Entangled
Entangled is a cross-chain, generative art project consisting of 512 unique particle simulations distributed across two blockchains, each programmed to interact with counterparts on the opposite network in real time. The project translates the principles of quantum entanglement into a cross-chain artwork that connects the traditionally distinct Ethereum and Tezos generative art ecosystems through shared behavioural dynamics.
Originally conceived as a social experiment, the idea grew out of a wish to stimulate dialogue between two parts of the on-chain, generative art communities. Each particle cloud operates as an autonomous system governed by physics-based algorithms until paired with another instance where behavioural synchronisation emerges.The collections are linked through a random pairing mechanism that associates each Ethereum edition with a corresponding Tezos edition, creating 256 unique cross-chain pairs regardless of ownership distribution.
User interaction occurs through intuitive browser window manipulation, transforming passive observation into active participation, making the audience instrumental in shaping the artwork's dynamic properties. The system recognizes different interaction states: single instances maintain autonomous behavior, unpaired instances repel each other, while paired particle clouds demonstrate synchronized behaviour and connection.
© Bjørn Staal
When paired instances are owned by the same collector they exhibit intensified visual correlation, revealing concealed Feynman diagrams that emerge when the windows are overlayed.
© Bjørn Staal
Quantum entanglement represents one of physics' most counterintuitive phenomena. When two or more particles become entangled, measurement of one particle's properties instantaneously determines the corresponding properties of its paired particle, a correlation that persists across any spatial separation. This non-local connection defies classical physics' constraints regarding information transfer and the speed of light, suggesting fundamental interconnectedness at the quantum level that transcends conventional understanding of space and causality.
Showing paired iterations #195(eth) & #056(tez)
© Bjørn Staal
By randomly pairing editions across different blockchain ecosystems, the project creates unexpected connections between collectors who might otherwise remain isolated within their respective communities. The random pairing mechanism has generated diverse responses: some participants have actively sought to unite with their unknown counterparts, while others have engaged in strategic negotiations to acquire corresponding pieces. Conversely, many collectors have entirely ignored the cross-chain element, treating their editions as standalone artworks. These emergent behaviours constitute a sort of unscripted, collective performance reflecting the diverse market dynamics across different blockchain communities.
Beyond its pure online presence, Entangled has been translated into a large scale, kinetic sculpture as part of a public exhibition at the newly opened Wintercircus in Ghent, Belgium. Instead of executing pre-programmed industrial tasks, a robotic arm is subverted into a replacement of the human hand, reenacting gestures from the digital artwork at architectural scale. Read more here
Entangled installation at The Wintercircus, Ghent, Belgium. Read more here
© Bjørn Staal