_SPEC_SHEET // Bård & Jennifer Ionson

Installation Specification & Art Catalog

Balloons In The Sky // Ethereum Mainnet

00 // ARCHITECTURAL & FACILITIES SUMMARY

Information for Architects & Room Designers

Balloons In The Sky is a self-contained installation, but the venue still needs to plan around real electrical, structural, and spatial requirements. This section consolidates everything an architect or room designer needs for power, heat, structural loading, footprint, and logistics planning — independent of the art-historical and on-chain material that follows.

0.1 POWER & HEAT LOAD

GPU — Max Draw140 W maximum consumption (PNY RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell)

GPU — Observed LoadPeaks at approximately 33% utilization during live inference — substantial power and thermal headroom under normal gallery operation

CPUAMD Ryzen 7 9700X — 65 W base TDP

Power Supply1000 W ATX (Platinum) — oversized for stability and silent operation; not indicative of actual draw

Combined System DrawWorkstation runs well under 300 W in typical operation — a single standard household/commercial circuit is sufficient for the workstation and printer

Heat OutputLow — the workstation is a gallery-quiet small form factor unit; no dedicated cooling/HVAC allowance is expected beyond normal room ventilation

Display PowerSee Display section below — varies by unit selected; confirm circuit needs once final screen is chosen

0.2 FOOTPRINT & CLEARANCES

Workstation Footprint343 × 153 × 218 mm (13.5 × 6 × 8.6 in) — Fractal Design Terra case, floor or shelf-mounted

Printer Footprint208 × 240 × 198 mm — DNP DP-QW410 (US model), requires nearby counter or shelf surface plus paper roll access

Display Footprint (reference unit)1792 × 215 × 1108 mm (70.6 × 8.5 × 43.6 in) — see 0.3 below

Visitor Interaction ZoneRed Button mounted at accessible, ADA-friendly reach height; clear approach path with no trip hazards from cabling

Setup TimeFull installation is self-contained — under 2 hours from arrival to operational

0.3 THE DISPLAY — REFERENCE SPECIFICATION

The following reflects a current reference/estimate display model, used for structural and logistical planning. The artist remains open to a different screen, selected to suit the final venue and its lighting conditions.

DISPLAY HARDWARE & PERFORMANCE

Device TypeCommercial digital signage / advertising display panel (non-touch)

Screen Size75" diagonal

Resolution4K Ultra HD — 3840 × 2160 @ 2160p

BacklightDirect LED (D-LED), full array

Integrated MediaBuilt-in Android SoC with Wi-Fi and USB media player for autonomous playback

ConnectivityEmbedded HDMI inputs

STRUCTURAL WEIGHT & MOUNTING

Net Weight81.225 kg (179.07 lbs) — heavy-duty commercial unit; requires reinforced structural backing / studs for wall mounting

Footprint (Inner Box)1792 × 215 × 1108 mm (70.6 × 8.5 × 43.6 in) — L × W × H

LOGISTICS & TRANSIT PACKAGING

Crated Gross Weight85.50 kg (188.50 lbs)

PackagingCardboard box nested inside a heavy-duty wooden flight case / crate with secure metal butterfly latches

Outer Crate Dimensions~185 × 27 × 116 cm (~73 × 10.6 × 45.6 in)

Total Volume1 single loose crate

REGULATORY METADATA

HS / Commodity Code8528.59.10 — "Other Monitors / Advertising Machine"

Country of OriginChina (CN)

OPEN TO ALTERNATE DISPLAY

A panel with greater anti-reflective or matte coating may be preferable in bright gallery environments to minimize glare. Lighter-weight screen options are also possible where structural load or wall-mounting capacity is limited — the artist can provide a shortlist of suitable panels on request once the architect or room designer shares the available space and weight constraints. The installation's generative system and smart contract architecture natively support landscape, portrait, or square orientation, and can also accommodate a screen that physically rotates between orientations — the active orientation is controlled live by the deed holder via the web app.

