The project
Nouvelle Planète
Nouvelle Planète is a Swiss non-profit organization founded in 1986 that supports initiatives by rural populations in Africa, Asia and Latin America to improve their living conditions and promote self-sufficiency while preserving their environment.
This project, led by anthropologist and author Jeremy Narby for Nouvelle Planète, aims to improve the quality of life of Shipibo families in the Peruvian Amazon, preserve their ancestral knowledge and strengthen the role of women in their community. The Shipibo women are taught to identify, cultivate, and use medicinal plants.
The work
Digital work
MazeFlipper is a generative art project by Beer Van Geer that bridges ancient Shipibo art with blockchain technology to support indigenous women in the Peruvian Amazon.
click to animate
The inspiration of the work lies in Kene patterns, a traditional Shipibo art form that represents spiritual communication and embodies mathematical beauty through intuitive creation. These patterns follow geometric principles like reflection, rotation, and translation, creating complex tessellations that mirror modern algorithmic art.
By viewing Kene patterns through the lens of mathematical structures, we recognize them as an early form of generative art. This perspective bridges the gap between ancient cultural practices and modern technological art forms. It highlights how universal mathematical principles are across time and cultures, showing how basic concepts of geometry and symmetry inspire creativity no matter the medium.
Shipibo embroidery with white Kene patterns
MazeFlipper draws parallels between the recursive nature of Kene patterns and contemporary computational art, highlighting how ancient wisdom naturally incorporated mathematical principles that are now used in digital creation. Van Geer specifically combines Western maze symbolism, known for representing spiritual and intellectual journeys, with Shipibo Kene art's cosmic snake motifs and endless patterns.
The work's designs resonate across multiple scales, from microscopic circuit boards to urban landscapes viewed from above, and even to cosmic structures of galaxy clusters. This multi-layered approach suggests universal organizational principles that connect different scales of reality. The project serves as both a cultural bridge and a philosophical exploration, inviting viewers to contemplate the recurring patterns that might reveal fundamental truths about existence while preserving and honoring indigenous artistic traditions.
Physical work
An edition of 10 unique embroideries is handcrafted by Shipibo artisans from iterations curated by Beer Van Geer's generative artwork.
This collaboration highlights their traditional skills, generates economic opportunities for the Shipibo community and allows collectors to acquire a unique physical work, fusing digital art with traditional craftsmanship.
NFT owners can order embroidered versions of their artwork. Contact us for more information.
The artist
Beer Van Geer
Lives and works in the Netherlands
Beer Van Geer is an interactive media artist, working in the field of biofeedback art. He moves between experimental art projects and the world of applied art integration in healthcare. By use of biofeedback and physiological data he creates modern day rituals, in which generative art is used to gain insight in the human unconsciousness.
The sale
The work will be for sale on ArtBlocks Studio on (date).
Digital + Physical