trait is no accident; itโs a deliberate choice rooted in his desire to evoke connection and reflection. In his interview with @collectors_xyz, he revealed his fascination with how aging affects living beings, particularly how grey hair serves as a visible marker of time. Yet, he flips the narrative, presenting age not as a decline but as a journey toward something greater.
In Dragons, age is not a constraint but a celebration. It challenges our preconceptions of beauty, showing that youthโs vibrancy, adulthoodโs balance, and old ageโs intricacy are equally compelling. By incorporating the concept of Turned Gold, Mapan elevates the aged dragons to a mythical status, reminding us of the timeless wisdom and beauty inherent in lifeโs final chapter.
๐จ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐
What makes the Age trait in Dragons so powerful is its universality. It speaks to the shared human experience of change, growth, and the passage of time. As collectors explore the collection, theyโre not just acquiring art... theyโre encountering pieces of themselves. The young dragons might evoke memories of carefree beginnings, while the old dragons serve as a quiet reminder of the strength and beauty found in resilience and wisdom.
The magic of Dragons lies in its ability to blend the technical brilliance of generative art with the emotional depth of storytelling. And at the heart of this lies the Age trait, which turns each dragon into a mirror reflecting lifeโs most fundamental truths.
h/t to @collectors_xyz, @jared_poz and @astamcloud for the wonderful interview with William Mapan โค๏ธ
(Picture attached shows Dragons #398, #260 & #433, all in the COMETY colour palette but at diff ages).

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