On June 24th, bitforms gallery in New York City will unveil "Tree_Line," a captivating solo exhibition by generative art pioneer Zancan, in partnership with the Tezos Foundation.
This exhibition showcases a collection of his most iconic pieces, from early plotter drawings to the impressive Tree 138 installation, which features 83 individually embroidered frames connected to a single NFT.\
Marking Zancan's first solo show in the U.S., "Tree_Line" offers a unique opportunity to witness the physical development of generative art that has gained significant traction on the blockchain. The exhibition delves into the interconnectedness of various systems—natural, digital, and artistic—through a diverse body of work that fuses plotter, paint, sculpture, and code.
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Attending the opening will be both Zancan and Aleksandra Artamonovskaja, available for interviews. Aleksandra will discuss the vital role of blockchain in supporting generative art.
Exhibition Details
Artist: Zancan
Exhibition: Tree_Line
Location: bitforms gallery, New York City
Dates: June 24 – August 6, 2024
Presented with: Tezos Foundation
Opening Reception: Tuesday, June 24, 6–8 PM
Gallery Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 11 AM–6 PM
Zancan's "Tree_Line" Exhibition Features the Ambitious Tree 138 Installation
In this exhibition, Zancan intertwines the organic complexity of nature with the precise logic of generative code. "Tree_Line" traces the evolution of the tree motif, representing a living structure composed of systems and networks, echoing the algorithms that characterize generative art.
At the center of the exhibition is Tree 138, a groundbreaking installation that embodies one of the most ambitious physical interpretations in the NFT realm. Crafted over six months in Zancan's Bordeaux studio, this piece features 83 embroidered frames and is presented as a comprehensive ecosystem.
The accompanying NFT offers an interactive GLB file, allowing viewers to delve deeper into the artwork and its creation process. Tree 138 challenges conventional notions of digital ownership and physical space.
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Adjacent to Tree 138, visitors will find a timeline showcasing Zancan's printed plotter works from 2021 to the present. This marks the first display of physical pieces from celebrated longform generative collections. Highlights include Ivy Study, an early plotter drawing utilizing the trees.js program, and Garden [grass.js], which captures the artist's months of experimentation with generative code.
A Bugged Forest #0 confronts the theme of control, revealing how a single coding flaw can yield unexpected beauty. Zancan embraces these accidents, positioning himself as a listener to a greater intelligence.
Highlights from Zancan's "Tree_Line" Exhibition
The exhibition also features Lushtemples, a renowned generative collection on the Tezos blockchain, which uses equations and code to evoke natural forms. This series reflects on humanity's relationship with nature through sepia-toned drawings enriched with symbolism. On the occasion of the exhibition, unique editions of Lushtemple artworks will be available for purchase.
"Tree_Line" serves as both a survey of Zancan's major works and a meditation on the interconnectedness of biological, digital, and artistic systems. Through the fusion of code, pen, and plotter, Zancan transcends mere representation; he cultivates the very trees he depicts.
About the Artist
Michael Zancan, born in 1976 in France, currently lives and works in Bordeaux. Renowned for his intricate algorithmic artworks, Zancan merges natural beauty with computational precision. Transitioning from traditional oil painting to digital art, he has carved a unique niche in generative systems, exploring the dynamic interplay between organic growth and structured code. His visually stunning compositions often evoke botanical forms and landscapes, inviting viewers to reflect on the beauty of both nature and technology.
