William Mapan’s Dragons took flight on FXhash on December 7th, 2021, unveiling a warm, analog-infused vision that left an indelible mark on the emerging crypto art landscape. As Mapan’s first long-form generative collection, Dragons consists of 512 dazzling iterations, each a swirling tapestry of lines and curves that echo the timeless mystique of legendary creatures. The artist’s description “A grid of many lines forming a dragon crafted on paper” hints at the delicate yet monumental nature of the series. Behind this simplicity lies a rich lineage of myth, drawing from ancient Chinese, Greek, and global dragon lore. Ursula K. Le Guin’s famous words accompany the project, warning that those who deny the existence of dragons are often devoured by them from within. Through Dragons, Mapan invites us not to deny, but to embrace the power and mystery of these digital beings.

Beneath the layers of flowing scales and luminous forms, Dragons serves as an exploration of what Mapan calls “avatarism”… A journey into posthuman identity and potential. Each piece offers not just a depiction of a dragon in flight, but a reflection of latent possibility. As Mapan poetically frames it, “To receive the dragon’s secrets, one cannot merely extinguish its flame… One must befriend the being.” The collection seamlessly blends hand-drawn textures with algorithmic code, giving rise to unique personalities that feel alive beyond the confines of the screen. More than simple digital artifacts, these creations forge connections with their collectors, inviting them to name and care for each dragon as though nurturing a rare companion. By merging ancient mythology with cutting-edge blockchain technology, Dragons has cemented its place in FXhash lore, its breath a quiet reminder that the lines we draw in life may be as magical as those forming the art before us.

Observations on Dragons

A deeper appreciation of Dragons emerges from reflecting on both external insights and personal engagement with the collection. Its significance extends beyond aesthetics. Touching on the emotional, cultural, and philosophical layers that make it a cornerstone of generative art.

Humanity in Code

Mapan’s talent lies in his ability to imbue generative algorithms with human warmth, transforming what could be cold, mechanical outputs into vibrant, emotive expressions. Dragons exemplifies this approach. Each piece ripples with organic energy, as though the creatures breathe and shift under the viewer’s gaze. Mapan’s use of scanned paper textures and hand-drawn elements softens the digital rigidity of code, creating a tactile intimacy very rare in generative art. The result is a collection that feels less like machine output and more like something conjured by an ancient craftsperson.

Narrative Depth

Unlike abstract generative art, Dragons carries the weight of narrative and myth. By invoking dragons (figures deeply embedded in global folklore) Mapan taps into something universally familiar yet infinitely malleable. This collection is more than a series of outputs; it feels like a portal to another world, where each dragon exists with a unique personality. The notion that these dragons “must be named and cared for” deepens the bond between collector and creation, elevating the experience from simple acquisition to intimate guardianship.

A Cultural Touchstone for FXhash

Dragons occupies a unique place within the FXhash and Tezos ecosystems. Often cited as one of the defining releases that helped shape FXhash’s reputation, the collection stands as a beacon of quality and artistic integrity. In the platform’s early days, Dragons showcased the untapped potential of Tezos as a blockchain capable of rivaling Ethereum in the art world. Its success paralleled FXhash’s rise, intertwining the collection’s story with that of the platform itself. As FXhash grew, Dragons became not only a work of art but also a cultural artifact representing the platform’s evolution.

Mapan’s Artistic Philosophy

Mapan describes Dragons as an experiment that bridges personal expression with generative exploration. His openness to imperfection and his curiosity for abstract ideas like “avatarism” shape the collection’s essence. Dragons represents the unfiltered core of Mapan’s artistic ethos, capturing the spontaneity and playfulness that marked his transition from hand-drawn studies to full generative projects. Later works, such as Anticyclone, reflect a refinement of this process, but Dragons remains the purest expression of his artistic journey. A raw and instinctive milestone that speaks to the joy of creation.

A Collector’s Journey

For many, Dragons served as an introduction to generative art and FXhash. Its rare blend of accessibility and prestige makes it an essential piece in countless collections. What sets Dragons apart is how it reveals itself over time. Initially, collectors might be drawn to its aesthetic beauty or rarity, but deeper observation unveils layers of meaning. Hidden traits, subtle interactions, and the intentional cadence of rarity woven through the 512 pieces. Like great works of traditional art, Dragons rewards prolonged engagement (having spent hours lost in the collection myself, I can attest to this), its value expanding as collectors form personal narratives around each unique piece.

Dragons continues to be the collection I return to when discussing generative art at its finest. It was one of the first that captivated me, offering a glimpse of how deeply moving and transformative this emerging medium can be. Whenever I need to convey the potential of generative art… How code, myth, and texture can merge into something far greater than the sum of its parts… Dragons is my touchstone. It stands not only as an artistic achievement but as a reminder of why we collect art in the first place: to experience wonder, to feel connected, and to remember that some creatures are only seen by those willing to believe.

Trait Exploration

Below is a concise summary of William Mapan’s commentary on Dragons traits. The traits he discussed most directly are: Age, Atmosphere, Environment, Magical, Silky, Temperature, and Status. Sourced from his interview with Collector’s Corner’s Astam and Jared Poz, he also shared insights on special/hidden variations (like thin hair, multiple dragons, and black-and-white colour palettes).

