The Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) is gearing up to unveil its newest exhibition titled “Compositions in Code: The Art of Processing and p5.js” from March 6 to August 24 on the Herbert S. Schlosser Media Wall. This collaboration with the Tezos Foundation explores the intersection of code-based tools and blockchain technology in the contemporary art scene.
Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to engage with and even collect fragments of the featured artworks, as MoMI aims to make digital art and the creative possibilities of coding more accessible to all.
Artist-Friendly Programming with Processing and p5.js
Processing, created by Casey Reas and Ben Fry in 2001, has revolutionized the way people perceive code as a medium for creativity. With its user-friendly interface that provides instant visual feedback, Processing enables users to experiment with generative and interactive design with ease.
Building upon the principles of Processing, Lauren Lee McCarthy developed the p5.js library in JavaScript, simplifying the process for artists to create and share web-based artworks. These open-source tools inspire innovation and welcome a diverse range of creators to explore the realm of digital art.
Compositions in Code Exhibit
Curated by MoMI’s Associate Curator of Media Arts, Regina Harsanyi, “Compositions in Code” features six artists presented in three diptychs. The exhibition pairs early adopters of Processing—Marius Watz, LIA, and Robert Hodgin—with practitioners of p5.js including Aleksandra Jovanić, Sarah Ridgley, and Melissa Wiederrecht.
Each artist’s contribution demonstrates how this community of creators, spanning different generations, approaches code as a creative medium, drawing from shared foundations while showcasing distinct visual styles. As part of the exhibition, every artist will offer a segment of their artwork for free, either in person or online through Tezos.
Tezos Blockchain: A Home for Digital Art
The Tezos blockchain has become a popular platform for artists working with Processing and p5.js, with platforms like fxhash, objkt, and EditArt allowing digital creators worldwide to exhibit, sell, and collect their works in a community-driven space.
Leading museums and galleries such as Serpentine, Musée d’Orsay, and LAS Art Foundation have adopted Tezos to enhance their Web3 offerings. Through MoMI’s installation, audiences can witness firsthand how innovative technology and creative coding converge to shape the future of art.
Opening Reception
Established in 1985 in Astoria, New York, MoMI is dedicated to exploring the history, technology, and impact of moving images in all forms. To kick off the exhibition, MoMI will host an opening reception on Thursday, March 6 at 7:00 p.m. in collaboration with the Tezos Foundation and the Processing Foundation.
The evening will feature a panel discussion with artist Marius Watz, Aleksandra Artamonovskaja from Trilitech (part of the Tezos ecosystem), and Roopa Vasudevan from the Processing Foundation.
As the culmination of the series, “Compositions in Code” underscores the profound influence of creative coding through Processing and p5.js. These platforms empower artists to treat software as a canvas for visual experimentation, unveiling the beauty of algorithms in unexpected ways.
This new exhibition promises to be a captivating exploration of the dynamic relationship between technology and art, inviting audiences to delve into the world of creative coding and blockchain innovation.