Performance in Code

Performance in Code at Art Basel Miami Beach invited three popular generative artists from the platform fxhash to mint collections from the show floor, showcasing the bleeding edge of generative art and online collecting communities. In 2023, that bleeding edge was fxhash. Here's some context: On fxhash, every mint runs the same code, but with a different random seed, which means outputs can share common traits (like a color palette or shape style), while some receive special traits that appear far less often. These rare parameters—say, a one-off background gradient, an unusual density of lines, or a unique “glitch” behavior—become the collector’s prize. Platforms and collectors often calculate a rarity score, which ranks each piece within the collection based on how uncommon its traits are. The fewer collectors who share a given trait, the higher the rarity score—and typically, the more desirable (and valuable) the piece becomes. We broadcast that rarity score on the walls of Art Basel. And therefore, the idea of rarity, both calculated and perceived, became the central question of this year's show. In real-time, as more and more pieces were minted, patrons watched their rarity scores change and new traits emerge. A spicy conversation emerged: who cares that this computer tells us what "rare" is? Don't patrons, artists, and show-goers decide the value? This show garnered widespread attention, even winning a Webby Award.