I recently collaborated with Mark Knol on “Contemporary Relief” – a generative art project that creates geometric patterns using a WebGL path tracer. We released a collection of 240 unique pieces on fxhash, a generative art platform built on Tezos.

The Project

Each piece in “Contemporary Relief” is procedurally generated using random seeds, exploring different variations of geometric relief patterns.

For rendering, I used an isometric camera view, which removes all perspective distortion from the scenes. This combination of flat projection and realistic grazing light simulation creates some interesting effects. While the underlying geometric shapes are mathematical and precise, the interplay between stark shadows and three-dimensional relief patterns sometimes leads to surprisingly uncanny images.

A brief interlude of stillness and tranquillity, where the interplay of positive and negative space creates a sense of temporary relief.

Technical Implementation

I developed a WebGL path tracer for this project to handle physically accurate lighting calculations. Mark and I then worked together to design and implement various procedural patterns inspired by generative art. It was fascinating to see how the realistic lighting interacted with the geometric forms we created, often producing unexpected results.

Why fxhash?

I should mention that I’ve been sceptical of many NFT projects. Most seem focused on speculation rather than art, and platforms like Ethereum have had significant environmental impact issues. However, fxhash feels different. Built on Tezos, which has a much lower environmental footprint, fxhash has cultivated a community that genuinely cares about generative art and technical innovation.

The platform provides artists with tools to create and share generative artwork while maintaining a focus on artistic quality, making it the perfect place to release “Contemporary Relief.”

Collaboration

Working with Mark Knol on this project was particularly rewarding. By combining my experience in path tracing and real-time graphics with Mark’s expertise in generative art patterns, we created something unique that played to both our strengths.

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Contemporary Relief