LookingOutwards-06 – Page 4 – [OLD SEMESTER] 15-104 • Introduction to Computing for Creative Practice

Looking Outwards – 06

I have always been very interested in quantum computers. Out of all the quantum projects that are in progress right now, one of the most interesting is probably the quantum processor being built at Google. Their goal is to use this quantum processor to create “pure randomness”. The main idea around this randomness is derived from the fundamental concept in quantum physics, known as superposition. In quantum physics, superposition is referred to when the Qbits (quantum particles) exist in a state of being both 0 and 1 at the same time. While you are able to use quantum theory to calculate the probability of the bit being either 0 or 1, ultimately the particles in superposition are fundamentally random. With this level of pure randomness, it can help us make big strides in cybersecurity and encryption. In a world basically run by technology, it is important that we have a way of protecting ourselves from cyberattacks, and quantum processors may be the answer.

Looking Outwards 06: Randomness

This week I took a look at Tyler Hobbs, a generative artist who utilizes randomness in his work. His project “Waves” is a generative piece made for one of four interior murals for a single client. This piece focuses on water and its fragmented nature. Each shape is a different color, but they come together as a very cohesive piece. I suppose that he uses a program to create these different lines that curve and bend on different generated paths. I would assume that at certain coordinates within the canvas, he changes the shades of blue and uses some random function to create spots/highlights of pink. The curves seem to resemble that of a sin or cos wave. The quality of water is very apparent in this piece, and I think that the artist was able to create a very clear abstract representation of water.

Tyler Hobbs Waves

Looking Outward 06

A particular work that I find interesting is e4708 by Mark Wilson. To describe the artwork, it looks like a collection of shapes like circles and squares that are repeated many times in neon colors. Some circles are on top of each other, while some circles are on top of squares. The colors make it seem like it’s a lucid dream just about to happen. The fact that I can’t exactly pinpoint what it is inspires me as it really does leave it up to the viewer to interpret the collection of shapes and spaces. I am unsure about the algorithms that the author uses, but he uses it well. Mark Wilson artistic sensibilities manifest in this piece as he is trying to leave it up to a larger audience. He created the piece by purchasing a personal computer and writing his own software. He mixes repetition, careful curation and randomness by the machine to create the piece. In conclusion, I really enjoy looking at this piece and the way it was created.

E-Volver

one generative design that looks like organic matter

E-Volver is a site work from 2006 that was done as work for the Research Labs of LUMC in Leiden. They named their softwares ‘image breeding units’ which works by generating artificial pixels. They use 13 different genes that together make an agent act randomly and behave differently on screen. I like how this project is meant to generate and create images that look like they could be from inside a microscope, or even look like fungus forming while still being computed randomly. What I think is really cool about this installation is that touch can randomly affect the code. These images are displayed on screens and when tapped it will randomly deactivate some of the animations. The process will begin again and again regenerating and changing after a certain number of taps. I have not looked into code that can change based on user-experience and I think that this is a project that is not just important to the software developers of it, but to the people who went to experience the site.

https://notnot.home.xs4all.nl/E-volverLUMC/E-volverLUMC.html

A print of one of the randomly generated designs hanging up at the site

Looking Outwards-06

In looking at the application of randomness in generative art this week, I looked at Rami Hammour’s work on A Text of Random Meaning. It’s a visualization mapping out 18 columns of a “Register and Taps” random number generator in action. I found it interesting the way the final visualization simulates the look of long columns of text, but once viewers zoom in they find that the randomly generated lines are not actually representative of anything. I found the irony in this interaction very interesting. However, one of the interesting points I came across in my research was that technically in it’s simulated nature, there is no such thing as true randomness. In descriptions of Rami Hammour’s project, it is described as a “systematic cycle for producing randomness”.

LO: Randomness

For this week’s looking outwards, I looked at Andrej Bauer’s work. I find it tough to interpret randomly generated art because I could not quickly identify the artist’s central message. However, I admire the visuals in Bauer’s artworks; there was a combination of attractive colors and shapes. Also, although computer algorithms randomly generate the artworks, Bauer’s pieces always have a focal point and repetitive graphic elements. This is because the algorithm that Bauer employs is pseudo-random. The artist uses a random number generator to create mathematical formulas, which determine the colors and composition. We can still consider the algorithm as random since we cannot accurately predict the outcome. Bauer declared two main variables in his algorithm to create the visuals: the first one determines the composition, and the second one decides the colors that appear. By reassigning the values in those variables, the artist can create random pictures every time. However, the same values would produce results with similar compositions or colors. Overall, I think Bauer successfully achieves randomness in his artworks with the use of randomly generated numbers and mathematical computation.

Link to website

LO-Randomness

The project I choose for this week LO is Karlheinz Stockhauen’s KLAVIERSTÜCK XI (Piano Piece 11, 1956). The way he constructed his whole score utilizes randomness. Basically, he had 19 musical pieces spread on the floor, and he will choose one piece at a time from the floor. However, when he picked the same piece for the third time, he completed the score and stopped. By composing in this way, the song can start and end with any piece among the 19 of them, therefore creating random variations and changes. The thing interesting about this is the unpredictability of the score.

Looking Outwards 06: Randomness

The project that I looked at for this week’s LO is “Emergence Algorithms in Processing” by Jesal Mehta in 2018. Even though this is considered more of Mehta’s exploration and design documentation, I still really enjoy seeing how he showed the algorithm slowly building up the piece and the contrast between the start and the end result. The circles in the piece are generated at random points of the canvas with random diameters. New circles are then drawn wherever two circles overlap and with new diameters that allow them to touch the two parent circles. The generation continues on, ultimately creating a full piece and pattern. I find it fascinating to see how a few simple circles can evolve into such a complicated piece. This also relates a lot to what we’ve already learned in class, and it makes me wonder how I could also explore randomness as Mehta did. The only controlled variable is the initial diameters, and the rest simply relies on the code and just pure randomness.

Looking Outward 06: Randomness

labios

Title: labios

Artist: Manoloide

Date: 2018

I really admire the bold color choices in this piece of artwork. In my work so far in class, it’s been difficult to use bold colors with them looking tacky. This piece has a very smooth, continuous feel to it, which makes me wonder what code they used to generate the curves and shapes. I’m particularly curious about what was used to depict the lines separating apart from the multicolored curves. The almost gradient of the colors and the lack of sharp edges or corners help create the smooth and continuous feeling.

I would guess that there’s randomness components are used to generate the locations of spheres and the curves of the multicolored lines. There might also be randomness in the spacing apart of the lines at the locations they come apart at.

The image I found was not animated, but this piece would be fascinating to look at as an animation. If the code could use non linear movement (sine or cosine curves? Spherical movement?) to have the multicolored lines warp and shift, I would imagine that it would produce quite a mesmerizing effect.

Other artwork by Manoloide: