Unit London Web3 is delighted to present Building Blocks, an online group exhibition focusing on the application of geometric forms in generative art.
Drawing connections to 20th century movements such as Constructivism, Minimalism, Suprematism and early computer-generated artwork, this exhibition showcases the work of ten trailblazing artists who affirm the aesthetic and socio-political significance of geometry in the new and expanding world of digital art.
“It is not simply a question of how to produce beautiful pictures, in this context, the question arises as to whether generative mathematics could not also open up new possibilities for representation and expression.”
Herbert W. Franke
James Merrill, every moment, unique original NFT, 2023.
From Cycladic figures to Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian man, mathematics, and more specifically, geometry have played a vital role in art for thousands of years.
Mathematical understanding has provided us with an empirical perspective to analyse and appreciate pictorial forms. Within the last century, geometry has obliquely situated itself as more than just a feature of analysis, but rather an aesthetic within its own right; geometry has provided a foundation for artists to explore abstraction, spawning movements from Constructivism to Minimalism to Suprematism.
The rise of computer systems has enhanced the exploration of aesthetic experiments with geometry and mathematics, and their artistic possibilities. In his 1989 essay, ‘Mathematics as a Generative-Art Principle’, artist, scientist and writer Herbert W. Franke describes the growing field of ‘generative mathematics’, which uses mathematical experiments to generate visually stimulating outputs. This field of art does not exist to illustrate mathematical ideas, but rather uses maths as a function to formulate new strategies of communication and artistic expression.
Geometry and generative art exist in a symbiotic relationship: mathematics provides the building blocks for the work, while the generated artwork provides a way to make tangible complex mathematical concepts. Generative mathematics is not an apolitical step back from creating by the hand of the artist, but rather has forged its own means of responding to contemporary culture in the age of technology.
In 1965 theorist and critic Max Bense published ‘The Projects of Generative Aesthetics’, outlining his theory on how to quantify aesthetics in relation to early computer-created work. Following on from the horrors of totalitarianism in the 20th century, Bense believed in the empirical nature of mathematics led-work, which removed messy human subjectivity from art, and instead created an open-source form of communication, an egalitarian, scientific language which could be used by artists and understood by the viewing public.
Mathematics seeks to demystify the creative process, laying bare the materials for production and unveiling hidden symphonies of pattern, shape and composition. Offering an auxiliary perspective, this exhibition questions how each of these contemporary artists respond to the legacy of geometry in art and how they approach mathematics as a medium of expression.
Kelly Milligan, Scatter Process 01, unique original NFT, 2023.
In the ever-evolving political landscape of the 21st century, the question becomes: how can the boundless potential of geometry open up artistic communication and maybe even offer a new version of utopian aesthetics?
Meet the artists
Lisa Orth
The geometric abstraction of Lisa Orth’s They Wanted Us To Weave, speaks to her background in graphic design and illustration. Through layers, texture, palette and form she generates a convincing illusion of depth and texture on screen.
Lisa Orth
is an American-based artist known for her work in the fields of generative art. She was previously the Art Director of Sub Pop Records, notable for designing Nirvana’s first records and their famous ‘logo’. Alongside graphic design, illustration and fine art, she has delved into a career in tattooing. While leveraging her traditional art and design background into the new digital art space, her abstract generative work explores the intersection of art and technology, utilising themes of colliding textures, movement and colour. Her work has been included in exhibitions at Art Basel Paris + par, NFT Show Europe, Seattle NFT Museum, Seattle Art Fair and Tannhäuser Generative Art Museum among many others.
Lisa Orth
They Wanted Us To Weave I
2023
NFT
Unique Original
0.75 ETH
Lisa Orth
They Wanted Us To Weave II
2023
NFT
Edition of 5
0.25 ETH
Lisa Orth
They Wanted Us To Weave III
2023
NFT
Edition of 10
0.15 ETH
James Merrill
The central curving line in James Merrill’s every moment serves as the backbone for the entire artwork, guiding the viewer’s eye through a series of interconnected shapes and forms. The compositional fluidity challenges the presumed rigidity of computer-generated art and seeks to capture a nostalgic view of life’s fleeting moments, offering a visual landscape that is both dynamic and deeply human.