0.4 CONNECTIVITY & CABLING

NetworkWi-Fi or wired ethernet — required for the minting pipeline, smart contract calls, and live web app sync

Display ConnectionHDMI from GPU workstation to screen

Button ConnectionUSB — wired directly to the GPU workstation

Printer ConnectionUSB 2.0 — wired directly from the GPU workstation to the DNP DP-QW410 printer

Cable RoutingPower and data runs should be concealed or conduited where possible — particularly relevant in a historic building where exposed conduit may be visually or structurally undesirable

0.5 LIGHTING & ENVIRONMENT

Ambient light directly affects how visible and legible the AI stream is to visitors. A space with controllable lighting, or a recessed/shaded alcove for the screen, is strongly preferred over an evenly bright or sunlit room. The workstation and printer require no special environmental controls beyond standard indoor conditions.

Note: a fully unattended electronic installation running for the duration of an exhibition may be subject to local fire code or insurance requirements in older or historic buildings — worth confirming early with the building's code authority.

01 // THE ARTWORK

The Simulation of Joy — A Memento Vitae

Balloons In The Sky is the final resolution of The Simulation Trilogy — a digital love letter to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. A custom AI model trained on thousands of authentic photographs taken by Bård and Jennifer at the Fiesta generates an infinite, never-ending stream of unique hot air balloons floating over the New Mexico desert. This work embraces the simulation not as a loss, but as a new environment to be inhabited: a Memento Vitae for the digital age.

THE SIMULATION TRILOGY

Act IPainting With Fire — technology as a Promethean force rewriting history

Act IIBones In The Sky — a meditation on the "simulated death" of the physical world (Baudrillard / Georgia O’Keeffe). Premiered at Art Blocks Weekend, Marfa, Texas.

Act IIIBalloons In The Sky — resolution and joy; the shift toward acceptance, weightlessness, and color. World premiere: NFC Summit, Lisbon, June 2026.

The Collaborative Eye

To build this system, Bård and Jennifer Ionson immersed themselves in the mass ascension at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta — first watching hundreds of balloons expand from the ground, then joining them in a twelve-person basket. Drifting with the wind as five hundred balloons rose in waves, they captured the sky from the inside out.

Jennifer Ionson captured the event through 3,000 digital SLR photographs; Bård Ionson documented the morning through 700 frames of 35mm half-frame film. By weaving digital clarity with analog grain, the artists created a custom generative AI that understands both the physics of flight and the emotion of the light.

“A machine can draw a thousand balloons but cannot see the wind. It takes a human eye to know when the light is right. Your button press is not an automation; it is a signature. You are the curator of this moment.”

02 // THE EXPERIENCE

How It Works

Balloons In The Sky is engineered as a self-contained, autonomous art-delivery system — a “living” node designed for archival permanence. Visitors encounter the machine in the gallery and are invited to participate directly.

The StreamA custom StyleGAN AI generates a continuous, infinite stream of unique balloon images — displayed live on a 75" high-brightness portrait screen. The balloons float and morph between photographic reality and painterly abstraction in real time.

The Red ButtonA physical, industrial-grade Red Button stands between the machine's infinite dream and the visitor's intuition. When pressed, the fluid AI stream freezes at the exact moment the visitor's eye recognises beauty. The viewer becomes the curator.

The MintUpon capture, the node simultaneously executes a 1/1 NFT mint on Ethereum mainnet and a high-fidelity archival print via the integrated DNP DP-QW410 dye-sublimation printer. Both are transferred immediately to the collector.

Geo-Fenced ScarcityMints and prints can only be initiated on-site. The web application is geographically locked to the physical installation. Being there is the only way to collect during the launch.

Print FormatArchival dye-sublimation print: 20 × 11 cm — issued simultaneously with on-chain mint.

03 // TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Hardware — The Node

Each Balloons In The Sky node is a custom-built, gallery-quiet SFF (Small Form Factor) GPU workstation. The complete node is a self-contained, exhibition-ready system requiring under 2 hours to set up.

