Exstasis by Grant Oesterling

Art Blocks Collection: Presents

Project Description: Exstasis is an exploration in abstract pixel painting. Inspired by the work 20th-century abstract expressionists like Miró and Kandinsky, along with 16-bit pixel art aesthetics, the algorithm filters organic curvilinear forms through digital noise and pixel dithering to achieve a uniquely fluid effect. Exstasis revels in ecstatic movement and rich patterns informed by the very colors that comprise it.

Central to the project is a pixelating technique known as Bayer dithering. This method of ordered dithering was invented to approximate shading and color tone when the available colors and number of pixels were limited by the hardware constraints of the time (think Sega Genesis, Commodore 64, etc). Although advancements in digital displays have since rendered this sort of technique all but obsolete, Exstasis employs the dither to deconstruct colors into their fundamental components, creating fascinating grid-like structures which weave throughout the artwork.

The dithering is paired with a more sophisticated form of digital noise called fractal Brownian motion to warp the forms in unexpected and compelling ways. By fusing pixel art's nostalgic allure with a more abstract futuristic technique, Exstasis manifests as a uniquely fresh and distinct artwork.

As a generative artist, I have always been most interested in exploring the facets of digital art which are unique to the medium, and Exstasis is my truest exploration to date. Constantly evolving and in motion, with a distinctly digital aesthetic, this work could not have been realized in any other medium.

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