From the inception of genHeads, the artist duo behind the project, Levoontin & 3amkind, were dead set on building a code-only generative art project with fun and quirky characters. Over 7,000 lines of code written in JavaScript, with extensive use of the p5.js library, make up the project. Several diverse trait functions are used to create each genHead, with numerous random possibilities.

genHeads was designed and developed over several months on three different continents. Progress has been made bit by bit, as the project had to stand back several times as life and other work had to take center stage. In March 2023, genHeads is finally ready to be published on fx(hash).

Inspired by art and nature

genHeads’ features are inspired by pop art, along with influences from more traditional fine art.

The “Cubist Composition Frames” is a tribute to Piet Mondrian, while the “Disco Inferno Headband” and the “8-bit Funktastic” glasses celebrate pixel art.

The “Blooming Mind” head top gives your genHead a generative set of flowers, while the “Rainbow Roar” and “Rainbow Blast” shout rainbows from the mouth or the top of the head (if you’re lucky, your mint might generate one with both).

Other traits are even more playful, such as the flamboyant “Viking Helmet”, the otherworldly “Bionic Eye”, and the punky “Liberty Spikes”. And for a touch of whimsy, there are even budding tulips to adorn your genHead.

Since all elements are generated by code, the variations are almost endless.

16 polychromatic themes

The genHeads project has 16 distinct color themes. The four pastel themes give your genHeads mint a color explosion in shifting intensities, from the “Sassy Light Pastels” to the “Spicy Pastels”.

If you like your art green, genHeads got you covered. “Eat Your Greens!” salute veggies and herbs with soothing, light-green shades, while “Pop Zombie” takes on the undead with unnerving green hues. The “Enchanted forest” color theme celebrates the adventure of walking through the mysterious woodlands.

“Blueprint Factory” is inspired by architectural and technical drawings using the blueprint contact print process. This light-sensitive method was introduced by the English mathematician and artist Sir John Herschel in 1842.

If you prefer the monochromatic, the black-and-white “Ghost” theme gives your genHead a cool and spooky look. Another option if you, like Pablo Picasso, thinks that “color weakens”, is the “Some Kind of Gray” theme. It takes advantage of the whole tonal range of gray.

“We hope that you’ll love your genHeads mint as much as we’ve had fun creating the project,” says Levoontin and 3amkind.