3.1 GPU WORKSTATION BUILD — INVOICE #5551, FATECH INTERNATIONAL — FEBRUARY 2026

CaseFractal Design Terra — Mini-ITX Mini Tower, Graphite · 343 × 153 × 218 mm (13.5 × 6 × 8.6 in)

MotherboardGigabyte B850I AORUS PRO, AMD AM5, Mini-ITX · S/N: SN251600014009

CPUAMD Ryzen 7 9700X Granite Ridge, AM5, 3.80 GHz Base / 5.30 GHz Boost, 8-Core / 16-Thread

GPUPNY NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell, 24 GB GDDR7, PCIe 5.0 x16, Single Fan · S/N: 1324325042361

RAMG.SKILL Flare X5, AMD EXPO, 32 GB (2 × 16 GB), DDR5-6000, CL36

StorageSamsung 990 PRO SSD, 1 TB, PCIe 4.0 NVMe, M.2 2280 · Up to 7,450 MB/s read

PSULian Li SP1000P, 1000 W, 80 Plus Platinum, ATX Fully Modular

CPU CoolerNoctua NH-L12S, Low-Profile, 120 mm PWM Fan

OSLinux (Ubuntu)

3.2 GPU DETAIL — PNY NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 BLACKWELL

ArchitectureNVIDIA Blackwell (4N NVIDIA Custom Process, TSMC)

CUDA Cores8,960 CUDA Parallel Processing Cores

Tensor Cores280 — Fifth-Generation (up to 3× previous gen performance)

RT Cores70 — Fourth-Generation

GPU Memory24 GB GDDR7 with ECC · 192-bit memory interface

Power140 W Max Consumption · 1× PCIe CEM5 16-pin connector

Display Outputs4× DisplayPort 2.1

Form Factor4.4" H × 9.5" L, FHML Single Slot

AI Performance5th-Gen Tensor Cores — accelerates StyleGAN inference, local LLMs, neural rendering

NVENC / NVDEC2× / 2× — hardware video encode/decode for AI stream pipeline

Observed UtilizationPeaks at approximately 33% during live inference

3.3 CASE & PHYSICAL FOOTPRINT

ModelFractal Design Terra — Mini-ITX Mini Tower, Graphite

Dimensions (W×D×H)343 × 153 × 218 mm / 13.5 × 6 × 8.6 inches

MaterialsAnodized aluminium panels · FSC-certified solid walnut front panel

Thermal ProfileGallery-quiet; designed for silent, long-duration operation in public spaces

InstallationSelf-contained — full setup under 2 hours

3.4 THE DISPLAY

Type75" High-Brightness Commercial Display

OrientationPortrait, landscape, or square — selectable live by the deed holder; system also supports a screen that physically rotates between orientations

Active Format9:16 default — Portrait StyleGAN model generates at 512 × 1024 px native; the GPU workstation upscales this output to the screen’s full 4K resolution (2160 × 3840 px portrait) for display; Landscape and Square models also installed

BrightnessHigh-brightness panel — suitable for gallery and conference environments

3.5 THE DNP DP-QW410 PRINTER — THE ON-DEMAND PRINT ENGINE

Integrated into every node, the DNP DP-QW410 dye-sublimation printer (US model) produces archival-quality prints at the moment of collection — a tangible artefact issued simultaneously with the on-chain NFT mint.

Print TechnologyDye sublimation thermal transfer — 3-color (YMC) ribbon with protective overcoat

Resolution300 × 300 dpi

Installation Print20 × 11 cm (approx. 4.5 × 8 inches) — archival dye-sublimation on premium media

All Supported Sizes4 × 6 in · 4 × 4 in · 4.5 × 4.5 in · 4.5 × 8 in · 2 × 4 in · 2 × 4.5 in

Print Speed4 × 6": 18.8 sec · 4.5 × 8": 23.1 sec

MediaCoreless roll paper — Glossy, Matte, or Partial Matte finish

InterfaceUSB 2.0

Dimensions (W×D×H)208 × 240 × 198 mm

Weight5.8 kg — most compact, lightest model in the DNP line; first 4.5" model

PowerCan run on external battery — supports fully portable operation

3.6 THE RED BUTTON INTERFACE

The physical Red Button is an industrial-grade tactile interface — the sole point of human interaction with the generative AI stream. Designed for immediate response, it triggers the simultaneous capture, NFT mint, and print sequence. Drawing on the Fluxus tradition that “art is choosing,” the button becomes the pilot's burner: a tool to navigate the algorithmic winds.

