Maggie Boden gave a talk on 'What is generative art?' at the University of Sussex today. She primarily focused on computer generated art and outlined a taxonomy that aims to distinguish different types, for example, electronic, interactive, computer-aided, robotic and generative. She admitted that many of these categories overlap and that they do not always tally with common usage which is inconsistently applied. Although some of the categories she uses relate to what one might call 'traditional' forms of art, such as painting and sculpture, as well as to conceptual art, most apply to art created using technology that was not available until after WW2. In particular, the digital computer.
Jon McCormack's Eden: an interactive sonic ecosystemIn a second talk Maggie will focus on the philosophical issues raised by computer generated art, but she suggested that applying computers creatively has led to radical changes in art. Firstly, the
generality of digital computers means that they have the potential to generate more complex forms than traditional artistic tools, perhaps even forms that cannot, at the outset be imagined. Using Jon McCormack's phrase, Maggie argued that they enable artists to explore the
computational sublime.
Secondly, digital computers enable artists to diminish or even completely relinquish their control over the artistic process, thereby 'shifting the locus of creativity'.
A close up of Jon McCormack's EdenTechnology is enabling powerful new forms of creative expression; Maggie's paper seems like a good place to start a discussion about how and why this is the case.
Tom Hamilton, Katy Howland and Diane Brewster kindly showed the Creative Systems MSc around the InQBate space today. This is also known as the CETL (Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning) in Creativity. Conveniently, this multi-million pound centre is housed in the Informatics department just down the corridor from the Creative Systems MSc labs. Every Tuesday afternoon this term we're going to explore how we can use the space to enhance teaching and learning on the course.
InQbate is a high-tech white cube with white floors and white movable walls (that also serve as white boards), multiple projectors and plasma screens and LEDs in the ceiling that can be set to different colours. They also have a fine collection of bean bags (which, of course, are white).
Diane explained that the space was primarily designed for presentations - although potentially far more immersive and technologically enhanced than any Powerpoint presentation I've experienced or given. Consequently, any configuration of the space tends to occur before a session. For example, videos and imagery can be assigned to different plasma screens and projectors and the lighting colour in different areas can be specified. Currently, the most dynamic feature of the space is the capacity to program the ceiling LEDs to automatically sweep through different patterns at specified intervals. Sounds can also be shifted around the space by an operator using a touch screen.
What we would like to explore is how the space can be made more responsive. For example, how we could get images and video to dynamically shift around the different projection surfaces in the room. How could we get the LEDs to change colour in response to movement of people in the space? Jo and George are keen to explore how we could interface with the software layer of the system that was developed in Informatics. What other ideas do people have for making this presentation space into a responsive space? Do people think that making InQbate more responsive would enhance the teaching and learning that takes place in the space or would it just be a distraction and extra complexity for tutors to deal with?
