DendroRithms

DendroRithms explores the possibilities of a blockchain as a medium for art. It is an interactive art installation in which collectors become participants.

2022

Dendro in verdigris green showing 11 concentric circular tree ring patterns with organic, flowing lines radiating from multiple center points against a dark background.

DendroRithms draws inspiration from dendrochronology, the scientific study of tree rings. Like tree sections show years of growth, the artwork represents blockchain cross-sections, where blocks are produced in regular intervals.

Together, the pieces visualize the blockchain as a living organism, with each section revealing its internal structure and growth patterns.

dendrochronology (or tree-ring dating)

noun

the scientific method of dating tree rings (also called growth rings) to the exact year they were formed
  • Dendro in bright phosphor yellow showing a single concentric circular tree ring pattern, starting at the top center, with radiating lines from one central point.
  • Dendror in lilac showing 4 concentric circular tree ring patterns with organic, flowing lines radiating from multiple center points against a dark background.
  • Dendro in warm copper tones displaying 10 concentric circular tree ring patterns with natural, curved lines emanating from scattered center points.

Buyers become active participants by making two key choices: selecting a colour from available options and deciding whether to add a core. These decisions affect both individual pieces and the collection as a whole.

Each colour forms its own sub-chain, and the core count relates to previous pieces, creating a connected sequence of artworks that responds to user input.
Seventeen tree ring cross-sections showing the progression of Dendrorithms generative algorithm, displaying multiple circular growth patterns side by side with varying numbers of concentric rings and organic radial lines in lilac.

The code to generate the artwork is stored as an NFT on the blockchain, allowing anyone to access and work with it. This storage method transforms the blockchain into a medium and a repository, integrating form and function.

Find the artwork's code here on the blockchain.

More information on dendrorithms.com.