Creative Process behind SZNS
1. SZNS was inspired by an intensive study of traditional Japanese Suibokuga paintings, Japanese ukiyo-e prints, and Chinese shanshui hua paintings.
2. Each of the 888 pieces in the SZNS collection was created one at a time using an analogue process that blends the techniques and styles of JakNFT and Hiroji Kotegawa.
3. Jak and Hiroji created over 8,000 original pieces, but only selected a limited supply of 888 artworks to be included in the final curated collection.
Creative Process behind HYAKU 2.0
1. We lost our connection,
2. But hope still guides our way,
3. A little spark of light.
Creative Process behind HYAKU
1. Alone I walk,
2. The path of solitude,
3. A journey of peace.
CONSTRUCT
CONSTRUCT by KOTEGAWA
Thanks to technological progress, longevity and immortality no longer seem so exaggerated.Many large companies are currently working on these topics.The most "sci-fi" idea of all is that in the future you will be able to download your mind and upload it into a new synthetic body.If that happened one day, it would mean you could be immortal.
Construct is my visual representation of a mind that "lives" in cyberspace before being uploaded into a new body.
Creative Process behind CONSTRUCT
1. The background is a generative art created using Processing software.
2. The Construct is 3D modeled by a program and carved by hand.
3. The void is 100% hand-painted by a human.
NGS
Collaboration JakNFT x Kotegawa
NGs are a limited collection of 1,111 hand-crafted artworks that encapsulate crypto culture and pay homage to its contributors.
Each NG was created one at a time using an analogue process that blends the techniques and styles of JakNFT and Hiroji Kotegawa. The process combines glitch, animation, sculpting and 3D modeling with rigorous curation.
NGs were meticulously curated pre-mint. Over the course of 6 months, Jak and Hiroji created over 5,000 original NG pieces by hand, but only selected a limited supply of 1,111 premium outputs to be included in the final curated collection.
Creative Process behind NGS
1. There are 111 different types of NGs
2. NGs consist of original characters created by Jak and Hiroji, as well as works that borrow from and pay tribute to various crypto cultural contributors
3. Several 1/1s are also hidden in the collection
WABI-SABI
finding beauty in imperfection
hi my name is hiroji kotegawa
i dont have many have friends
i dont go out very often
sometimes i feel lost
but it is ok
wherever you are it is where you need to be
right now i am in my small room overlooking busy street
i am watching people battling their daily lives
that is why i created this collection called WABI-SABI
WABI-SABI means: finding beauty in imperfection
we are going through many things in life
sometimes we want to break free
sometimes we want to protect the moment
either way it looks like a dance
it can be messy it may not be what we want
but we can try to find a beauty in it
Creative Process behind WABI-SABI
1. Monochromatic video portraits of strangers dancing with the life
2. Each portrait is 1 of 1
3. Monochromatic look representing crowd uniformity / Unique portraits representing individualism
Creative Process behind OGs
1. OGs were created using a special process that combines glitch, animation, sculpting and 3D modeling.
2. Only 369 OGs exist. Each OG is unique, hand-crafted and was meticulously curated pre-mint.
3. OGs are CC0. Do whatever you want with them.
IMPERMANENCE
It will all end one day
Everything is finite. Every organism, object, era, experience, or memory. It doesn't matter if it's a boring day or a world war conflict. Everything will eventually end. It may be terrifying, humbling, or both at the same time.
I find it intriguing to put this concept of impermanence on a smart contract that is "forever".
Everything is fundamentally binary, so I started with that. I transformed the idea into binary code and made artwork from it. Then I uploaded it to IPFS storage. An interesting thing is, that I didn't use it as an actual NFT. You can only see it in the form of an image link. The NFT that you see has a moving "particle" made from the original binary artwork.
I wanted to showcase, that it doesn't matter how significant or insignificant something is. Big or small, nothing is permanent.
To complement this concept, I used real space sounds from the public NASA library. These sounds alone can be pretty humbling or terrifying, just like the idea of impermanence.
If you are having a beautiful time, enjoy it, because it will end one day.
If you are going through a bad time, be strong, because it will end one day.
Creative Process behind IMPERMANENCE
1. Transforming the idea into binary code and making artwork from it
2. Creating a particle from the binary code artwork using the 3D graphics software
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3. An animated particle of impermanence
BRIDGES
Generative art with the human touch
NFTs brought the spotlight to generative art like nothing else before. There is always the discussion about who does it better. Humans or AI? Some people are excited about AI, some about living artists. What makes me excited is the collaboration between these two worlds.
That is why I created this project called BRIDGES. The idea is to focus on connecting instead of choosing sides. I wanted to create some kind of occasion to demonstrate the connection.
Everything starts with the foundation. I took it literally and started with the grid. Then I created city plans and landscapes. Long story short, the world based on connection was born.
Metaverse space is booming right now and I also wanted to participate but from an artistic perspective. If you are buying virtual land, it looks like a normal plan or a basic map. That's why I wanted to create the "land NFT" that feels like a premium product. An NFT that brings joy to the viewer's eyes.
Disclaimer:
To all developers, artists, and NFT enthusiasts, feel free to use this virtual land in any way you want. The DNA of this project is based on connection and collaboration.
Creative Process behind BRIDGES
1. Generative art made with Processing software
2. Adding a human touch to create a connection between these two worlds
3. Transforming 2D land plan into the 3D world
CYBER ATOMS
Transforming data sets into art
1. I started collecting big amount of data, from various sources: On-chain transactions, stock exchanges, crypto exchanges, Bloomberg terminal, liquidations, verifications, profit-taking, minting, bot actions, virtual signatures, and many more. All these data sets were predominantly mine and it took more than 3 years to collect them.
2. The next step was to import the data into 3D modeling software.
This was one of the hardest, if not the hardest step in the process.3D modeling software wasn't suitable to read this kind of data. So I needed to figure out a way to change the data formatting without compromising the data.
3. Then I added about 5 000+ data sets in the software manually (one by one).
I was using software for architecture and 3D modeling. When I uploaded the data there, naturally my files looked like an error. But my key point was to keep the images as authentic as possible and not interfere with the data. That is why more than 90% material didn't make it.
4. After pretty brutal "natural" selection, I started to work on them.
I zoomed in as deeply as possible to get the most detailed look. Then I rotated the image to find to best-looking angle. When I found one I "screenshot” it and framed it forever.
5. Some images showed a hint of color right after the upload. I think it was a part of the glitch. I then imported all these images to photoshop and enhance the color. I didn't modify or change anything, I just made it more visible. It was an amazing discovery that cyberspace has its natural colors.
6. After everything was done, images were framed forever as I mentioned earlier. I like the idea that after all of the data and all of the steps, the result is just one picture. No SVG, no interactions, just art. I was always wondering how does cyberspace look "from the inside". Now you can at least take a peek via my humble attempt to display this beautiful world.
Creative Process behind Cyber Atoms
3 years of data
More than 15 data sources
4 software apps
2 months of intensive work
6% conversion rate = only 300 images from 5 000 data sets
Creative Process behind Living Cyber Atoms
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Each clip is based on the original Cyber Atom
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Several software and techniques were used to create unique animations for each piece
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