September 2021 – Page 33 – [OLD SEMESTER] 15-104 • Introduction to Computing for Creative Practice

LO: My Inspiration

This piece, by Israeli artist Daniel Rozin, is an interactive artwork that mimics the movements of its viewer on a pom-pom “mirror”. A Microsoft Kinect sensor detects the movements of the viewer standing in front of the piece, and a computer translates the data to move the motors on the ‘mirror’, resulting in a black “shadow” rippling across the sea of white pom-poms to mirror the viewer’s position and movement. This project stood out to me because, while many other technological artworks utilize hard, rigid materials, these pom-poms bring in a softer, more organic aspect to the piece that demonstrates a reconciliation between mechanical machine to human interaction.

Sukonrat LO: Alan Turing

During the Second World War, a team of British Mathematicians assembled at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park. Their goal was to support the United Kingdom during the war through technological means. The German Nazis were using a system of scrambled messages called “The Enigma,” and the British wanted to figure out what they were communicating to one another to help boost their odds of defeating Germany. Alan Turing, inspired by ideas of Mathematical Logic, was one of the Mathematicians at the School. A few years earlier, he designed a universal coding machine now known as the “Turing machine” that followed any set of instructions. In 1939, Alan Turing, Gordon Welchman, and their team at Bletchley Park eventually designed “The Bombe,” a code-breaking machine that deciphered the Germans’ complex communications system. Roughly 211 of these machines were created, and they were vital in helping the British break the Germans’ enigma codes. I admire Alan Turing and his team because they jumpstarted one of the first large computational projects in modern history, and they primarily used their intelligence to help their nation and saved many lives. This project was also one of the first ones to show that, if used correctly, machines can aid humans in their research and advancement.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/how-alan-turing-cracked-the-enigma-code

“The Bombe,” Alan Turing’s cryptological machine that decoded the Germans’ Enigma code during World War II.

Alan Turing and queerness in Computer Science

Project 1: My Self Portrait

beans-sketch

//Yeon Lee, Section C
//Project 01: Self-Portrait (Face)

function setup() {
    createCanvas(600, 500);
    background(255, 192, 203);
}

function draw() {
    noStroke();

    //hair
    fill(32, 20, 7);     
    rect(165, 210, 270, 300);
    ellipse(300, 220, 270, 270);

    //shoulder
    fill(251, 206, 158);    
    rect(150, 450, 300, 140);
    ellipse(300, 450, 320, 50);

    //cloth
    fill(63, 146, 208);    
    rect(140, 470, 320, 100);
    ellipse(150, 475, 40, 100);
    ellipse(450, 475, 40, 100);

    //neck
	fill(251, 206, 158);    
    rect(270, 380, 60, 60);

    //ear
    ellipse(207, 280, 50, 50); 

    //side hair
    fill(32, 20, 7);   
    ellipse(200, 270, 10, 80); 

    //neck shadow
    fill(238, 189, 138);    
    ellipse(300, 380, 60, 40);

    //face
    fill(251, 206, 158);    
    ellipse(300, 260, 202, 250);

    //eyebrow
    fill(26, 15, 3);    
    arc(250, 250, 35, 13, PI, 0);
    arc(350, 250, 35, 13, PI, 0);
    
    //left eye
    fill(26, 15, 3);    
    ellipse(250, 280, 27, 32);
    fill(255, 255, 255);
    ellipse(255, 275, 7, 7);
    fill(238, 189, 138);
    arc(248, 298, 27, 10, PI, 0);

    //right eye
    fill(26, 15, 3);    
    ellipse(350, 280, 27, 32);
    fill(255, 255, 255);
    ellipse(355, 275, 7, 7);
    fill(238, 189, 138);
    arc(348, 298, 27, 10, PI, 0);
    
    //nose
    fill(238, 189, 138);    
    arc(300, 315, 20, 10, PI, 30);

    //mouth
    fill(216, 100, 100);    
	arc(300, 335, 50, 45, 0, PI, CHORD);

    //tongue
	fill(193, 66, 66);     
	ellipse(300, 348, 20, 10);

    //teeth
	fill(255, 255, 255);    
	ellipse(300, 335, 40, 5);

    //earring
    fill(255, 255, 255);    
    rect(199.5, 310, 1, 25);
    ellipse(200, 340, 10, 10);
    ellipse(200, 330, 7, 7);

    //front hair
    fill(32, 20, 7);     
    rect(168, 400, 35, 180);
    rect(395, 245, 40, 260);
    arc(190, 150, 270, 220, -0.2, HALF_PI);
    rotate(.80);
    translate(-180, -145)
    ellipse(580, 10, 150, 60);

    noLoop();
}

For this first project, it was quite challenging to work with arc(), PI/CHORD, rotate(), and translate() functions but it was really fun to explore with the codes. I had fun playing around with different colors and changing the sizes of the image I wanted to create.

LO: My Inspiration

My older sister, Heyin Oh, works at Microsoft as a senior UX designer. Admiring her work has become a large inspiration to me. The project I want to specifically write about is the application “Microsoft Teams”. Heyin was one of the original designers for the program: working with the windows, Mac, IOS, and android applications. The Design organization which consists of 120 individuals who collaborate together, developed this project and released during 2017. The authors utilized JavaScript through React. The first development of the content was angular and currently has migrated to react. Microsoft Teams integrates people to have instant and engaged collaboration. Further interest Heyin has is to bring the opportunities of AI Cortana API into experience and how it can aid those in need.

