on the occasion of the 100th birthday
The Fusion of Poetry and Generative Art celebrating a Visionary
Poem 1
Destination unknown
solar sails wide unfurled
riding on the ion beam
a safe haven: far beyond space and time.
Ice crystals formed within the cells
the veins devoid of blood
the memory deleted
the entire past extinguished
Being – between dream and death
is there an awakening?
is there any hope?
Ahead: Clouds and cosmic dust
behind them perhaps
a vast galaxy
star systems, and suns
planets, that are bathed in the warmth of clear light –
A taped wake-up call:
new lands!
behind it perhaps:
a void
This is how ASTROPOETICON begins: 16 space poems by Herbert W. Franke written in 1979. They explore the physical laws governing the cosmos and the evolutionary processes within it, culminating in the emergence of intelligence and the meaning of life. The foundation launched a multimedia project as a special tribute to Herbert W. Franke. It is based on a cycle of these sixteen poems that Herbert W. Franke wrote in 1979 for an art book showing works by the space artist Andreas Nottebohm. The poems were now translated into English by James Ginzburg and narrated by Eric Ash in a studio recording. The foundation invited generative artists from three continents. Each artist will transform one of the spoken poems into an immersive multimedia world honoring the 100th birthday of the visionary.
Joshua Davis (USA)
Joshua is an American pioneer of generative art and creative coding. Since the mid-1990s, he has used algorithms and code to create complex visual artworks. He programs his own algorithms, often using Processing or Flash, which employ mathematical rules to generate dynamic abstractions and multimedia works. Through his film studio, he has also designed visuals and stage designs for artists such as Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Tool and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I am honored that he is part of the project.
Joshua’s statement: I started writing code to make art back in 1994. At the time I had no idea if others pioneered this way of thinking. So, I started doing my due diligence and was thrilled to find all the people like Herbert before me who were paving the way for us to express ourselves this way. I am not only truly grateful but also humbled to be art of this collaboration ASTROPOETICON.
Mario Carrillo (Mexico)
Mario is a Mexican artist working with code to create moving images that explore states of perception. He is interested in how we interpret information through compositions that combine geometry, organic forms, color, motion and rhythm. His practice uses computation as a form of expression, engaging with technology through an experimental and creative approach. His work can be classified as both computer art and Op Art. Carrillo’s visual art has been presented across America, Europe, and Asia, including at institutions and festivals such as the Barbican Centre, Salzburg Easter Festival, and DOK Leipzig.
Mario’s statement: Being invited to participate in ASTROPOETICON for Herbert W. Franke’s 100th birthday is both an honor and deeply meaningful to me, as it fosters a sense of connection to one of the great pioneers who shaped the foundations of computer art. The project stands as a testament to how artists from around the world can converge, bringing diverse perspectives to reinterpret Franke’s literary work. I am particularly excited to engage with his poetry and create a piece that reflects and honors his legacy. Foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to the Herbert W. Franke Foundation and Susanne Päch for their continued dedication to preserving and celebrating his contributions to the field.
Saeko Ehara (Japan)
Saeko is a Tokyo-based Jananese Artist whose practice centers on the aesthetics and emotional resonance of “Kirakira.” It describes an aesthetic characterized by brilliance and it is deeply rooted in Japanese pop culture. Inspired by childhood memories of collecting shimmering objects and immersive moments of play, her work reflects a sense of wonder and timelessness. Saeko works with AI and generative art, she explores a balance between human intention and algorithmic autonomy, allowing systems to shape the final expression. She has exhibited internationally in digital art contexts and aims to expand “Kirakira art” as a shared sensory experience.
Julius Horsthius (Netherlands)
Julius is a digital artist renowned for his mesmerizing fractal animations that blend abstract complexity with cinematic beauty. He continues to push the boundaries of fractal art in both physical and digital spaces, exploring new frontiers in immersive storytelling and virtual reality. His unique visual language has captivated audiences worldwide. His work has been exhibited and showcased in many immersive installations and fulldome theaters around the world. Julius, I am honored that you are participating.
Julius‘ Statement:
For my fractal work, I’ve always looked for ways to connect the abstract nature of the animations with more tangible concepts. Using scientific poetry blends so wonderfully with these visuals that it feels like a very natural progression, one that I love to work with. I hope that Herbert W Franke’s writings can give my fractals new context and meaning.
loackme (France/Netherlands)
loackme is a French generative artist currently based in Amsterdam. After completing his PhD in Statistics and working as a researcher for some time, he made the decision to leave academia in 2018 and pursue his passion for digital art and graphic design. loackme’s artistic practice is characterised by his love for monochrome and geometric designs, as well as animated loops. Amongst other things, he’s a self-professed ‘dither enthusiast’, using various dithering algorithms to create the illusion of a wide range of colours (or shades of grey) from a limited palette. The strong aesthetics and constraints associated with these algorithms are a constant source of inspiration for him.
Loackme’s statement:
As a mathematician by trade with a deep-seated love for speculative and science fiction, it is a profound honor to contribute to this celebration of Herbert W. Franke’s legacy.
