Chronophotograph

Explore the mesmerizing realm of "Chronophotograph" by the enigmatic artist 0xDEAFBEEF, the sixth artist to participate in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's groundbreaking blockchain series, "Remembrance of Things Future." In collaboration with Web3 consultancy Cactoid Labs, this initiative challenges digital creators to reinterpret artworks and objects from LACMA's illustrious collection. 0xDEAFBEEF, in his turn, chose to immerse himself in Eadweard Muybridge's pioneering 19th-century studies of human and animal motion—an exploration that has paved the way for scientific understanding and photographic innovation.

As an artist, 0xDEAFBEEF was drawn to the enigmatic quality of Muybridge's sequential images, which once sparked shock and disbelief in a world unfamiliar with the concept of photography. Muybridge's groundbreaking work challenged existing artistic depictions of his time and offered a wealth of themes and historical context. Inspired by Muybridge's legacy, 0xDEAFBEEF conceived a two-part project titled "Noumenon" and "Chronophotograph," each released on distinct dates—May 1 and May 4 2023, respectively. This endeavor is an attempt to forge connections between photography and blockchain as time-based mediums.

"Noumenon" is a mesmerizing 16-part generative series of audiovisual works that conjure abstract, origami-esque figures gracefully moving across a distressed film cel-like backdrop. A symphony of synthesized sounds accompanies the black-and-white animation, marking 0xDEAFBEEF's signature fusion of sound and moving image. "Noumenon" seeks to represent the unknowable reality that lies beyond the realm of our senses—a profound and sensuous exploration where sound and movement together become a powerful medium for conveying emotions.

"Chronophotograph" serves as a companion piece, collecting metaphorical observations of "Noumenon." Here, one can envision the "Noumenon" as an object and "Chronophotograph" as the camera's discerning eye. Collectors, through a specialized blockchain transaction known as "releaseShutter," can capture a sequential chronophotographic record of a "Noumenon." Each of these captures becomes a unique token on the blockchain, mirroring Muybridge's photographic exploration of motion.

0xDEAFBEEF envisions the use of NFTs beyond mere ownership tracking, seeing them as vehicles for structuring social interactions around a common reference point. The participatory and interactive dimensions of this medium are unique affordances worth exploring, as they have been by numerous artists. A "time lock" mechanism ensures that collectors and their delegates must wait for a prescribed period—initially 12 seconds—before capturing another Chronophotograph. This time block progressively doubles, extending the intervals between captures to days, months, years, and even millennia.

In theory, the resolution of the images and the intervals between captures could extend infinitely, but practical limitations come into play, from human lifespan to computing technology. The ever-present ticking of time, both observed and unobserved, continues to shape this captivating artistic journey.