Examples of generative art in real life projects
by Ilya Shmorgun
Many letters
[abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz] (http://joerg.piringer.net/index.php?href=abcdefg/abcdefg.xml&mtitle=projects) is an app by Jörg Piringer for iOS. It enables users to interact with the English alphabet. The app features four distinct modes: gravity, crickets, vehicles and birds. Each letter has its own distinct sound and character. Depending on the mode, the letter also behaves according to its characteristics. For example the gravity mode enables users to influence the movement of letters with the help of iPhone’s accelerometer, so when the device is tilted the characters start falling in that direction, bouncing off the walls and off each other. Each letter leaves a trace on the screen which is a faded line consisting of the shapes of that letter.
Random painting
A parallel to the previously mentioned project can be drawn with the jasonpolock.org (https://wbx-files.s3.amazonaws.com/jacksonpollock_by_miltos_manetas.swf) app, where the user can draw random traces and splatters of paint across the screen and generate a new color with a click of a mouse. The same app exists on iOS where gestures and touches are used instead of a cursor.
Creating unexpected results
Both applications can be considered as interesting examples of generative art, where the user and device can work together to create an unexpected result. For example, the user chooses the letters, characters or paths and the computer defines the colors, the movements and interactions between elements on the screen. Marie Pascal offers an insight to this, stating that the artist or the user in the given case is no longer the author of the project, but the task of producing the actual artifact is delegated to the device.
If we take a guess at how the applications are created it would seem like a logical conclusion that the whole process is built on predefined rules, which are then mixed and matched in order to randomly generate unexpected results. This is supported by Balpe, who talking about generative literature states that there “…the texts are produced through a computer by means of a set of formal rules, the use of any kind of algorithm, specific dictionaries and eventually knowledge representations”.
As stated by Block and Torres “the virtual represents the possibility to have many different results from the same code. And there is also a place for the reader to interact with the text-program, by means of an active readership”. In the case of the projects described previously where are not talking about literature but about visual art, but the main idea still applies.
The next step
An interesting option to enhance the [abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz] app would be to add more color and texture to it. Currently the experience is built on a contrast of black typeface on white background. Maybe extra color could be more interesting. Although each letter has its unique sound it would be interesting to explore how the addition of a generated soundtrack would influence the experience. Then again, balance and focus should be a priority, so having too many features could add unnecessary noise and distraction.
Bibliography
Balpe, J.-P. (2005). Principles and Processes of Generative Literature. Retrieved November 27, 2010, from Dichtung-Digital: http://www.brown.edu/Research/dichtung-digital/2005/1/Balpe/index.htm
Block, F. W., & Torres, R. (2007). Poetic Transformations in(to) the Digital. Retrieved November 27, 2010, from e-Poetry: http://po-ex.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=31&lang=
Corcuff, & Pascal, M. (2008). Chance and generativity. GA2008, 11th Generative Art Conference , 189-199.
