Dragons #252

William Mapan would release his genesis long-form project, Dragons, on fx(hash) in November 2021. Working through the concept of emergence, Mapan methodically brainstorms from a blank-slate until he discovers something that speaks to him. In this series Mapan creates a family of mythical creatures all born with unique traits that tell their history.

Dragons #252 is one of only four extraordinary “Esquisse” iterations. This piece also shines a light on the artist’s creative process. The “Esquisse” trait represents the beginning of the iterative process that led to Dragons. They imitate his initial physical sketches with code, giving viewers a look into the mostly unseen “sketchbook step” of his creative journey.