James Merrill
is a professional artist residing in Vermont. A digital native, his portfolio includes an eclectic mix of generative, 3D and plottable art. His artwork combines digital and physical mediums using pen plotters to draw generative creations. Each artwork is the result of an ongoing exploration of mathematics, influenced by his struggle growing up in poverty and lack of formal education. This upbringing ignited a passion for breaking barriers by using visual imagery to educate himself on fundamental mathematical concepts. Merrill’s work has been displayed internationally, with presentations in Times Square, New York. His work has been featured in exhibitions with Art Blocks and Feral File.
James Merrill
Every Moment
2023
NFT
Unique Original
Olga Fradina
Inspired by the early 20th century Suprematists and Kazimir Malevich’s provocation that “a square equals a feeling”, Olga Fradina seeks to capture the expressiveness and emotional impact of geometry. With clear lines and a restrained palette, emphasis is placed on shapes in their purest form, offering a space for introspection and spiritual contemplation.
Olga Fradina
is a generative and digital artist from Ukraine. She has been an interior designer for over twenty years, with considerable experience and international recognition in this field. In the last year and a half, Fradina has become devoted to researching and producing generative art. She works with procedural 3D graphics and creative coding, looking for a personal approach to the creative possibilities of artificial intelligence. Fradina’s works are characterised by abstract and biomorphic forms, as well as a focus on the study of emotional states. Her creative practice is interested in the dynamic relationship between human and machine creativity.
Olga Fradina
Composition#01
2023
NFT
Unique original
0.1 ETH
Olga Fradina
Composition#02
2023
NFT
Unique original
0.1 ETH
Olga Fradina
Composition#03
2023
NFT
Unique original
Olga Fradina
Composition#04
2023
NFT
Unique original
0.1 ETH
Olga Fradina
Composition#05
2023
NFT
Unique original
0.1 ETH
Olga Fradina
Composition#06
2023
NFT
Unique original
0.1 ETH
Olga Fradina
Composition#07
2023
NFT
Unique original
0.1 ETH
Olga Fradina
Composition#08
2023
NFT
Unique original
0.1 ETH
Olga Fradina
Composition#09
2023
NFT
Unique original
0.1 ETH
Olga Fradina
Composition#10
2023
NFT
Unique original
0.1 ETH
Studio Yorktown
In Studio Yorktown’s Geometric Infatuation, simple geometric shapes are repeated to conjure a convincing illusion of three-dimensionality. The perceived complexity arises from a systematic approach to algorithmic programming. Intricate patterns are seamlessly integrated into the composition’s foundational grid, striking a careful balance between algorithmic precision and artistic vision.
Kwame Bruce Busia
also known as Bruce or Studio Yorktown, is a multi-disciplinary creative and generative artist from London. With a background in architecture, his early experiences in spatial design and conceptual thinking laid the groundwork for his artistic pursuits. Notable generative collections by Bruce include ‘Sabler’, ‘Lebras’, ‘Tesseract’ and ‘Perpendicular Inhabitation’. Inspired by simplicity, modernism and Eastern design philosophies, Bruce’s work often explores built environments and the human condition, abstracted through these lenses. His artworks have been collected and exhibited internationally, including at Art Basel Miami Beach, Proof Of People London by Vertical Crypto and at the NEAL DIGITAL Gallery in China.
Studio Yorktown
Geometric Infatuation A
2023
NFT
Unique original
3 ETH
Studio Yorktown
Geometric Infatuation B
2023
NFT
Edition of 10
0.3 ETH
Studio Yorktown
Geometric Infatuation C
2023
NFT
Edition of 10
0.3 ETH
Aleksandra Jovanic
As the name suggests, Aleksandra Jovanic’s series Breathe seeks to inject life into computer-made art. Stripped down to their most basic elements, her geometric forms pulsate in perfect synchronicity, highlighting how even the most simple of forms can be imbued with a sense of life and movement.
Aleksandra Jovanic
is an artist and programmer from Belgrade, Serbia, who holds a PhD in digital arts and a BSc in computer science. In her research and artistic practice she combines various media, mainly in the field of interactive art, art games, and generative art. Jovanic’s recent works focus on the aesthetic of data visualisation and optical illusions as well as explorations of accepted concepts of truth and reality. Her work has been exhibited internationally, and she has been included in exhibitions held by VerticalCrypto Art, FeralFile and Tezos. As an assistant professor, she teaches at the new media department at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Belgrade.