1. Age

   1. Trait Values: 16, Very Young, Young, Old, Very Old

   2. Visual Effect:

      1. Younger dragons have bright or fully saturated scales and little to no grey.

      2. Older dragons have progressively more grey in the scales (like getting “grey hair” with age).

   3. Artistic Concept:

      1. The more grey in the dragon, the older and “wiser” it is. William liked the idea that old age is a place of honour, not something “forgotten.”

      2. When a dragon reaches the “optimal” or “transcendent” age (16), it can “turn gold” (see Status below).

2. Atmosphere

   1. Trait Values: Dry or Hazy

   2. Visual Effect:

      1. Dry dragons have crisp, sharp outlines.

      2. Hazy dragons appear foggier; their colours and outlines are diffused, like they’re seen through mist or clouds.

   3. Artistic Concept:

      1. Represents the “air quality” or weather conditions around the dragon.

      2. A hazy atmosphere suggests a more mysterious, obscured environment.

3. Environment

   1. Trait Values: Black & White, Colourful, Aurora

   2. Visual Effect:

      1. Black & White: stark backgrounds and shapes; often feels like a simple or “earthy” grounding.

      2. Colourful: lush backgrounds with bright colour transitions.

      3. Aurora: cosmic, star-like environment with extra details (meteors, swirling colours).

   3. Artistic Concept:

      1. Each environment implies a different world or sky the dragon is flying through: a minimal (B&W) “land,” a vivid “normal” environment (Colourful), or an interstellar, space-like realm (Aurora).

4. Magical

   1. Trait Values: Yes or No

   2. Visual Effect:

      1. Magical dragons release subtle, glowing or starry particles (often visible near their wings or body edges).

   3. Artistic Concept:

      1. William envisioned “little stars or dust” trailing off the dragon as it flies.

      2. Hints that some dragons channel extra, whimsical energy.

5. Silky

   1. Trait Values: Yes or No

   2. Visual Effect:

      1. Silky dragons have soft, hair-like or fuzzy extensions around their scales… almost like fur.

      2. Non-silky dragons have more uniform, purely scaly wings and edges.

   3. Artistic Concept:

      1. Adds texture and a sense of “touchability.” Silky dragons look as though you could grab onto them and ride; non-silky appear sleeker and scalier.

6. Temperature

   1. Trait Values: Stable or Unstable

   2. Visual Effect:

      1. Stable: consistent colour palette from head to tail (uniform scales).

      2. Unstable: scales have a colour gradient that transitions across the dragon’s body, mimicking a comet’s fiery trail.

   3. Artistic Concept:

      1. Unstable suggests the dragon is flying at extremely high speed, “burning up” and producing a dynamic colour shift.

      2. Stable means it’s flying at a calmer or controlled pace, so its colour temperature stays even.

7. Status

   1. Most dragons are Living (default).

   2. Rare Special Statuses (very few pieces have these):

      1. Esquisse (4 total):

         1. Means “sketch” in French.

         2. Reflects William’s original pencil-and-paper beginnings for Dragons.

         3. A nod to the concept-stage or “proto-dragon.”

      2. Raw (6 total):

         1. Mostly black/white scales but not “sketchy” lines—rather an “uncoloured” final form.

         2. Implies a just-hatched or “not yet fully defined” dragon.

      3. Turned Gold (7 total):

         1. Occurs when a dragon is at Age 16 (fully matured/wise) … except for one special gold piece at a younger age.

         2. Symbolises a dragon that has “transcended,” becoming legendary or immortal.

8. Bonus / Hidden Variations

   1. Multiple Dragons / Overlapping Shapes: Some pieces appear zoomed out, suggesting multiple dragons in the same frame or a more panoramic view.

   2. Thin vs. Thick Hair / Scales: Not explicitly in the metadata, but certain “Silky” outputs feature finer or denser hairlike strokes.

   3. Accidental Black & White Palettes in Non-Raw Dragons: Sometimes the code yields all grayscale for dragons that are not in “Raw” status. William treated this initially as a bug but kept it—letting collectors “imagine” their own colour.

9. How William Views These Traits

   1. William likened these dragons to playful creatures, somewhat like “Pokémon,” each with its own distinct identity derived from these traits.

   2. He wanted the final works to show a full life cycle (Esquisse → Raw → Living → Turned Gold) yet also include dynamic environmental aspects (Atmosphere, Environment, Magical, Silky, Temperature).

   3. Many “unlabelled” details exist—he left them for collectors to discover on their own.

10. Key Takeaways

    1. Collectibility & Depth: A big part of Dragons is discovering subtle differences (e.g., black-and-white outputs popping up in unexpected palettes, or extremely thin “Silky” hair).

    2. Storytelling: Each trait (age, environment, background, etc.) ties into a narrative: the life story of a dragon, how fast it’s flying, how “magic” it might be, and what kind of world it inhabits.

    3. Intent & Experimentation: William wanted to blend coding (generative randomness and layering) with his analog roots (sketching, scanning textures) to evoke emotion, personality, and wonder in each piece.