So DEVOID (A Metaphysical Novella, in pictures) has concluded its first chapter and the story is taking shape.

What better time for a recap?

ITS A MOTHERLOVING THREAD

#nftart #metafiction

In the beginning, right after the beginning actually (but some way before the end), came the first pieces of pixel collision. The first interplay of form. The 2D equivalent of the aftermath of the Big Bang

Shortly after, a few pixels became aware of themselves. This is depicted in DEVOID 004 'I Am Nowhere' when we first meet REX - our protagonist (the black square in the bottom right)

https://opensea.io/assets/0x495f947276749ce646f68ac8c248420045cb7b5e/75453790275997223872504700263474153114911442011138678176462585890493217898497

The following few pieces depict the chaotic pixel void gathering form and REX looking to the possibility of a brighter future.

THEN THE DREAMS START - as REX has a precognitive dream of meeting itself in a higher dimension, an idea it struggles to visualise on a 2D plane...

( https://opensea.io/collection/hyperreal < all pieces are here)

This dream fuels a kind of death for REX, a dawning realisation it is not a mere pixel... it can be so much more.

Which is when the wildest thing happens.

Another intelligence, known as '1', crashes through the pixel world, disrupting REX's 2D perception and temporarily knocking it from its axis

When asked where it has come from, '1' can only describe it as 'Above, below, around and through', doing its best to explain its home in language REX might understand.

https://opensea.io/assets/0x495f947276749ce646f68ac8c248420045cb7b5e/75453790275997223872504700263474153114911442011138678176462585906985892315137

The pair share a moment - a sympathetic meeting of wandering souls, depicted in DEVOID 019 'A Merge-ing'

But a higher dimensional being such as '1' is unable to remain in the pixel field... leaving REX with a realisation. Now it knows there is someone else out there, a new word becomes available to describe its experience.

Alone.

https://opensea.io/assets/0x495f947276749ce646f68ac8c248420045cb7b5e/75453790275997223872504700263474153114911442011138678176462585911383938826241

Which brings us to the conclusion of chapter one.

DEVOID 021 - An Obsession.

After 1 leaves, REX becomes incapable of thinking about anything else. Every image is '1' - to the point a breakthrough is made.

REX begins to dream in 3-Dimensions...

https://opensea.io/assets/0x495f947276749ce646f68ac8c248420045cb7b5e/75453790275997223872504700263474153114911442011138678176462585912483450454017

I'm all about the meta narratives and I can't wait for you to see where this is going. DEVOID is not just individual pieces, they all tie into a single story and that story ties into my first novel, PERIVALE which will release upon the conclusion of DEVOID's fourth chapter.

The opportunity to tell this story in this way has been a gift, already.

I'm finding that the canvas itself becomes a significant story device as REX journeys from 2D 24-bit pixel art through to full 3D and beyond.

For once, the medium really is part of the message as REX's world begins to find an extra axis at the same pace REX does. This is full throttle metafiction.

Please do check out the full collection here http://www.hyperrealfilms.com/devoid 

It also allows me to play in genres I love, crossing minimalism, 24-bit game art, cinema, literature and even little nods to Hitchcock and 40s noir cinema (see DEVOID 021).

If you like this thread PLEASE RT it. I'm in this for the storytelling but selling each piece helps to fund the release of the novel and the time to create new work.

If you're interested, you can see my last short film, MOUSE-X, here https://vimeo.com/86766083 

Finally - I do hope you're getting the hints towards Flatland here. It's been an important book for me.

PERIVALE, as a very very rough idea, will sit in a space where FLATLAND and THE THIRD MAN meet. If that blows your mind a little, maybe we like the same stuff.

DEVOID 021 is currently on auction and I would LOVE IT if you considered sharing this thread (from the top) and the story so far.

I hope you can see what I see in this story.

A romance of many dimensions xxx

https://opensea.io/assets/0x495f947276749ce646f68ac8c248420045cb7b5e/75453790275997223872504700263474153114911442011138678176462585912483450454017