TypeIndustrial-grade physical pushbutton — immediate tactile response

FunctionFreeze AI stream at exact frame → trigger NFT mint → trigger DP-QW410 print

ConnectionUSB — wired to GPU workstation via sky_watcher system process

Design IntentVisitor-facing; the singular gesture of the installation

04 // THE AI MODEL

The Intelligence — Proprietary StyleGAN

Unlike projects that rely on centralized servers or generalized AI models, Balloons In The Sky runs a fully autonomous, self-contained generative entity. The model is trained exclusively on original photography captured by the artists — no third-party data, no prompt engines.

ArchitectureCustom StyleGAN — Dynamic class-conditioned latent walk (infinite keyframe generation)

Training Dataset3,700 original images: 700 frames of 35mm half-frame film + 3,000 digital SLR photographs

SourceAlbuquerque International Balloon Fiesta — captured exclusively by Bård & Jennifer Ionson

ProvenanceNo third-party data. No pre-trained prompt engines. 100% proprietary.

Archival StorageAll three model weights (.pkl) stored on Arweave — cryptographically attached to the NFT deed metadata for infinite archival recovery

On-Chain LinkAll model weights cryptographically bound to the installation deed — recoverable from the chain at any point in perpetuity

THE THREE AI MODELS — ALL ATTACHED TO THE INSTALLATION DEED

Three distinct StyleGAN models are included with the installation — each trained on the same 3,700-image dataset but optimised for a different aspect ratio. All three .pkl files are stored on Arweave, cryptographically attached to the installation deed. The deed holder selects the active model via the smart contract, which the sky_balloons container reads in real time.

Portraitsnapshot-512x1024-2880.pkl — 512 × 1024 px (9:16) — Default, 75" portrait screen; the primary installation mode

Landscapesnapshot-1024x512.pkl — 1024 × 512 px (16:9) — Configurable, for landscape display orientation or wide-format venue screens

Squaresnapshot-512x512.pkl — 512 × 512 px (1:1) — Configurable, for square format display contexts or print-only events

Arweave URL (portrait model): arweave.net/Hs-9mTTSC7IxtcwGyNEDdaA9XKJFCCRVxBErdsDHXI

SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE

sky_balloonsStyleGAN Docker container — runs latent walk, writes metadata.log per keyframe, reads contract_settings.json for real-time parameter updates, streams via FFmpeg UDP → OBS

sky_watcherGPU host process — detects OBS-captured frames, converts PNG → JPG, uploads to web app (3× retry), prints QR labels, polls for mint completion, triggers DP-QW410 print on success. 37 tests — all passing.

sky_balloons_webInstallation web application — live GPU metrics dashboard, mint interface, geo-fenced payment processing, QR code collector flow

Data FlowShared filesystem volume synchronises metadata and settings between container and host. sky_watcher reads metadata.log at button press for accurate seed capture; writes contract_settings.json for real-time StyleGAN adaptation.

GITHUB REPOSITORIES

GPU Installation (StyleGAN + Watcher)github.com/bardionson/sky_balloons_gpu

Smart Contractsgithub.com/bardionson/sky_balloons_contracts

Web Applicationgithub.com/bardionson/sky-balloons-web

05 // INSTALLATION WEB APPLICATION

The sky_balloons_web App

The installation web application is the digital interface between visitor, machine, and blockchain. It handles payment processing, NFT minting, print dispatch, and live system monitoring — all operating in a geo-fenced environment that is physically locked to the installation site.

PlatformCustom web application (sky-balloons-web)

Access ControlGeo-fenced — minting and print dispatch available only on-site at the physical installation

PaymentCredit card and ETH payment processing for NFT mint

MintingAutomated 1/1 NFT mint on Ethereum mainnet triggered immediately at point of sale

WalletMinted NFT transferred to collector’s digital wallet on-chain — or custodial wallet provided for first-time collectors

Visual Control PanelThe web app exposes the full smart contract control suite to the deed holder: active model (portrait / landscape / square), truncation/psi, speed of change, and w-frames. Changes write to contract_settings.json and take effect in the next StyleGAN keyframe — no restart required.

