@catgraffam
While crypto evangelists continue to promote NFTs as the art world's future, some artists are making digital art by going back to the early days of portable console gaming. The Game Boy Camera Gallery is exactly what it sounds like: a virtual gallery exhibit of images taken with the Game Boy Camera, which has been around for decades. Cat Graffam, an artist, and lecturer living in Portland, Maine, established and organized the virtual exhibition, saying she was inspired by artists like Zoe Wolfe who still use the old hardware.
@catgraffam
"The Game Boy Camera has an iconic appearance unmatched by any other camera from the time and actually has some incredibly powerful functions built into it," Graffam told. "However, it hasn't really been viewed as a serious art creation instrument." "All of the parts were picked from contributions to the game on the incredible Game Boy Camera Club discord, which is full of incredible pioneers of weird Game Boy Camera hacks and tools." The Game Boy Camera, which was released in 1998, was a first-of-its-kind hardware accessory that allowed users to shoot pixelated images on the Game Boy's monochrome display. Decades later, the instrument is making a comeback, with artists utilizing it to create zines and other projects that fit within the hardware's constraints.
@catgraffam
Some people have even developed tools to make the platform more user-friendly. Graffam's gallery game was made with GB Studio, a software suite that simplifies Game Boy development. "After not knowing what a sprite sheet or an asset was, I learned myself the basics in two weeks," they stated. While a demo of the Game Boy Camera Gallery can be played in web browsers, Graffam is taking donations for access to the game's ROM, which can be played on Game Boy emulators. They also hope to release the gallery on an actual Game Boy cartridge, which will operate with the original Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance, in the coming months, to provide a "genuine experience."
Graffam also aims to arrange future virtual galleries featuring artists who work with antique technology, with the goal of making the exhibition an annual event. "It's an incredibly dedicated group with incredible people from all around the world that share a passion for the same niche peripheral that they did 24 years ago," they stated.
Selena Mattei