Volute is the result of different stages of my experience in Generative Art over many years put together, drawing on early and new techniques plus my recent forays into long form generative art.

I set out to explore the essence of generative art, seeking, discovering, coaxing and exposing the variety of outputs from a simple system.

The soulless algorithm is counterbalanced by the exclusive use of colours from nature as prime sources. Brutal symmetries and complexities are softened by decentring and subtle layer transparencies. Pixel feedback loops generate radial symmetries and spirals, producing a variety of flower structures, volutes and arabesques. And when I view the results - their rhythm, their surprises, their flow - they justify for me my earlier choice of technical process.

My aim in Volute is to create, using gentle spiraling motion, the calming effect of marveling at flowers in nature.

Volute collectors can order a unique and certified metal print through to the partnership with SolidNFT (https://www.solidnft.com/solid-curates/rvig)

Outputs

Here are some random generated outputs, without curation.

Story

The evolution of my work using spirals and pixel feedback loops over the last 20 years

2001-2002, experiments with pixel feedback loops. Laser print. This was raw CPU processing, at a resolution of - wait for it - 320x200 pixels.
2011, pixel feedback loops artworks with large spirals. The code now uses GPU with OpenGL, and can render real time animation as well as high resolution images for printing.
2017, pixel feedback loops, radial symmetries, local spirals.
2017, pixel feedback loops, radial symmetries.
2017, pixel feedback loops, radial symmetries, local spirals.
Feb 28th 2021, my first NFT.
Aug 2021, "Flowers" project, longform generation. Static, intersecting and over-layering curved shapes, NFT collection.
Nov 2021, "Nebula" project, longform generation. Dynamic and interactive, intersecting and over-layering curved shapes, vanilla JS, NFT collection.
Spring 2022, “Dualité” project, pixel feedback loops and spirals, static and dynamic outputs, NFT collection.
2022, “VOLUTE” project, longform generation, pixel feedback loops, local spirals, dynamic outputs, NFT collection.

I began this project in autumn 2021, after completing the release of my previous project, “Nebula”, also for Art Blocks.

“Flowers”, my first project on the platform, was also my first creation in long form generative art, made possible by the new paradigm of Art Blocks. I wrote a very short but proficient algorithm that was capable of generating a collection of thousands of attractive still images, that remained coherent while having wide variety. I also had to familiarise myself with the appropriate coding and execution environment, with which I had little experience (p5js in web browsers).

“Nebula” led me into exploring animated and interactive generative art, while keeping the concept around drawing thousands of intersecting and over-layering curved shapes. I also learned better how to use the environment, coding with pure vanilla JS and html canvas functionalities.

Thanks to these two experiences on the platform, the creative process on VOLUTE was particularly exciting. I made the decision to “take back” concepts and code I had created earlier in my career, and to rewrite it for the new environment with even newer technology (webgl2). This process turned out to be visually very rewarding - inspiring me to further evolve the algorithms to fit the creative ethos and breadth of opportunity of Art Blocks.

There then begins a long and fun phase of discoveries and experiences - analysing and selecting which ranges of parameters are to keep, completing and adjusting colour palettes, and working on contrasts, structure and composition, until the vision finally comes to life.

After that, comes a phase that can only be described as labour-intensive - hours of detailed refining, generating hundreds of outputs, testing to ensure the code is working properly across platforms, bug hunting, verifying that outputs are perfectly identical on every configuration and resolution, and finally refactoring the code so it’s clean and compact, ready to be stored on the blockchain.

So I’m now proud and happy to deliver the VOLUTE project on Art Blocks and share these swirling images with appreciators of generative art.

Most of the colour palettes are extracted from pictures of everyday life and nature, taken during happy moments of my own life: flowers while walking in a nearby park… the Rhône… holidays.

Beaufort
Beaufort
Sardinia
Sardinia
Sunset
Sunset
Rhone
Rhone
Dahlia
Dahlia
Gerbera
Gerbera
Lantana
Lantana
Nymphaea
Nymphaea
Petunia
Petunia
Red rose
Red rose
Viola
Viola
Rose
Rose
Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia
Viburnum
Viburnum
Rainbow
Rainbow
Pistachio
Pistachio

Features


Structure

[1,2,3] in 2 directions X/Y

1-1

1-1

1-2

1-2

1-3

1-3


2-1

2-1

2-2

2-2

2-3

2-3


3-1

3-1

3-2

3-2

3-3

3-3


Sectors

[2,3,4,5]

2

2

3

3

4

4

5

5


Amplitude

4 values in 2 directions X/Y ( + reverse )

0-0

0-0

0-1

0-1

0-2

0-2

0-3

0-3


1-0

1-0

1-1

1-1

1-2

1-2

1-3

1-3


2-0

2-0

2-1

2-1

2-2

2-2

2-3

2-3


3-0

3-0

3-1

3-1

3-2

3-2

3-3

3-3



Lens

3 phases * 3 amplitude

None

None

None

None

None

None


Centre, low distortion

Centre, low distortion

Inner, low distortion

Inner, low distortion

Outer, low distortion

Outer, low distortion


Centre, high distortion

Centre, high distortion

Inner, high distortion

Inner, high distortion

Outer, high distortion

Outer, high distortion


Palette


Rudbeckia

Rudbeckia

Viburnum

Viburnum

Beaufort

Beaufort

Rose

Rose


Rhone

Rhone

Sardinia

Sardinia

Nymphaea

Nymphaea

Sunset

Sunset


Lantana

Lantana

Dahlia

Dahlia

Gerbera

Gerbera

Petunia

Petunia


Red Rose

Red Rose

Viola

Viola

Pistachio

Pistachio

Rainbow

Rainbow


Position

Bottom Right

Bottom Right

Bottom Left

Bottom Left

Top Left

Top Left


Top Right

Top Right

Centre

Centre


Additional info

Licence

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Charitable giving

25% of proceeds from sales over resting price will be donated to Wikimedia Foundation and children's education NPOs.

Prints

Volute collectors can order a unique and certified metal print thanks to the partnership with SolidNFT (https://www.solidnft.com/solid-curates/rvig)

Through this collaboration, Rvig wanted to create a physical link between Volute and its collectors. Printing on metal was the most relevant experience in transcribing the colors of Volute.

Order your unique and certified print

You can check if a Volute edition number has already been printed here: https://opensea.io/collection/volute-solidnft

Disclaimer: an edition can have been ordered but not yet printed. A edition number will be printed and certified only once !

Volute #0

Volute #0

Volute #0

Volute #0

Secondary Market

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