Generative art

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Picture produced by Drawing Machine 2

Generative art refers to art that has been generated, composed, or constructed in an algorithmic manner through the use of systems defined by computer software algorithms, or similar mathematical or mechanical or randomised autonomous processes.

[edit] Description

Generative art is a system oriented art practice where the common denominator is the use of systems as a production method. To meet the definition of generative art, an artwork must be self-contained and operate with some degree of autonomy. The workings of systems in generative art might resemble, or rely on, various scientific theories such as Complexity science and Information theory. The systems of generative artworks have many similarities with systems found in various areas of science. Such systems may exhibit order and/or disorder, as well as a varying degree of complexity, making behavioral prediction difficult. However, such systems still contain a defined relationship between cause and effect. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Musikalisches Würfelspiel" (Musical Dice Game) 1757 is an early example of a generative system based on randomness. The structure was based on an element of order on one hand, and disorder on the other.

An artist or creator will usually set down certain ground-rules or formulae and/or templates materials, and will then set a random or semi-random process to work on those elements. The results will remain somewhat within set limits, but may also be subject to subtle or even startling mutations. The idea of putting the art making process in the place of a pre-generated artwork is a key feature in generative art, highlighting the process-orientation as an essential characteristic. Generative artists such as Hans Haacke have explored processes of physical and biological systems in artistic context.

Generative art can also evolve in real-time, by applying feedback and generative processes to its own created states. A generative work of art would in this case never be seen to play in the same way twice. Different types of graphical programming environments (e.g. Max/Msp, Pure Data or vvvv) are used in real-time for generative audiovisual artistic expressions for instance in the Demoscene and in VJ-culture.

Artificial intelligence and automated behavior have introduced new ways of seeing generative art. The term behavior is particularly useful when describing generative qualities in art because of the associations to biology and evolution, for example with the virus models used by the digital artist Joseph Nechvatal. Autopoiesis by Ken Rinaldo includes fifteen musical and robotic sculptures that interact with the public and modify their behaviors based on both the presence of the participants and each other.

The term generative art does not describe any art-movement or ideology. It's a method of making art. The term refers to how the art is made, and does not take into account why it was made or what the content of the artwork is.

[edit] Examples

Initial image of a Mandelbrot set zoom sequence with continuously coloured environment

Installation view of generative art by Pascal Dombis

Composers such as John Cage and Brian Eno have used generative principles and systems in their works. Eno collaborated on the development of SSEYO's Koan generative music system and this software was used in the creation of the album Generative Music 1.

Cut-up technique by Tristan Tzara and William Burroughs, AARON by Harold Cohen, Conway's Game of Life, visual software by Scott Draves and Karl Sims, artwork by Sol LeWitt, and architectures by Celestino Soddu are examples of generative art in different disciplines.

A specific research on unconventional algorithms to create paintings according to generative principles have been proposed by the Protoquadro project.

In 1999 Sergio Maltagliati writes the autom@tedVisualMusiC software from experiences of programs realized from Pietro Grossi. This generative visual music software, creates images and sounds in relation to precise correspondences sound-symbol-color, producing multiple variations.^[1]

[edit] See also

• Algorithmic art
• Computer art
• Evolutionary art
• Generative music
• Generative systems
• Interactive art
• Media art
• Software art
• Systems art
• Systems theory
• Dynamic Painting
• Conway's Game of Life

[edit] References

• Donald Kuspit The Matrix of Sensations VI: Digital Artists and the New Creative Renaissance
• GA definitions [1]
• Joline Blais and Jon Ippolito The Edge of Art, Thames & Hudson Ltd
• Christine Buci-Glucksmann, "L’art à l’époque virtuel", in Frontières esthétiques de l’art, Arts 8, Paris: L’Harmattan, 2004
• Christiane Paul Digital Art, Thames & Hudson Ltd
• Donald Kuspit "Del Atre Analogico al Arte Digital" in Arte Digital Y Videoarte, Kuspit, D. ed., Consorcio del Circulo de Bellas Artes, Madrid
• Robert C. Morgan Digital Hybrids, Art Press volume #255
• Frank Popper From Technological to Virtual Art, MIT Press/Leonardo Books
• Alan Liu The Laws of Cool, Chicago Press
• Bruce Wands Art of the Digital Age, London: Thames & Hudson
• Margot Lovejoy Digital Currents: Art in the Electronic Age Routledge 2004
• Frank Popper Ecrire sur l'art : De l'art optique a l'art virtuel, L'Harmattan 2007
• Fred Forest Art et Internet, Editions Cercle D'Art / Imaginaire Mode d'Emploi

[edit] External links

• Generator.x. A conference and exhibition on software and generative strategies in art and design.
• Generative Art International Conference. A yearly event in Milan, Italy.
• generative.net. A collaborative collection of artworks, research and experiments.
• processing.org. Open source software used to create artwork based on algorithms.
• Playing with Time. A conversation between Will Wright and Brian Eno on generative creation.
• Logic and Evolution in Computing by Emmanuel Ruffo. A simple evolutionary network system based on natural and physical systems.