Freak Show is a group exhibition featuring 13 artists curated by Ganbrood & Georg Bak. The forward for the exhibition is written by Kenny Schachter.

Freakshow

Am I weird, strange, sexually deviant, or eccentric? My whole adult life Ive been referred to as crazy. And worse. As Rick James sang in 1981, Im a super freak, a super freak. Im super freaky (was he ever). In actuality, Why is it that anything (or anyone) out of the ordinary is ostracised, marginalised, made to feel like a pariah? Thinking differently should be encouraged and affirmed but is often viewed as a red flag pigeonholing those that dare to dwell beyond societal norms as aberrant. Human comportments of all stripes should be celebrated, as long as youre not responsible for someone ending up in scraps hidden under the floorboards.

When people or phenomena deviate from the norm, the tendency is to push away, criticise, and dismiss, rather than encourage unorthodox approaches to the status quo; which could usually benefit from a swift kick in the ass, that especially rings true in the art world. Change is essential to rupture states of complacency and to establish new paradigms in art and science. Its a shame that contrarian behaviour is so readily perceived as threatening and deleterious instead of embraced. This is precisely analogous to the traditional art worlds knee jerk reaction to crypto art.

There is a long history of Freak Shows also referred to as Odditoriums which dates back to mediaeval times, where people considered physically unusual were put on display like caged animals. Exhibiting those with deformitiesextreme diseases and conditionsas objects of interest and entertainment is barbaric and sadistic (especially by todays standards), but had been routine for hundreds (and hundreds) of years.

The same could be said for those of us that think in an atypical, nonconformist manner. We are dismissed as specialsignifying a degree of mental malformationand menacing in an increasingly homogenous, conservative society; which is, in fact, scarier than all of the nutters I know combined. Consider this a clarion call to fight the fear, let your guard down, and, as Missy Elliot sang, Get Ur Freak On!

- Kenny Schachter

About the artist

Kenny Schachter is a New York-based digital artist and curator with over 30 years of experience in the art world. His digital artworks blur the lines between physical and virtual spaces and often incorporate 3D animation, sound, and interactivity to create immersive experiences. He has had numerous shows at prestigious galleries, including a retrospective at Joel Meslers Rental Gallery and a one-person show at Kantor Gallery in LA.

Super Freak I, 2023

VOICE GEMS

In 2021, Herbert W. Franke and Harry Yeff started a conversation about the concept of VOICE GEMS and an audio-visual collaboration. Franke suggested using the lyrics of ASTROPOETICON because they are a minimalist and associative approach to language that could have been created by an AI. These lyrics were frozen as gemstones, the VOICE GEMS ASTROPOETICON, created by Herbert W. Franke, Harry Yeff, Trung Bao and an AI. (The first three 1/1s have been minted and collected in 2021.)

The lyrics used for the VOICE GEMS ASTROPOETICON (DESTINATION IN UNCERTAINTY) belong to a cycle of 16 poems called ASTROPOETICON. Written by Franke in 1979 to be published in a book alongside artworks by German space artist Andreas Nottebohm, he voiced them on the occasion of his 80th birthday in 2007. 

Every voice is unique, and with that comes unique fingerprint-like data that can be used for bespoke and human centred generative design. Harry Yeff (aka REEPS100) and Trung Bao have developed a voice-centred generative system utilising data found in a human voice to synthesise the artworks form and colour. Features like pitch, resonance, harmonics and pace sculpt 200 000 particle data points in a simulated digital space. The VOICE GEMS series is a vibrant, unprecedented meditation highlighting remarkable and influential voices. Each VOICE GEM is added to the VOICE GEMS: 1000 Year archive. 

