Blogging Assignment 3

Analyzing Cellular Atomata Art

Art Piece 1: EVIL/LIVE by Bill Vorn

       "EVIL/LIVE" by Bill Vorn is an interactive sound and light art installation that is based on the cellular automaton principle. It is a structure (approximately 2m x 2m) composed of 64 halogen lights in grid formation with 4 speakers located behind the lights. The lights are constantly changing and lighting up in patterns derived by the "Game of Life", which is controlled by a computer to respond to different sounds played out of the structure's speakers. The piece can also respond to the input of humans viewing it, for an 8'x8' matrix on the floor is programmed to make the halogen lights respond to the movements of people about the room. This piece clearly uses the concept of "The Game of Life" and Cellular Automata, for this piece generates pattern that evolve and change over time. The key word there is time, because as it passes and more input is given, the structure continues to evolve into something greater and greater. In this case, the patterns appear and disappear with time, but each time they do appear they are something different. As for my opinion, I think that this generative art piece is very simply due to the fact that it is just that...generative and interactive. Being able to control the way the art looks just by where a viewer stands and the sounds he/she makes is somewhat empowering, and the results given are incredible. 

Art Piece 2: LiquiPrism

       "LiquiPrism" by Alan Dorin is a cube of cellular-automata wherein each face of that cube triggers MIDI notes to play when its' "nodes" are activated. It follows a certain set of rules and patterns: certain cyclical patterns are more likely to occur than others in order to ensure that there is rhythmic balance and continuity. Each face of the cube runs at a different pace, which means that counter-rhythms are easily established between the cube faces. The way in which a user interacts with this cellular-automata is that they click and move the mouse over the cube. With this being said, this piece clearly follows the cellular-automata and Game of Life guidelines because the "nodes" of the grid are based on the concept of "cells" in the aforementioned concepts. It uses the neighbors of each cell to determine which pattern/node activation will come next. For example, a line of code from this piece basically translates into English to say "If there are exactly three neighbors of this cell, then 'nextState' will be 'ON'". Looking at examples of this piece in a completed state, my opinion on it is rather positive. It surprised me how good the musical rhythms created on this MIDI tone bank could sound this appealing, and the visuals that went along with it were eye-catching. See an example below!

Blogging Assignment 2

PART 1:
       For assignment 1, we were to write an algorithm that would generate some kind of creative creation. For my instruction set, I decided to write something that would create a kind of mirrored drawing. 
       When developing this idea, the first thing I drew inspiration from was the "Copied Lines" art piece example from lecture. I really liked the idea of the artistic creation being a team effort, so to speak, for in that Copied Lines image, a different person would draw the next line in the image whilst trying their best to copy the way the last person drew their line. The result was a slightly skewed but fascinating image, for it was as if you could see how a different person contributed to every aspect of the creation.
       So when I began brainstorming my idea, I took this concept straight with me. I knew I wanted to make a mirrored image, because whenever I had seen a mirrored artistic creation in the past I always thought it looked very interesting. However, I wanted to do something more unique and challenging than just one-reflection mirrored image, so I made one with four reflections. I accomplished this by asking the user to fold a piece of paper into four pieces, then take turns (solo or with a group) drawing figures and shapes in each of the squares, making them mirror each other off the central point of the paper. The result is a cool four-reflection mirrored image wherein the figures all appear to reflect off the center of the paper.

PART 2:
       
        1.)
             The Fluxus movement is defined by artists who wanted to break down all the walls of rules and regulations of traditional art by trying to bring art to the masses and, essentially, blurring the line between art and life. There had previously been a stigma that one had to be educated to appreciate art, and that different art had different values associated with it. The Fluxus movement wanted to eliminate all of these assumptions and guidelines about art. Nam Jun Paik, a Fluxus artist, was keen in incorporating these ideas into his own art. One piece I found, titled "Electronic Superhighway", shows off these ideas. 

In my opinion, this art piece is a great example of Fluxus art that attempts to be understandable and relatable to as many people as possible. It's got an image of the USA which should, hopefully, be recognizable to anyone who sees it. But then behind it we see what is a series of televisions and monitors. This is the part that is supposed to be open to interpretation by the masses; by all different kinds of people. The fact all kinds of viewers of all different education levels and societal groups will have a chance to interpret this image in whatever way they feel is right is exactly what characterized a Fluxus piece of art, and Nam Jun Paik nailed it here.

       2.)

These two pieces of Paik art I think are good examples of his Cybernetic style. Cybernetic art is defined as studying systems and the ways the work. Both of these pieces play off this idea, for they both depict what are clearly humans, but they are comprised of parts that are inhuman (attempting to symbolize a studying of the cognitive or physical systems of the body). On the left we have a man made of televisions and horns, while the left has a man riding a bicycle made out of what appears to be copper, arms made of flexible tubing, and a lit up diving helmet for a head. What do all these different parts of the body symbolize? That is up to what the viewer decides.

      3.)
          It would appear that a big influencer of Paik's work was led by John Cage, who is credited as the source of the Fluxus movement. Since most of his works involve televisions of some kind, it would appear that he was captivated by the ways in which you could create electron interference with TV sets. Reading about Paik's history however, while he did go though different phases of interest (orchestra, cello, telecommunications, etc.), his fascination with televisions and monitors remained constant among all of his works.

Blogging Assignment 1

Porky Pig is an acoustic, "hipster" style of music band that makes music from the heart, soul, and mind (sans all that electric guitar BS)

PART 2:

a.)

        When learning about Dadaism, the first thing you'll hear about is this funky sounding term called "Avant-Garde", but what does it mean? Well, when it was first employed by French utopia scientist Henri de Saint-Simon in the 1820s it had ties to militaristic connotations, but as the term developed further it came to signify the advanced socio-political and aesthetic position to which one aspiring modern artist should hold himself/herself to. In the 19th century, art was heavily linked and influenced to the Bourgeois at that time. However, as we entered the 20th century, Dadaism took over what modern art was and could be. For example, several key artistic movements of the time influenced the Dadaistic takeover, such as Futurism in Italy, Constructivism in Russia, and De Stijl in Holland. These movements and historical events influenced heavily the type of art we saw at this time. For instance, those Constructivists in Russia that I just mentioned saw themselves responding directly to the Bolshevik Revolution by incorporating the themes, mood, and feelings of people and society there at that time. In conclusion, it was all wrapped up in this idea that social and political radicalism, change, and revolution should go hand in hand with artistic innovation. And that's just what was seen!

b.)

         When Peter Burger said that artists in the 20th century were interested in undermining the "autonomy" of art and replacing it with art that is influenced by the "praxis of life", I think it is pretty clear what he meant. This statement relates back almost directly to what I just said above with the idea being that art started to take influence from what was going on in society around you rather than, as Burger put it, "art for arts sake". When there's so much radicalism and revolution going on, it makes sense to catalog such history through artistic creations rather than using art to make mindless, pointless things that have no real significance or longevity in terms of their ability to be appreciated.

c.)

       These two artpieces I've chosen are examples of some modern day Dadism art. These creations don't embody quite as much of that reflection of current day society in their tone, but what makes them unique is the way they tweak existing art and objects in inquisitive ways. For example, on the left here we have the classic Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo DaVinci, which we've all seen, but the twist here is that she's been given a curly-Q moustache and beard. Similarly, the artpiece below depicts a regular ol' metronome with a print of an eye attached to what would normally be the metal slider that controls the speed of the metronome. So what does this mean? Well what makes it so unique is that it's open for interpretation! Personally, I think this is a play on the idea that time is constantly being watched, but in reality, we can never actually control it.