Aleksandra Jovanic
Breathe 001
2023
NFT
Edition of 25
0.05 ETH
Aleksandra Jovanic
Breathe 002
2023
NFT Interactive Web Page
Unique Original
0.5 ETH
Aleksandra Jovanic
Breathe 003
2023
NFT Interactive Web Page
Unique Original
0.5 ETH
Aleksandra Jovanic
Breathe 004
2023
NFT
Edition of 25
0.05 ETH
Aleksandra Jovanic
Breathe 005
2023
NFT Interactive Web Page
Unique Original
0.5 ETH
Aleksandra Jovanic
Breathe 006
2023
NFT Interactive Web Page
Unique Original
0.5 ETH
Aleksandra Jovanic
Breathe 007
2023
NFT
Unique Original
0.5 ETH
Loren Bednar
In Resonate, Loren Bednar explores the interplay between geometry, colour and movement. As fragmented shapes move across a geometric grid, textures collide and colours meld to present a cohesive composition. This continuous, transformative movement is intended to be symbolic of the propensity of sound waves for intriguing visual distortions.
Loren Bednar
is a Michigan-based digital artist who has been producing generative work since 2006. Fusing mathematics with his love of colour and shape he creates abstract work imbued with emotion. He is notable for his collection, ‘Traversals’, which explores luminous colours in layered intersections. After this, his series ‘Phase’ was selected for an Art Blocks Curated release, exemplifying his recent explorations of colourful patterns in constant motion. Valuing experimentation and technical performance, Loren continuously applies his curiosity to finding art within algorithms. His works have been collected internationally and exhibited in New York City, Los Angeles, Marfa TX, Berlin, and Frankfurt.
Loren Bednar
Resonate
2023
NFT Animation
Unique Original
Ben Kovach
The sparse, converging lines of Ben Kovach’s minimal series Function Compositions evoke a sense of nostalgia for the aesthetic of hand-drawn graphic illustrations or diagrams on graph paper. Paying homage to the foundational role of geometry as a common language, these works recall the beauty and order which can be found in the science that underpins the world around us.
Ben Kovach
is a Vermont-based generative artist whose passion for art and technology has led to a unique blend of creativity and precision. After achieving a B.S. in Computer Science with a minor in mathematics from the University of Georgia, he dove into generative art, fascinated by the randomness, code, and mathematical principles which define it. Focused on building art from first principles, he strips down drawing APIs to their core to construct automated systems that feel natural and unique. His artwork has been collected and exhibited internationally, including a solo show of his ‘100 PRINT’ series with Bright Moments Gallery in New York and he is notable for his ‘Edifice’ collection on Art Blocks.
Ben Kovach
Function Composition A
2023
NFT
Unique Original
3 ETH
Ben Kovach
Function Composition B
2023
NFT
Unique Original
3 ETH
Ben Kovach
Function Composition C
2023
NFT
Unique Original
3 ETH
Ben Kovach
Function Composition D
2023
NFT
Unique Original
3 ETH
Ben Kovach
Function Composition E
2023
NFT
Unique Original
3 ETH
Ben Kovach
Function Composition F
2023
NFT
Unique Original
3 ETH
Ben Kovach
Function Composition G
2023
NFT
Unique Original
3 ETH
Ben Kovach
Function Composition H
2023
NFT
Unique Original
3 ETH
Ben Kovach
Function Composition I
2023
NFT
Unique Original
3 ETH
Ben Kovach
Function Composition J
2023
NFT
Unique Original
3 ETH
Ben Kovach
Function Composition K
2023
NFT
Edition of 10
0.5 ETH
Ben Kovach
Function Composition L
2023
NFT
Edition of 10
0.5 ETH
Ben Kovach
Function Composition M
2023
NFT
Edition of 10
0.5 ETH
Kelly Milligan
Informed by Suprematist aesthetics, Kelly Milligan’s series Scatter Process examines the duality between algorithmic precision and artistic intervention. The perfection of the horizontal linear formation is disturbed by the hand of the artist, acting as a catalyst for the breakdown of preconceived rules. By disrupting established patterns, the artist fosters interactions between the digital and physical worlds, challenging the boundaries of these seemingly distinct realms.
