Harm van den Dorpel’s generative systems have long been synonymous with what he retroactively now calls “meditation machines”. His work iterates, mutates, and evolves over time, often in a process of slow, recursive development where repetition fosters focus and introspection, mirroring meditative states. Rules are set, then observed, then gently adjusted. This can be seen in projects like Death Imitates Language (2016), where outputs evolve over time based on a genetic algorithm that mirrors biological evolution. The genomes, or rules, dictating each piece’s behaviours are not fixed, but influenced by user interaction and subtle adjustments made to the underlying parameters. Harm described himself more as a gardener than a designer here: he sets initial conditions, then steps back to observe and only intervenes when needed. Similarly in Mutant Garden Seeder (2021, Art Blocks), each artwork is seeded from a unique transaction hash and visually expresses generative development within a fixed framework. The algorithm was designed to let chance guide aesthetics. Van den Dorpel has spoken about how some MGS outputs "misbehaved" in ways he learned to appreciate, adjusting the code not to eliminate these, but to let them co-exist. He’s created numerous ambient software pieces designed to run indefinitely and shift subtly over time, emphasising quiet evolution. Quantizer continues this lineage - here change is constant and gentle, with 12-second cycles dictated by the Ethereum blockchain and dithering used to ensure visual coherence during transitions between the different block states. There’s a calm, rhythmic consistency to its movement. Shapes return, palettes recur, patterns echo. What emerges is a negotiation between chaos and control, chance and code. Herein lies van den Dorpel’s strength in building systems where instability itself becomes beautiful, legible, and meditative. Quantizer By @harmvddorpel Arriving soon with @solos_gallery