An Interview With Leander Herzog

In the interview with Leander Herzog, the Swiss artist discusses his evolution from graffiti to generative art, emphasizing the significance of browser-based works that unfold directly on the viewer’s device. He reflects on his early experiences with Processing, influenced by Marius Watz, and his transition to JavaScript and GLSL, highlighting the importance of the medium in his creative process. Herzog’s work, characterized by minimalism and recursion, has been showcased in institutions like HEK Basel and ZKM Karlsruhe, underscoring his impact on the digital art scene. (blog.objkt.com)

Herzog’s emphasis on browser-based, generative art that unfolds in real-time resonates with several contemporary digital artworks. For instance, “SEMI-GENERATIVE SLOP” by Užupis combines hand-painted elements with HTML scripting to create expanding, organic patterns. This fusion mirrors Herzog’s approach of integrating traditional techniques with digital processes to produce dynamic, evolving visuals.

Similarly, “Windows 2k25” by lxtxcx employs browser window motifs set against surreal landscapes, reflecting Herzog’s interest in the browser as a medium. The artwork’s use of digital elements within a surreal context aligns with Herzog’s exploration of the internet’s aesthetic and functional aspects in art.

“$huffle” by 1mpo$ter features grid-like structures with repeating patterns, created through generative techniques. The algorithmic repetition and precision in this piece echo Herzog’s use of recursion and minimalism, highlighting the shared emphasis on computational processes in art creation.

UBERMORGEN’s “fancyvibratingwhitehorizonzebra.gif” utilizes alternating black and white stripes to create optical tension, reminiscent of Herzog’s minimalist aesthetic. The piece’s focus on movement and visual tension through simple elements parallels Herzog’s approach to creating engaging experiences with minimalistic designs.

Lastly, “A LIVING POEM 20260312_194504” by Sasha Stiles presents a grid of text passages with vivid neon colors, generated through algorithmic processes. This work’s exploration of language and digitality aligns with Herzog’s interest in the intersection of code and art, emphasizing the dynamic nature of generative systems.

These artworks collectively reflect themes central to Herzog’s practice, such as minimalism, recursion, and the utilization of browser-based platforms. They demonstrate the ongoing dialogue between traditional artistic methods and digital innovation, underscoring the evolving landscape of generative art.

---

References

Source Article

https://blog.objkt.com/post/an-interview-with-leander-herzog

Artworks

1. “SEMI-GENERATIVE SLOP” by Užupis
   

   

   
   I painted SLOP by hand and the rest was done by an html script

2. “SEMI-GENERATIVE SLOP 2 “ by Užupis
   

   

   
   I painted SLOP by hand and the rest was done by an html script

3. “SEMI-GENERATIVE SLOP 3” by Užupis
   

   

   
   I painted SLOP by hand and the rest was done by an html script

4. “A Girl and Her Dog “ by Von Doyle
   

   

   
   objkt4objkt

5. “Windows 2k25” by lxtxcx
   

   

   
   One of my favorite artworks. Created in 2017.

6. "$huffle” by 1mpo$ter
   

   

   
   #23 | $huffle | @_1mposter

7. “fancyvibratingwhitehorizonzebra.gif “ by UBERMORGEN
   

   

   
   fancyvibratingwhitehorizonzebra.gif was born in 2000. from the https://www.ubermorgen.org/banna_aquarium/gamez/lizvlx_baller/lizvlx_baller.html series

8. “tired4tired” by santiago
   

   

   
   objkt5objkt

9. “Are you read to enter a new reality?” by Cryptofago, Gio Mariani
   

   

   
   Are you read to enter a new reality?, 2022 1125 x 1500 px Collab between ACatfishArtist (@acatfishartist) and Gio Mariani (@eventualghost) for the 2nd issue of Cryptofago.

10. “A LIVING POEM 20260312_194504” by Sasha Stiles
    

    

    
    A unique, timestamped digital still frame drawn from the genesis codebase of A LIVING POEM — a bespoke language system that integrates verse, voice, and visuals to enact an infinite poem about what it means to be alive and human in an increasingly more-than-human world. In its first incarnation at The Museum of Modern Art, New York (September 2025–March 2026), A LIVING POEM unfolded in real time as an ephemeral, browser-based performance, without ongoing documentation or a complete record. This work is one of an initial set of 24 digital pages — generative outputs from A LIVING POEM running live — that trace the system in its original state, timestamped at the moment of inscription and marking an early phase in the poem’s emergence. Each page is an act of attention: proof of presence, proof of witness. An otherwise unrepeatable event, observed and preserved by the artist as both author and reader. A LIVING POEM was developed for the Hyundai Card Digital Wall at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, in 2025.

Keywords

minimalism, browser-based, generative, recursion