Presented with EXPANDED.ART in collaboration with Foundation Herbert W. Franke

222 supply
Generative

PROOF, EXPANDED.ART, and Foundation Herbert W. Franke are proud to present ZENTRUM, a historical work created in 1982 by computer art pioneer, scientist, and science fiction writer Herbert W. Franke. ZENTRUM is a dynamic, endlessly running abstract animation made of structural elements and random codes. The random generator ensures that each endless loop is unique, and is made with Franke’s original code from 1982. Prior to his passing in 2022, Franke was actively working to bring this code on-chain. Read more about ZENTRUM from Anika Meier here.

About the auction

ZENTRUM will be minted as an exponential Dutch Auction with rebate powered by Art Blocks Engine. The auction is open to the public, meaning a PROOF account is not required. The Dutch Auction will begin at 5 ETH and the resting price will be 0.5 ETH. Collectors will be rebated on the final settlement price, meaning all collectors will pay the same price to mint. The first ten collectors may claim a fine art physical print of their ZENTRUM output with EXPANDED.ART. Collectors may submit multiple bids if they would like to collect more than 1 NFT. There is not a one NFT per wallet limit. There are a total of 200 NFTs available in the public sale. 22 NFTs will be minted to EXPANDED.ART, the PROOF treasury, and Foundation Herbert W. Franke. The Foundation will donate their NFTs to museums and cultural institutions. Proceeds from ZENTRUM will be used by Foundation Herbert W. Franke to organize and host an international symposium on the history of generative art in Berlin in May 2024, as well as to support the publishing the science fiction writing of Franke, which is also planned for 2024.

Total supply	222
Starting price	5 ETH
Resting price	0.5 ETH

A Dutch auction is when the price decreases over time during an auction. In an exponential Dutch auction, the price is automatically lowered in a mathematically predetermined time. Mints can be placed any time, and the price will continue to decrease until all NFTs are sold. All purchasers will be rebated to pay the same settlement price. For example, if a collector mints a piece at 4 ETH, and the final NFT is minted for 1 ETH, they will be rebated 3 ETH to match the lowest price.

ZENTRUM

Herbert W. Franke

ZENTRUM

ZENTRUM is a dynamic, endlessly running abstract animation made of structural elements and random codes. The random generator ensures that each endless loop is unique. For ZENTRUM, Franke had to make do with the limited computing capacity that a home computer offered at the time. Despite this limitation, it was important to him to develop moving sequences even in his first programs for the Apple II. He considered the movement to be a pioneering digital innovation. The combination of dynamic image sequences and music, as well as the interactivity, were already groundbreaking in his MONDRIAN program code, developed in 1979 for the Texas Instruments home computer.

View Collection View on OpenSea

Total supply: 222

Starting price

ETH

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0.0 ETH

Purchase history

Settlement disclaimer

Once the collection has sold-out, all minters who purchased a piece above the settlement price can claim their rebate at the conclusion of the auction or when/if the auction reaches resting price. PROOF Collective pass holders will receive a 5% discount on the settlement price if they purchase a mint, which will arrive in a separate rebate transaction.

Curator statement

ZENTRUM

by Anika Meier

Anika Meier is a writer and curator specializing in digital art and digital communication and is building EXPANDED.ART. She writes a column for the German art magazine Kunstforum titled STATUS UPDATE about the developments around the topic of NFTs in the field of art. PROOF and EXPANDED.ART are delighted to present ZENTRUM in collaboration with the Foundation Herbert W. Franke and curated by Anika Meier. The original code from 1982 exists in Basic as well as a text by Franke; the program still runs on the Apple II. Aaron Penne, artist and director of engineering at Art Blocks, wrote the code for today's software and hardware in conversation with Susanne Päch, wife of Herbert W. Franke. She supported Franke with feedback when he coded ZENTRUM. ZENTRUM is a dynamic, endlessly running abstract animation made of structural elements and random codes. The random generator ensures that each endless loop is unique. For ZENTRUM, Franke had to make do with the limited computing capacity that a home computer offered at the time. Despite this limitation, it was important to him to develop moving sequences even in his first programs for the Apple II. He considered the movement to be a pioneering digital innovation. The combination of dynamic image sequences and music, as well as the interactivity, were already groundbreaking in his MONDRIAN program code, developed in 1979 for the Texas Instruments home computer.

In a manuscript from 1984, an article for one of the earliest home computer magazines, Franke looks to the future: “Certainly not everything that is created with the help of computer programs has artistic value, but why shouldn't these simple beginnings one day create something that is on a par with the great works of painting.” Franke was clear that such PC programs were the beginning of a far-reaching development for art in the future. He wanted to be actively involved in a development that would open up this potential for art. Franke used a television at the time because he didn't have an Apple monitor. He didn't know that you couldn't change the contrast of the colors on an Apple monitor. The colors would have been very saturated on the Apple monitor. He himself worked with a television on which he could adjust the contrast. His color world of ZENTRUM is documented using historical video clips and photos. Aaron Penne worked with these recordings, adopted the colors in the adapted code, and simulated the aesthetics of the surface of a CRT monitor. Part of the proceeds from the NFT drop ZENTRUM will be used by the Foundation Herbert W. Franke to organize and host an international symposium on the history of generative art in Berlin in May 2024. Another part of the proceeds will flow into the eBook publishing of the science fiction edition of Franke, which is also planned for 2024. Read Herbert W. Franke’s writing about his work here. Learn more about Foundation Herbert W. Franke here.

Works of Herbert W. Franke

Selection of previous collections and works.

CLAIM PHYSICAL

Quadrate (Squares), 1970

Herbert W. Franke

Artifact #3

PROOF Artifact #3

PROOF Artifact #3 celebrates ZENTRUM by Herbert W. Franke, presented in partnership with Foundation Herbert W. Franke, EXPANDED.ART, Aaron Penne and PROOF. The total supply of Artifact #3 is 1005: 5 for the artist and PROOF, and 1000 available to collectors.

MINT ARTIFACT VIEW ON OPENSEA

Phase 1: PROOF Collective Pass holders

PROOF Collective Pass has exclusive access to Artifact #3 for a 24-hour window.

Starts on: November 21st 9AM PST

Mint price: 0.01 ETH

Phase 2: Public

No authentication is required to mint in Phase 2.

Starts on: November 22nd 9AM PST

Mint price: 0.01 ETH