Viewing Now Open: ๐พ๐๐ผ๐๐ by Travess Smalley
Viewing Now Open: Travess Smalleyโs CRAWL
Feral File is pleased to announce the opening of CRAWL, a solo exhibition of new work by software artist Travess Smalley.
CRAWL isย a series of 512 unique artworks, each generated from a Python-code system authored by Smalley. Each artwork is a labyrinthine map, with winding passages that reveal different textures, colors and patterns. Viewers will encounter pixelated shapes such as flora, microbes, fossiles, and corroded forms on their journey through Smalleyโs maze software. Different colors will trigger different events on their journey, revealing new areas for exploration - and each map includes a yellow door that unlocks a bird's-eye perspective. ๐
Collecting will begin on Tuesday, July 23 at 16:00 UTC+0. Set a reminder here.ย
THUNDEROUSOUTCROPCAMELLIA, CRAWL WOODBLOCK SCREENSHOTSย by Travess Smalley
As part of CRAWL, Smalley has also created a series of unique relief prints called CRAWL WOODBLOCKย SCREENSHOTS. While each 1/1 print features an area of a generated level, the colors within the original map have been converted to black-and-white values.
Each CRAWL WOODBLOCK SCREENSHOT print is a blend of code, digital fabrication, and traditional printing โ making each an object that represents thousands of years of image-reproduction technology.
CRAWL WOODBLOCK SCREENSHOTS series by Travess Smalley
Reveal more of CRAWL
โWeโve been talking about this exhibition for over a year now, and every new meeting reveals more of the inspiration and ideas that have gone into CRAWL. On the surface, CRAWL feels like it could be part of the lineage of video games that include Rogue, NetHack, and Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup. But underneath the crunchy pixels and vibrant colors, thereโs a deep set of references to artists including John F. Simon Jr., Harold Cohen, and Terry Winters โ as well as to natural and physical phenomena including the way worms create silk, superorganisms like ant and termite societies, and cloud chambers.โ
โ Curator Casey Reas
Want to learn more?
Join artist Travess Smalley and exhibition curator / Feral File co-founder Casey REASย to discuss the series over livestream on Tuesday July 23 at 16:30 UTC+0. Set a reminder here, and watch live across YouTube, X, or Instagram.
As always, you can reach out with any questions via email atย support@feralfile.com.