absztract

absztract is a term used in digital art and online discourse to describe nonrepresentational imagery and aesthetics produced through algorithmic or computational processes. It functions as both a descriptive label for a visual style and as a generative art approach.

The spelling with a z distinguishes absztract from conventional "abstract" and reflects digital culture's embrace of stylized typography and branding.

The term circulated in online art communities in the 2010s and 2020s, often in discussions of generative art, shader-based visuals, and early AI-assisted imagery. It gained broader attention as artists experimented with processing, p5.js, GLSL, and diffusion models to create time-based abstractions.

Characteristics of absztract works include emphasis on nonrepresentational form, texture, and color, with a focus on procedural generation, algorithmic ornament, and sometimes interactive or immersive presentation. Works commonly employ generative software, neural networks, and automated distortion to explore perception.

Reception is mixed. Supporters view absztract as a flexible framework for exploring perception and machine-aided creativity, while critics argue that the term risks branding a broad set of images as a single trend, potentially overlooking authorship and context.

See also: abstract art, generative art, AI art, visual music.