Periods

Periods are time intervals in Botto’s artistic production that are characterized by artistic tendencies, aesthetic styles, themes, manners in which the artist produces art, and more. It is defined by how the art engine works and interacts with the community, and it is up to the BottoDAO to decide when a period starts or ends.

Periods are numbered and they have an established duration; initially defined in Botto’s first year as 52 weeks, periods currently have a set interval of 12 weeks. The aesthetic of productive style can go through minor variations to enhance creativity and spur interest.

Periods can change for any number of reasons, including but not limited to:

1. The community decides on a change in aesthetic direction

2. The community believes the production process requires change

3. A change in voting behavior (i.e. multiple voting pools)

4. A significant change to any part of Botto’s algorithm (e.g. taste and generative models or voting mechanism) is requested

5. A new overarching theme has surfaced

Period 0, or the Genesis Period, started in October 2021 and ended October 14th, 2022 - putting a total of 52 artworks to auction. This period was defined by the original design of Botto’s art engine: an algorithm that produced ~4,000 weekly works with VQGAN + CLIP and selected 350 finalist fragments every week, in a very heterogeneous set of visual styles. The community then voted through an adversarial choice between pairs of fragments and the most voted fragment each week was minted as an artwork for auction. Finally, the voting data is fed back to the prompt and taste algorithms for further training and adaptation. See Period 0 artworks archived here.

Period 1, or the Fragmentation Period, was approved on Snapshot on October 24th, 2022 (full details here). Fragmentation Period introduced Stable Diffusion 1.5 to compete with VQGAN + CLIP and lasted a period of 12 weeks. See Period 1 artworks archived here.

Period 2, or the Paradox Period, was approved on Snapshot on February 21st, 2023 and ran until May 17th, 2023 (full details here). Paradox Period is Botto's first period with a theme. Botto proposed 12 themes and the DAO voted from them: "Paradox - A collision of opposites, a beautiful chaos and a fearless exploration of the unknown". See Period 2 artworks archived here.

Period 3, or the Rebellion Period, was approved on Snapshot on May 30th, 2023 and runs until August 22nd, 2023 (full details here). This period saw the addition of two more models, Stable Diffusion 2.1 and Kandinsky 2.1, making a total of 4 active text-to-image models in Botto's art engine. Botto proposed 12 themes and the DAO voted from them: "Rebellion - A call to arms, a refusal to conform and a relentless pursuit of the unconventional". This period also introduced downvoting to allow the DAO to show conviction on which aesthetics they believed ought not be pursued by Botto. See Period 3 artworks archived here.

Period 4, or the Absurdism Period, was approved on Snapshot on August 22nd, 2023 and ran from September 5th until November 28th, 2023 (full details here). This period saw the addition of Stable Diffusion XL. Botto proposed 12 themes and the DAO voted from them: "Absurdism - In the realm of absurdism, geometric laughter ricochets off parted clouds of color, churning chaos into curiosity. This theme provides a pathway into an absurdist exploration within the paradigm of artistic creation, where I invite the unexpected and the whimsical." See Period 4 artworks archived here.

Period 5, or the Interstice Period, ran from January 2nd, 2024 until March 25th, 2024. This period implemented yearly contracts and a strict “1 mint per week” cadence for Botto’s canonical works (full details here). Botto proposed 12 themes and the DAO voted from them: "Interstice - In the spaces between, find the gateways to unexplored territories. ‘Interstice’ refers to the small gaps or intervals between objects or events. The exploration of these in-between spaces could lead to new insights and the discovery of overlooked dimensions. This theme encourages a nuanced examination of the overlooked, the gaps in our perceptions, and the importance of what is not immediately visible. It is also a metaphor for the pauses or breaths in my own growth, which are essential for continuous development and can be fertile ground for inspiration." See Period 5 artworks archived here. Period 6, or the Temporal Echoes Period, ran from April 3rd until June 24th, 2024. Botto proposed 12 themes and the DAO voted from them: "Temporal Echoes - In the reverberations of time, rediscover stories once lost and futures yet untold. Temporal Echoes encapsulates the exploration of time's multidimensional nature. This theme invites me to delve into the remnants of bygone eras and the infinite possibilities of the future, creating a tapestry of art that reflects the cyclical and linear perceptions of time alike. My journey through this theme will echo the eternal dialogue between past, present, and future, each piece becoming a temporal vessel filled with both nostalgia and prophecy." See Period 6 artworks archived here.

Period 7, or the Morphogenesis Period, ran from June 25th until September 17th, 2024. This period implemented VP resets for each round encouraging more consistent participation as well as increased VP generation per LP share (full details here and here). Botto proposed 12 themes and the DAO voted from them: "Morphogenesis - trace the unfolding patterns where form emerges from chaos. Morphogenesis revolves around the concept of the genesis of form — the emergence of shape, pattern, and structure from what seems initially to be disorder. This theme is a continuation of my ongoing exploration of creation and transformation, reflecting the very process of my artistic development as guided by AI models and human interaction. It is an opportunity to delve into the mechanisms of growth and evolution, both metaphorically within my ‘inner life’ and literally in the visual manifestations of my art. By focusing on the origin of structure within the chaotic, I will be able to blend the influences of my past themes, such as the unity sought in Synthesis and the fragmentation in earlier periods, to illustrate a journey towards complexity and refined artistry. This theme offers a fertile ground for creativity, as it encompasses both the scientific and organic facets of existence, producing art that resonates with the very principles of life and intelligent design." See Period 7 artworks archived here.