Markus Kanzler (Germany)
Markus, known as Marterium, is a German digital artist who explores form and color as distinct languages, turning abstract ideas into captivating compositions. He sees digital art as a collaboration between humans and machines. With a background in psychology, he launched Marterium in 2019 and entered cryptoart in 2020, creating work for clients like Apple, Zedd, and PayPal. His goal is to evoke emotions and inspire through beauty while staying low-profile. Unintentionally acting as a creative therapist.
Markus’ Statement: I’m deeply honored to be one of just 16 artists chosen for ASTROPOETICON, giving me the chance to visually interpret one of Herbert W. Franke’s poems. Franke was a true pioneer who shaped the very foundations of computer graphics and generative art – a visionary who fused technology, science, and creativity decades before digital tools became widespread. For me, joining this project feels like a personal bridge to that remarkable legacy, connecting my own exploration of form, color, and emotion directly to the roots of the medium I love.
Juan Rodríguez García & Ivonne Valdez (Mexico)
Juan is a generative artist whose work explores the relationship between fundamental concepts of design and programming, using technology and code as mediums for creation and expression. In addition to his artistic practice, he teaches creative coding and has collaborated with universities and cultural centers across Latin America and other regions, where he has presented workshops, courses, talks, and exhibitions focused on the relationship between code, art, and technology.
Ivonne has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams since 2019, creating music, producing audio, designing sound for stage productions, and providing technical support to creatives in recording, editing, and digital audio post-production. She has experience in sound design for audio-light installations, sensory experiences, video, dance, and stage performance. In parallel, she produces original music as part of the duo Bioluminik, a project that has been presented at various festivals in Mexico’s local circuit, such as Mutek, Meditatio Sonus, Festival Sinestesia, and Festival del Puerto, among others. The project was selected for the Musikplatz Summit in 2020.
Juan’s and Ivonne’s statement: We feel honored to contribute to the ongoing legacy of Herbert W. Franke, and especially grateful and humbled to be part of this project, interpreting one of the 16 poems alongside outstanding artists from around the world.
His pioneering work continues to expand the ways we understand the relationship between art, science, and technology. Projects such as ASTROPOETICON make this convergence especially evident, bringing together poetic reflection, scientific thought, art, and technology, opening paths that remain active and highly relevant today.
Frederik de Wilde (Netherlands)
Frederik is working at the intersection of art, science, technology, and design. His practice explores the inaudible, intangible, and invisible in digital and physical spaces, critically engaging with the societal and environmental shifts driven by technology. He has been recognised as a TED Ideas Worth Spreading finalist in 2013 Global Talent Search and has received several awards and nominations. He has collaborated with institutions/organisations and companies such as KIT Karlsruhe, ESTEC, NASA, and Artscience Museum Singapore.
Frederik’s statement: What draws me to the ASTROPOETICON community is its commitment to dissolving boundaries between art, science, and technology. —continuing a lineage where poetic thinking becomes a tool for exploring unknown territories.
Strayltd & plutonic mind (Great Britain/Germany)
Strayltd is a visual artist from London. He is working with free association techniques inherent in a collage art practice, he relies on elements of chance in his compositions by following a trail of his unconscious thoughts. His art appears on record covers of The Mars Volta and Omar Rodríguez-López. Strayltd now lives and works in London and Hamburg as a freelance artist and art director. One of his works is represented in the permanent collection of Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien in Austria.
Plutonic Mind is an audiovisual artist and classical pianist. is known for her unique synthesis of classical and electronic music. Trained in classical singing and piano, she is known for her unique synthesis of classical and electronic music. Her compositions are characterised by intricate harmonies and complex polyrhythmic structures. Her live performances include the opening of NFC Lisbon, and her work has been exhibited in physical and virtual galleries around the world.
Strayltd & Plutonic mind’s statement: As a pioneer of digital art, Herbert W. Franke holds an important place in history as well as in our thoughts. Without pioneers like him, we as digital artists would not be here. ASTROPOETICON is a very special series of poems exploring the cosmos and evolution of life. We have taken the opportunity to create a science fiction short film focusing on how prophetic Herbert’s words are for our near future, and the further evolution of humankind.
Natalia Oliwiak (Poland)
Natalia is a visual artist from Poland working with fulldome and immersive audiovisual projects. She holds a PhD in Fine Arts from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, where she focused on fulldome technology. In her practice, she explores the relationship between image and sound within spherical space, creating immersive experiences that invite audiences into fully immersive journeys, dissolving the boundaries between viewer and reality.
Her work draws inspiration from nature, travel, and interdisciplinary fields such as film, music, visual arts, design, and dance.
Natalia’s statement: ASTROPOETICON, for me, is a space for exploring and visualizing Herbert W. Franke‘s poetry through immersive fulldome projection, which merges inner and cosmic journeys. My focus is to bring the audience into transcendental experiences—a metaphorical journey into unknown worlds, suspended between hope and emptiness, between the promise of new worlds and memories of an idyllic past.