LO: My Inspiration

In 2018, I visited the Seoul Mediacity Biennale that was hosted in the Seoul City Art Museum. I remember the theme of the exhibition being “what defines a good life?” A philosophical question that has been raised by the Athens in the past. At the exhibit, I was able to encounter many digital installations and projects that utilizes interaction and computing to reflect the current nature of humanity. Amont them, there was an installation of countless printers installed in the ceiling forming a circle, that was endlessly printing twitter posts that were being posted in real time. If a viewer passes through the drapes of twitter receipts, they were met with two empty chairs facing each other. What really inspired me about this piece was not only the scale, but also the idea of using computing to reflect the over-usage of digital media in the current generation. I thought that the contrast of outer barrier of draping pieces of paper created with coding and the depiction of a serene, genuine human conversation that can occur once one goes beyond the surface layer of the printed drape into the space with chairs. I am not entirely certain what software was used to create the installation, but I am assuming that it would not be too difficult as the function of computing was used to just print twitter posts in real time. I think that this type of artwork provides a way for artwork and computation to be merged to criticize a real life problem and metaphorically suggest people what they are missing out on due to the excess of digitalization in society. As a design major myself, I wish to be able to learn computer science so that I can apply it to create creative projects or to solve problems through design thinking.

LO: My Inspiration

Refik Anadol’s project “Melting Memories” is a 3D animation that utilizes data paintings, augmented data sculptures, and light projects to create a contemporary art piece translating the elusive process of memory retrieval. This piece really inspired me because I’ve always wanted to do work with 3D motion design and computational design! With the help of the Refik Anadol Studio, consisting of a design, a sound design, software development, scientific support/UCSF Neuroscape Lab team, they were able to produce a beautiful installation that blends technology and contemporary art. From this project, I’m inspired to create my own work utilizing science and data. This project pushes me to explore beyond the realm of pure design or pure art or pure science and explore the intersections of these different fields. Anadol’s work really goes beyond expectations, exploring new and uncharted territories, making groundbreaking discoveries. I hope that I will be able to learn the skills needed to create such stunning visuals. Currently, I am teaching myself to use Cinema 4D and JavaScript!

Melting Memories By Refik Anadol

LO: My Inspiration

A piece of computational art that I admire is the Artechouse exhibit entitled “Renewal 2121.” This piece was created by the Artechouse creative team, which included “visual design by Yuya Takeda, music by Mario Hammer and the Lonely Robot, and scenery by Design Foundry”. The piece depicts the world 2121, and also aims to show hope for the future with the concerns of a pandemic and climate change looming over the public. The piece uses image projections onto the walls of the museum. The visitors are able to interact with the piece, for example, if someone steps in front of the wall, a cherry blossom tree will pop out of the concrete. On the Cherry Blossom Festival website, it is said that the artists were inspired by the festival to create a celebration of nature. I admire this project both because of the world it creates, but also its scale. The piece creates a very vivid experience that the viewer is able to be immersed into. That ability of artists is always something I find extremely beautiful. They also point to the future in a way of inspiring hope which is something that is extremely necessary in this time.

Author: Artechouse creative team

Title: Renewal 2121

Source

LO Inspiration

When thinking about computational art, the first project that comes to mind is the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit that is travelling around the world. It is a digital exhibit comprised of video and light that brings the work of Van Gogh to life.

The exhibit was created by Massimiliano Siccardi, a video artist. The creative team also consists of animators, graphic designers, and producers. It has been showing since 2008, with many evolutions and upgrades throughout the years. It is hard to find information on how the show was programmed, but I assume it took a lot of different programs and media to create since it involves video, photography, sound, lighting, virtual reality, and animation. Different rooms of the exhibit even have different smells.

So far, the exhibit continues to travel. There are also rumors that Massimiliano Siccardi is developing a similar exhibit inspired by Monet.

Home

Here is the link to the official website for the exhibit.

LO: My Inspiration

Project Title: Angle Jungle

What I admire about the project is how it provides a different approach to teaching geometric concepts, because it is clearly important to support that students learn in various ways. I admire how the project makes using a protractor and adding angles fun; in the game, crystals are placed in certain positions such that the player needs to decide what angle or angles would get light to shine on the crystals. I admire how the project uses a treasure map and jungle theme with the setting/music as it really creates a feeling of adventure that I’d previously not associated with math. Having acquirable treasure raises the stakes, instilling a sense of purpose. A critique might be that there isn’t any penalty for testing all the gems, so players might be less inclined to think critically before acting. Five people were involved in making the project, and it took them about a semester to create it. The team was organized into designers, producers, a programmer and a game artist. As far as I know, the authors created the project using commercial software.

The project points to opportunities of combining education, entertainment and motivating components. While some thrive with just the use of textbooks and more traditional methods, others really benefit from interactive games and puzzles.

Link to the online source.

Supporting image:

On higher levels, the number of crystal balls increase and there are, as can be seen above, multiple gemstones needed to be plugged in to get the light path to shine on the crystal treasure.

Looking Outward: Carrieres de Lumieres

Cezanne Exhibit in Carrieres de Lumieres

What particularly amazes me about this project is how the creators seamlessly combined so many different mediums (classical music, animation, post-impressionist art, set design). Because the performance was on such a large scale (around 200 viewers at a time, all walking around), it would’ve required massive coordination between different members of the team. In this case, majority of the people followed the artistic vision of Iannuzzi, but there still were massive amounts of coordination between artists in different specialties.

The author was inspired by the works of Cezanne, and used several pieces of classical music as the acompanying soundtrack. While this style of exhibition originated in France, there have been several exhibitions of other artists in other cities, using the same immersive, animated artwork model.

I think this will allow for much more interactive and immersive art experiences, where the participater gets to experience multiple levels of art in actionable ways.

Link to site:
Creator: Gianfranco Iannuzzi (and a whole team behind him)