Von

FEBRUARY 10TH, 2022

If you have ever sat in a room where someone was using an old school analog metronome while playing the piano? You know that you cannot keep your eyes off it. There is something about the steady back and forth rhythm of the bar that rivets you. It is captivating, relaxing watching it swing back and forth.

This is the principle that makes Hoxid’s work special. He builds elaborate, detailed, beautiful little black and white machines. Then sets them moving like a metronome, running in a steady repeated motion over and over, keeping your eyes happy all the while. He also adds a looping soundtrack that can add to the experience but is not essential to the art. It’s the motion visual that does the work.

Hoxid has been creating art and music for 20 years and currently lives in Europe with his wife. He previously worked as a graphic designer for a game company but now focuses on his artwork full-time. He was generous enough to answer a few questions from me.

PULSE

ATARAXIA

ACTION | REACTION

ALIGNED

Where did you grow up? Did you have art training?

I grew up in one of the biggest, most crowded cities in the world, where 25 million people live together. In other words where you have to find your serene inside of the chaotic environment. I studied Visual Design, took art history and design lessons but not formal art training. I did my master’s in Music Technology. Both fields have been a part of my life for a long time.

How did you start making motion art?

Many years ago, I started making motion graphics with Flash. I remember when cinema 4d r8 came out I used it for a little while but then I didn’t do 3D design for a long time. Last year I got back into it and since then I’m fully focused.

How has your style evolved? What caused you to work within a specific set of parameters the way you do?

Several parameters of my own caused me to work in this way. This is the outcome of my whole experience. From other mediums (music, clay, B&W photography). I developed my aesthetic over a long period. I attribute my monochrome style to the fact that I have always been interested in black and white photography. Black and white seem very clean data to me, at the same time working with a monochrome palette limits me and I love these constraints when I’m creating. 

What tools do you use to create your work?

Cinema 4D with different render engines, generators and After Effects. I use different software and hardware devices for the sound. I’ve been collecting sounds (field recordings and objects) from my daily life for four years and created a sound archive using these in my sound designs by manipulating them in my compositions and audiovisual works.

How long have you been in the NFT scene? How has it gone so far?

I’ve been in the NFT scene since March 2021 when I minted my first NFT. Back then I was creating my works on a very old Mac Computer which wasn’t strong enough to render my animations and I had to wait multiple days for one render. So my first Series M.C.C.R.T.A. (my computer can't render the animation) is a still image series. I started small but with my first bigger sale I invested in a better computer that allowed me to create audiovisual animations.

I am very happy with my achievements so far. My latest ASH only works are the ELD series and CHI resonated well on OpenSea. That is the beauty of this community. People appreciate my art and I’ve had the opportunity to touch people, talk to artists, collectors, and even make good friends.

What artists do you like and follow?

There are so many. From different backgrounds and aesthetics I would like to shout out:

A. L. Crego - such a beautiful aesthetic and amazing gif artist. GIF= A.L Crego!

Jesse Draxler - amazing consistent style of work. I have been following his art for a long time. 

Kerim Safa - pixel genius! 

Pak - I love how he uses the tech. as a medium and what he is doing with smart contracts. It's inspiring.

 Do you think that Motion Art is a new Art form as I lay out in my initial piece? Please be honest, some people just say 'no' and that is fine. I am just interested in the discussion…

This is a really interesting new era and has the potential to grow big but it's hard for me to say yes or no. Let's see what time brings, isn't this what makes it so exciting?

Please check out Hoxid’s exquisite, relaxing and captivating jeweled metronomes at the various sites where he mints his work.