Kelly Milligan
is a creative developer and digital artist, based in New Zealand. He translates practical code knowledge into algorithmic and generative art: for print, in-motion, and fully interactive. Fascinated by the tech-driven complexity and unpredictability of working with an autonomous system, his work demonstrates the visual potential of a coded system. In 2022 his series, ‘Act of Emotion’ was selected for an Art Blocks Curated release. Often characterised by organic texture and bold colours, his works have been exhibited internationally, including at MONO Gallery in Tunisia and by Verse in London. He also works independently with clients worldwide.
Kelly Melligan
Scatter Process A.1
2023
NFT
Edition of 5
0.1 ETH
Kelly Milligan
Scatter Process A.2
2023
NFT
Edition of 5
0.1 ETH
Kelly Milligan
Scatter Process A.3
2023
NFT
Edition of 5
0.1 ETH
Kelly Milligan
Scatter Process A.4
2023
Edition of 5
0.1 ETH
Kelly Milligan
Scatter Process A.5
2023
NFT
Edition of 5
0.1 ETH
Kelly Milligan
Scatter Process B
2023
NFT
Unique Original
0.5 ETH
Kelly Milligan
Scatter Process C
2023
NFT
Unique Original
0.5 ETH
Thomas Lin Pedersen
Thomas Lin Pedersen’s durational work Detachment has an innovative relationship to geometry, referencing Bauhaus and Suprematist movements. This work, which appears static but is in a constant state of flux, challenges the boundaries between static and dynamic art. This piece does not wait for the viewer, but instead constantly changes, questioning the nature of digital art as a static, constant entity, and rather connecting it to history, time and evolution.
Thomas Lin Pedersen
is a generative artist based in Denmark. His art merges the digital precision of computer-based art with an organic feel, exploring the tension between perfection, flaws, digital and analogue. He achieves this tension either by combining his algorithmic pieces with classic reproduction approaches or by letting the algorithm be inspired by the feel and flaws of analogue approaches. Pedersen’s work has been featured on Art Blocks as part of their curated collection and on Bright Moments, as well as being exhibited internationally in cities including Venice, London, and New York.
Thomas Lin Pedersen
Detachment
2023
NFT
Unique Original
5 ETH
Vazk0
Exploring applications of geometry in an architectural sense, Vazk0’s Konstruct series explores spatial connections, building up layers of linear structures to create labyrinth-like designs. The series combines unique rectangular systems with mathematical principles to create intricate, winding compositions and a faded texture adds a mythical element of time and decay.
Vazk0
is a Portuguese multidisciplinary artist based in Lisbon. His works skillfully blend architectural elements with geometric precision, while also incorporating instances of aesthetic disturbance. Vazk0’s artistic style is marked by a balance of order and harmony, juxtaposed with deliberate disruption. Beyond his endeavours in generative art, Vasco co-founded and manages his own studio that since its inception has teamed up with a variety of interdisciplinary groups on an eclectic mix of projects, ranging from video mapping to immersive live installations. The studio’s success in the field of projection mapping has ignited Vasco’s enthusiasm for weaving architectural elements into his generative artwork. This synergy between architecture and art has shaped Vasco’s distinctive style.
Vazk0
Konstruct 00
2023
NFT
Unique Original
0.1 ETH
Vazk0
Konstruct 01
2023
NFT
Unique Original
0.1 ETH
Vazk0
Konstruct 02
2023
NFT
Unique Original
0.1 ETH
Vazk0
Konstruct 03
2023
NFT
Unique Original
0.1 ETH
Vazk0
Konstruct 04
2023
NFT
Unique Original
0.1 ETH
Vazk0
Konstruct 05
2023
NFT
Unique Original
0.1 ETH
Vazk0
Konstruct 06
2023
NFT
Unique Original
0.1 ETH
Vazk0
Konstruct 07
2023
NFT
Unique Original
0.1 ETH
Vazk0
Konstruct 08
2023
NFT
Unique Original
0.1 ETH
Vazk0
Konstruct 09
2023
NFT
Unique Original
0.1 ETH
Get in touch for further information and to receive updates on the exhibition.