Metropolis #198
mpkoz
Logompkoz
“These two editions -- #198 and #760 -- are some of my favorites in the entire collection. CDMX also vies for my favorite city trait as well. It was the last trait I designed. Before I found the direction for CDMX, I tried many ideas, all of which failed, and ended up facing one of the biggest cases of writer’s block and burn out in my recent past. The city itself is one of the most complex and interesting places I’ve ever visited, and almost nothing I attempted came close to encompassing what I felt when I was there.

The deadline for the Metropolis upload was fast approaching and stress mounted. Two or three days before the deadline, the levee broke and I arrived at the final algorithm and immediately loved it. The angular lines cut by organic curves recall the almost comical lack of city planning in the city, roadways that speak to its ancient history. The differing levels of magnification and polygon offsetting, jagged zig zags, and the white space usage, all combine to make what I wanted from the beginning: an animalistic, chaotic, geometric portrait of a tropical, Aztec-rooted city bursting with life.

#198 and #760 are fantastic examples of these things. Beyond the rare color palette, they are organic, complicated, and loosely figurative. They remind me of sculptures, busts of some anonymous couple, relics from the past. Most CDMX editions, especially when combined with their diptych, look like exotic animals to me. These, on the other hand, appear human, which is probably my favorite thing about them.”
Palette
Monotone
City
Mexico City
IRL Mint Date
03/09/23
Diptych IDs
198 | 760
Signed
No
Brush Style
Oil
Paper
White
Token ID
198
Description
Metropolis is a long-form generative art collection exploring the node-based systems that enable and possess modern society. These literal and theoretical systems are critical to computing, blockchains, logistics, and most apparently, the formation and function of cities. The project will be extended beyond online distribution via individual exhibitions at the five Bright Moments gallery locations around the world. The five primary traits – New York City, Berlin, London, Mexico City, and Los Angeles – stylistically represent their respective city. MECHANIC INFORMATION: - While Metropolis has a total count of up to 1000 mints, only the first 500 will be made available for sale. - These first 500 editions will come with the ability to mint a second piece for free. - This second mint will be unique, but visually related to the first—creating a diptych between the two. - To claim a second mint, the owner must generate a QR code via the Bright Moments portal and take it to the Bright Moments gallery in the city dictated by its respective city trait on the date of the city's exhibition. - Delegate minting of the second piece is possible. If the owner is unable to attend a show physically, they can arrange for another person to redeem. - Redeeming after the city's exhibition will not be allowed.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:- The style of Metropolis is heavily influence by cubism and abstract expressionism. - Technically, the project is an attempt to emulate painting photorealistically within an on-chain algorithm. - Metropolis is a demanding program and modern hardware is necessary to view the live generator. Viewing the project on mobile and low-power computers will result in a lower resolution image. CONTROLS: - Pressing the "C" key within the live generator will capture an image. - Pressing the "4" key within the live generator will reload the piece in 4K resolution (HARDWARE INTENSIVE).