What draws me to making art with generative systems is the surprise aspect. How introducing randomness in the number of lines, shapes or colors creates an infinite seeming series of outputs. For Black Zine Fair this Saturday I am debuting two artist books: “Maze Zine” and “How to Read a Gradient”. Each is a new way to experience and read a generative system.
Maze Zine
This artist book is a generative system, the physical act of turning pages creates a viewing rhythm as you understand each output. Using the magic fold technique (where a single sheet becomes an 8-page booklet), I printed different outputs from the same algorithmic script on each section. The physical act of turning pages creates a viewing rhythm as you understand each output—you're forced to slow down and consider each variation before moving on.
Because of its magic-zine fold, you can cut and refold the sheet in different sequences. This means readers can create their own paths through the variations, deciding which output follows which. Creating space for collaboration and wonder.
How to Read a Gradient
What is the simplest way to teach a visual system? Inspired by Sol LeWitt’s Four Basic Kinds of Lines & Colour, I created an artist book that's one part art and one part instruction manual. Each spread pairs a gradient with its transformation, teaching readers to recognize patterns and understand the underlying logic through repetition and variation.
-Mello
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