Pathways
Julien Gachadoat, a.k.a. v3ga, is at the forefront of the field of generative art. Instantly recognisable by his monochrome, line-based style, he has explored the interface between code and human creativity for many years; working with algorithms, playing with repetition and abstract forms, with a focus on plotters to produce physical artworks. Moving into the NFT space was thus a natural extension of his practice.
Some of his creations include pieces such as 'Umwelt' (2021), curated for Feral File by Casey Reas, or for ‘Haze’ (2022), part of the Tribute to Herbert W. Franke, the pioneering computer artist.
Pathways is a concept artwork by Julien Gachadoat and Vetro Editions, realised in 2023. In its complete form, it was the first of its kind: the arts of algorithmic coding and bookmaking coming together in an unparalleled, cutting-edge project. An edition of 121 unique NFTs was connected in a grid-like structure to create a larger artwork – physically realised at Verse, where 121 unique covers (each one corresponding to a different NFT) formed a grid of 11 × 11 books. When placed together, they revealed the topography of a fictional map created from imaginary geometric landscapes and abstract parametric urban areas. The map contained several neighbourhoods with unique features depending on their localisation, allowing viewers to experience a “promenade in the world of Gachadoat’s patterns”.
The books were not just parts of a whole, but individual objects too. With the physical copies of the collector’s edition, Vetro combined the state-of-the-art possibilities offered by traditional and digital printing, and applied them to the bookbinding process. The result was an edition — hardcover, stitched with a square spine, printed with special deep-black ink, and with the three external edges covered in black glossy lacquer — that became a monolithic object, a sculpture in itself. Each unique copy was signed by the artist.
About the book
The physical book copies of the collector’s edition will be a jewel: Vetro will cleverly combine the state-of-the-art possibilities offered by traditional and digital printing, and apply them to the book-binding process. The result will be an edition whose covers, combined, create an installation – to our knowledge, for the first time in bookmaking history. This book, with a 20x25cm format, hardcover, stitched, square spine, printed with special deep-black ink, the three external sides covered with black, glossy lacquer, will be a monolithic object – a sculpture in itself. Each of the unique copies will be signed by the artist.
The standard edition will have a soft cover representing the whole grid in its complete form. Both the collector’s and standard editions will feature a curated selection of the best plotter artworks of Gachadoat’s career to date, and offer a deep dive in his creative and coding processes, inspiration references, and much more.
The standard edition also has the same lacquered black edges, with its cover representing the complete grid in its entirety. Both the collector’s and standard editions feature a curated selection of the best plotter artworks from Gachadoat’s career to date, offering a deep dive into his creative and coding processes, references, and more.