Generative artist William Mapan has achieved significant success with his latest collection, “Distance,” despite launching it in a weak NFT market. Mapan is known for his unique approach to generative art, a genre that is often misunderstood by the general public. To explain the concept, Mapan simplifies it by using a piece of paper, a crayon, and a die. He asks individuals to imagine drawing four boxes on the paper and then throwing a die. If the roll shows three or below, they draw a square, and if it shows four or above, they draw a circle. This simple exercise demonstrates the creation of an algorithm and the introduction of randomness, which is at the core of generative art.
Mapan’s work stands out for its ability to straddle the line between appearing physically or digitally made, much like other artists such as Tyler Hobbs and Emily Xiu. He aims to activate senses, feelings, and memories in viewers, sparking curiosity and triggering emotions. For example, his recent series “Distance” aims to evoke memories of travel and landscapes.
Based in France, Mapan credits artist Matt Deslauriers as his introduction to art on the blockchain. He began in the Tezos ecosystem before launching his highly sought-after “Anticyclone” collection on Ethereum via ArtBlocks. Mapan appreciates the ability to put an algorithm on the blockchain and have collectors trigger it on demand, viewing them as active participants in the artwork.
Mapan’s notable sales include “Anticyclone #470,” which sold for 182 ETH ($229,856), “Anticyclone #743,” which sold for 37 ETH ($50,430), and “Strands of Solitude #253,” which sold for 16 ETH ($26,321).
In terms of other artists to watch, Mapan recommends Anna Lucia, noting her talent and potential for growth. He also mentions the influence of the abstract expressionism movement and artists pushing boundaries in modern-day art on his career.
When it comes to his own favorite NFT in his wallet, Mapan highlights “Horizon(te)s #5,” a collaboration by Iskra Velitchkova and Zach Lieberman. He appreciates the combination of their work and the abstract shapes and light present in the piece.
Mapan finds inspiration in the music of Kendrick Lamar and Sofiane Pamart while creating art. He also finds performers inspiring, as they have to be vulnerable and expose their emotions in front of an audience.
In terms of the NFT art market, Mapan’s “Distance” collection, a collaboration with Cactoid Labs and LACMA, sold out its 250-piece collection, with secondary sales reaching close to 185 ETH since its release. Other recent notable sales include Dmitri Cherniak’s “Ringers #343” for 39.99 ETH ($65,395), Matt Kane’s “Door VII” for 22.5 ETH ($36,787), and Snowfro’s “Chromie Squiggle #1606” for 20 ETH ($32,877).
In a significant milestone for NFTs, Cool Cats will become the first NFT collection featured in the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The parade ran a contest featuring various NFT collections, with Cool Cats emerging as the winner. A massive Blue Cat balloon will grace the skies of Manhattan on November 23, showcasing the NFT collection.
Lastly, the Nouns DAO fork has concluded, with 472 Nouns NFT holders opting into the fork out of 844 total. The fork allows these holders to receive approximately 35 ETH, while those who voted against the fork will continue with the original structure of the DAO.