Live DashboardPolls GPU metrics endpoint (GET /api/gpu-metrics) — displays GPU %, temperature, memory usage, mint count, and latest seed in real time

QR Label SystemBrother PT-P710BT thermal label printer issues seed-based QR tracking labels for each capture

Print DispatchTriggers DP-QW410 dye-sublimation printer on confirmed mint — issues physical archival print at point of collection

TransparencyLive accumulating "Collector’s Pool" (ETH from print sales) displayed on the 75" screen — visible to all gallery attendees in real time

Crash RecoveryQueue replay ensures no mint or print is lost in event of system interruption

Offline Resilience4G LTE backup (GL-iNet Mudi V2) ensures connectivity independent of venue Wi-Fi

06 // SMART CONTRACT ARCHITECTURE

On-Chain Governance

Balloons In The Sky is governed by a suite of smart contracts deployed on Ethereum mainnet. The contracts form a complete financial and governance protocol — managing NFT minting, deed ownership, stewardship controls, and autonomous revenue distribution. The key is the work.

DEPLOYED CONTRACTS

NFT (Final)0xfddddc1d32849b48b02251eadd8c4f87ecd49107 — Ethereum Mainnet

Installation0x11ed8c5078810aefaeb38a11f558e91e22c4c4d0 — Ethereum Mainnet

Deed0xe52eaaaa9d502366bd1f797684dc3209781e4613 — Ethereum Mainnet

Live Visual Control — Web App & Smart Contract

The installation web app (sky_balloons_web) reads the active smart contract state and writes a contract_settings.json file on the GPU workstation. The StyleGAN container (sky_balloons) polls this file every generation cycle, meaning every visual parameter of the simulation can be changed in real time — by the deed holder from anywhere in the world, or by gallery staff on-site through the web app interface. There is no restart required; changes take effect within the next keyframe.

DEED HOLDER CONTROLS — FULL PARAMETER SET

Active Model / OrientationSelects which of the three AI models is running: Portrait (512×1024 / 9:16), Landscape (1024×512 / 16:9), or Square (512×512 / 1:1). Switching models changes both the generative output and the on-screen aspect ratio in real time.

Truncation (Psi)StyleGAN truncation parameter — controls the range of the latent walk. Low psi (≈0.3): output stays close to the training mean — highly coherent, representative balloon forms. High psi (≈1.0): full latent space exploration — maximally diverse, abstract, experimental output.

Speed of ChangeControls keyframe generation rate — how quickly the latent walk moves through the model’s learned space. Slow: long, meditative drifts between images. Fast: rapid, energetic stream of unique balloon moments.

Display OrientationToggles the physical display between portrait and landscape. Coordinates with model selection — switching to the landscape model automatically optimises the stream for wide-format display.

W-Frames (Interpolation)Controls the number of interpolation frames between keyframes — determines the smoothness and pace of visual transitions in the stream.

All parameter changes are recorded on-chain with a timestamp, creating a permanent provenance log of every configuration the installation has run in its lifetime.

REVENUE DISTRIBUTION — PHASE 1: THE PREMIERE

During the Lisbon premiere at NFC Summit, revenue is optimised to favour the creator's equity and the initial seeding of the operational maintenance fund:

Artist — Bård Ionson75% — Primary artist equity during premiere phase

Sustaining Pool (Maintenance)15% — Seeds the initial maintenance fund — transfers to new owner at acquisition

Gallery / Venue Fee10% — HASH Gallery — exhibition partner, NFC Summit, Lisbon

REVENUE DISTRIBUTION — PHASE 2: LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP

Upon acquisition and deed transfer, all future minting revenue is governed by the Phase 2 protocol — creating a self-sustaining economy for the artwork's indefinite life:

Stewardship Fund (Owner / Museum)45% — Autonomous endowment — funds maintenance, shipping, educational programming. Deed holder may direct to hosting institution.

Artist Royalty — Bård Ionson45% — Perpetual artist royalty on all future mints, regardless of owner

Active Venue Fee10% — Routed to the current gallery hosting the installation. Deed holder may elect to retain 5% as a "Stewardship Rebate" for direct operational management.

The Steward's 45% share functions as the artwork's autonomous endowment, ensuring the memory of the flight is maintained, shipped, and exhibited indefinitely. The more the installation is shown, the more everyone earns.

07 // COLLECTOR EDITION

What the Collector Acquires

The work is offered as a single, complete lot: the entire creative node that produces it. This is not a print or an NFT — it is the entire generative engine, economy, and governance system. A working artwork that functions as its own institution.