Herbert W. Franke (19272022) was a pioneer of computer art who anticipated the metaverse. For several decades, he separated three lives: the caver and scientist; the artist and curator; and the science fiction author. In the early 1950s, caving led him to experiment with light and technology. He kept his curiosity throughout his life; it was his drive to examine new technologies for their artistic potential. His pioneering spirit made him one of the first computer artists who was more than six decades ahead of his time. In 1979, he co-founded Ars Electronica. Franke has been called the most prominent German science fiction writer by Die Zeit, and a short story fireworker by the FAZ. In 2022, his first NFT Drop MATH ART sold out within 30 seconds on Quantum, and he was the headliner at the Tezos Booth at Art Basel with MONDRIAN, a work from 1979. Herbert W. Franke died on July 16, 2022, at the age of 95, leaving behind an extensive oeuvre.

Presented by EXPANDED.ART in collaboration with art meets science  Foundation Herbert W. Franke and ELEMENTUM.ART on the occasion of Herbert W. Frankes solo show CODED BEAUTY at EXPANDED.ART in Berlin. The art meets science  Foundation Herbert W. Franke will use their portion of the sales for a designated purpose: translating significant texts by Herbert W. Franke to English and making them publicly available.



ASTROPOETICON DESTINATION IN UNCERTAINTY by Herbert W. Franke  
Destination in uncertainty 	
solar sail unfolded  
ride on the ion beam  
home port: beyond space and time  
sensors, directed to the void 
signals from the dark field  
circuits on hold 
ice crystals in the cells  
veins without blood  
memory wiped out  
the past: obliterated  
existence between dream and death  
will there be an awakening?  
will there be any hope  
in front: clouds and cosmic dust  
behind it maybe  
a galaxy 
star systems, suns  
planets bathed in warmth and light -  
wake-up call from the tape  
uncharted territory!  
behind it, perhaps:  
a void  


HERBERT W. FRANKE - VOICE GEMS ASTROPOETICON (DESTINATION IN UNCERTAINTY)

After The Cave

After The Cave #58

KNDL by KEVIN ABOSCH (2023)

Synthetic Photographic Animation / AI trained on artist's own photographs and rendered through subversion of otherwise reliable algorithms. 

This work was created as a gift to collectors of OPEN EDITION by KEVIN ABOSCH on the occasion of Valentine's Day 2023.

KNDL by KEVIN ABOSCH

MintverseWord





[mintverse.world/declare](https://mintverse.world/declare)

MINTVERSE  #139

Fabdao

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### Che-Yu Wu - Island

Project % is a non-profit generative NFT experiment. Gathering the pioneers of generative artists in Taiwan, each % will represent the public fund of FAB DAO(Formosa Art Bank). We are practicing a new form of social innovation with digital artworks.

Project% - 2557%

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### Yi-Wen Lin - Prairie

Project % is a non-profit generative NFT experiment. Gathering the pioneers of generative artists in Taiwan, each % will represent the public fund of FAB DAO(Formosa Art Bank). We are practicing a new form of social innovation with digital artworks.

Project% - 2556%

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### Lien-Chen Wang - Traces

Project % is a non-profit generative NFT experiment. Gathering the pioneers of generative artists in Taiwan, each % will represent the public fund of FAB DAO(Formosa Art Bank). We are practicing a new form of social innovation with digital artworks.

Project% - 2554%

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### Jin-Yao lin - Arcanum

Project % is a non-profit generative NFT experiment. Gathering the pioneers of generative artists in Taiwan, each % will represent the public fund of FAB DAO(Formosa Art Bank). We are practicing a new form of social innovation with digital artworks.

Project% - 2553%

Project% - 2552%

Project% - 2551%

Project% - 2550%

Project% - 2549%

Project % is a non-profit generative NFT experiment. Gathering the pioneers of generative artists in Taiwan, each % will represent the public fund of FAB DAO(Formosa Art Bank). We are practicing a new form of social innovation with digital artworks.

Project% - 2498%

Project% - 2471%

The Decagon is the infinitely evolving, always unique, and eternally open membership token of the Decaverse. Designed by Kjetil Golid.