DEAFBEEF: NFTs in C

If you are interested in generative audiovisual art that is stored completely on-chain, you might want to check out the work of DEAFBEEF, a pseudonymous artist who uses nothing but a C compiler to create stunning pieces of art that can be encoded as sound and visual media.

DEAFBEEF started his project in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a way to explore the fundamental level of digital media creation. He writes C programs that generate raw numerical data that can be interpreted as sound and images. He then stores the source code of these programs on the Ethereum blockchain, using a technique that he calls “a new method for maximum permanence for NFT art”.

DEAFBEEF has released several series of audiovisual NFTs, each with a different theme and style. Some of his series include:

• Synth Poems – inspired by modular synthesizers and electronic music
• Angular – features geometric shapes and patterns
• Transmission – simulates radio transmissions and interference
• Entropy – explores the concept of disorder and randomness
• Glitchbox – emulates glitches and errors in digital systems
• Advection – simulates fluid dynamics and smoke
• Caves – inspired by natural caves and caverns
• Noumenon – represents an “unknowable reality beyond our immediate senses”

DEAFBEEF’s NFTs have been highly sought after by collectors and fans of generative art. According to DappRadar, his NFTs have traded over $1.3 million in total volume . He has also collaborated with museums, charities, and other artists to create unique and innovative projects. For example, he created a collection of satirical generative texts called FIRST, which he donated all the proceeds to GiveDirectly.org charity . He also created a physical vinyl release of his audio works, which he sold as NFTs with signed editions .

DEAFBEEF’s NFT art is not only impressive in its aesthetic quality, but also in its technical innovation. He pushes the limits of what can be done with C language and on-chain storage, creating artworks that are self-contained, decentralized, and permanent. He also challenges the conventional notions of what art is and how it can be experienced, inviting us to immerse ourselves in his generative world.

If you want to learn more about DEAFBEEF and his NFT art, you can visit his website at https://deafbeef.com/ or follow him on Twitter at @_deafbeef.