Artist William Mapan’s series Strands of Solitude extend upon themes in his break-out collection Anticyclone. However, it is differentiated by his use of saturation, experimentation with density and negative space, and presence of generative flow fields.

Intricate and highly-detailed, Mapan’s use of organic forms and rich textural elements in Strands of Solitude creates a stunning collection — digitally and physically. This article describes the traits of the collection, as captured in the metadata of the digital artworks.

Introducing Strands of Solitude

Strands of Solitude is a meditation on connection and isolation in the digital age. Through digital compositions, Mapan delves into the ways in which social media and our increasing reliance on technology has both connected and disconnected us from one another.

Since its release in March 2023, Strands of Solitude has generated $1.4M in primary sales and $3.4M in secondary sales. The collection has been featured on Artacle, the first and leading generative art index that tracks approximately 80 of the highest grossing generative art projects. Only collections that meet rigorous volume and market value criteria are included.

Use of Color and Tension

The palettes in Strands of Solitude offer a wide range of colors & density to create depth & range in the series. Many of Mapan’s palettes are named after human emotions, such as Emptiness or Kindness.

Within a single palette, the algorithm creates a range of digital compositions.

While the majority of the series begin with Day, a white background, a few works start with Night, a dark background, allowing the bold colors to captivate your attention. Less than eight percent of the series is part of Night.

Unexpected pairings arise as William’s swirling super structures bring colors together in new ways. Conflict occurs when two palettes are present in one work, like how the bold purples of Paranoia are disrupted with black and blue.

The Joy palette features bold, primary colors. William Mapan used Joy as the foundational palette for the series, especially through early iterations of the algorithm. Glimpse of Joy occurs when the Joy palette appears in another composition.

Saturation and Density

A notable element in this series is William’s use of saturation, density and negative space to emphasize a sense of disconnection.

The Voiceless trait occurs when a palette is desaturated, and colors become muted. Compare #379 and #235, both part of the Appreciation palette.

Compositional Features

The algorithmic nature of Strands of Solitude allows for unique compositional features that mimic the physical world to appear. Bridges, windows, and echo chambers are the most prominent features seen in the series.

Bridges are vertical lines that disrupt the canvas, adding texture to the work. Windows are organic forms like crescents, circles, and triangles, creating a sense of movement in the work.

Reminiscent of medieval architecture, the echo chamber trait creates a rectangular form at the centre of the work.

By bringing together a variety of different elements and influences in his art, Mapan creates a sense of unity and connection that is palpable to the viewer. As we navigate the complexities of the digital age, Mapan's art serves as a reminder of the ways in which we are all connected, even in the midst of disparity.

To learn more about acquiring a work from Strands of Solitude, or ordering a museum-quality print of your piece, please view the series at tonic.xyz.