THE PHYSICAL INSTALLATION

—GPU Workstation — Professional-grade, gallery-quiet Fractal Design Terra case (343 × 153 × 218 mm); AMD Ryzen 7 9700X + PNY NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell 24 GB GDDR7
—The Display — 75" high-brightness portrait display (configurable to landscape or square via smart contract)
—Physical Red Button Interface — the industrial-grade interactive trigger for visitors
—DNP DP-QW410 Dye-Sublimation Printer (US model) — produces archival prints (20 × 11 cm) at point of collection
—All Three AI Models — Portrait, Landscape, and Square StyleGAN models, each trained on 3,700 original photographs; all stored on Arweave and attached to the installation deed
—Generative Code — the complete software driving the infinite balloon stream

THE DIGITAL ASSET

—Master Smart Contract — governs the installation, all three AI models, and all NFT minting on Ethereum mainnet
—NFT Ownership Key / Deed — unique NFT deed grants legal and on-chain control of the installation and all its future activity
—Full Visual Control Suite — active model selection (portrait / landscape / square), truncation, speed, w-frames — all adjustable on-chain by the deed holder in real time
—Pre-Transfer Sales Inheritance — upon transfer, the new owner receives their share of all NFT sales generated before the transfer

08 // GALLERY FUNDING & INSTITUTIONAL STEWARDSHIP

The Self-Funding Institution

Balloons In The Sky utilises a self-replenishing operational fund integrated directly into the smart contract. Unlike legacy media art, this work generates its own perpetual revenue through visitor interaction. These funds autonomously cover the work's lifecycle: from technical maintenance and logistics to educational programming.

“Nam June Paik's works are deteriorating in museum storage worldwide because no one budgeted for the ongoing cost of cathode ray tubes and specialist repair. Institutions accepted the donations in good faith, but without a dedicated maintenance fund, the works slowly die. Balloons In The Sky solves this structurally. The perpetual care fund isn't a grant application or a capital campaign — it's built into the smart contract. Every visitor who presses the button contributes directly to the institution's ability to keep the work running. The collector is not asked to write a second check. The museum is not asked to apply for a conservation grant. The artwork funds its own future.”

THE IDEAL COLLECTOR PATH — PHILANTHROPIC ACQUISITION

Step 1Collector acquires Node 1 — the complete installation

Step 2Collector donates the complete installation to a museum of their choosing (or one in conversation with the artists)

Step 3The NFT deed transfers to the museum upon donation — granting the institution on-chain ownership and governance controls

Step 4The museum receives 45% of every future mint as a perpetual care fund — permanently financing maintenance and display

Step 5The collector receives a tax deduction on the appraised value of the donation (US: charitable contribution deduction)

ResultA fully tax-deductible philanthropic gift that leaves a permanent, self-funding public artwork in its wake. The collector gives once. The museum is funded to care for it indefinitely.

INITIAL MAINTENANCE POOL — A portion of premiere revenue (15% of all NFC Summit sales) transfers to the new owner in the installation wallet at the moment of acquisition — providing an immediate operational reserve for maintenance, shipping, and first exhibition costs.

09 // EXHIBITION & CONTACT

World Premiere

ExhibitionNFC Summit 2026 — June 4–6, 2026

VenueUnicorn Factory Lisboa — Beato Innovation District, Rua da Manutencao 118, 1900-320 Lisboa, Portugal (Fabrica de Moagem / Flour Mill)

GalleryContainer Gallery by HASH Gallery (cargo container — permission secured)

Setup TimeUnder 2 hours — fully self-contained

AvailabilityGeographically locked to physical installation during launch

Trilogy ArcAct III — following Painting with Fire and Bones In The Sky (Art Blocks Weekend, Marfa, Texas)

ARTIST CONTACT

Bård Ionsonbard@bardionson.com · +1 571-214-1566 · bardionson.com

Jennifer Ionsonjennifer@bardionson.com

Webinthesky.art

BlockchainEthereum Mainnet — TERMINAL

Exhibition PartnerHASH Gallery · hashgallery.digital · Thais Portilho, thais@selkiecollection.xyz