How Does Computation Apply to my Interests?

Josef Albers, Homage to the Square: With Rays

I am brand new to computation and I am in the process of expanding my understanding of how this new medium will impact my work and interests. Having watched the Coding Train videos I am already seeing new possibilities, such as graphic animations and randomly generating numbers. The computational project Mimi Yin shared in class which references Josef Albers’ color theory practice of continually layering color swatches to think about the emotional sway of each combination was very inspiring. It made me think of James Turrell’s site specific light sculptures.

James Turrell, Guggenheim

These pieces have a special ability to change so subtly that the viewer is constantly caught in limbo — we never land fully on one color, rather we are brought through spectrums of color and color relationships. I am excited that computation will allow me to created something completely new, something that I would not have been able to make using analogue mediums. For example randomly selected colors , color combinations and extremely slow shifts from one color to the next.

Ann Hamilton, The Event of a Thread

Another project that I completely love is called The Event Of a Thread by the artist Ann Hamilton. This was a large scale installation piece made for the Park Avenue Armory. A huge fluttering fabric curtain was installed in the center of the armory and about 50 swings were hung around the space. At first glance I was unsure how these two elements were connected. Audience members were invited to swing and to explore the space. This is when I realized that the swings were connected by a pulley system to the curtain, each time a visitor swung on one of the many swings a system of ropes pulled the curtain this way and that way. The effect of this giant machine was mesmerizing and — this huge barrier between two spaces rose and fell in an animated and unpredictable way. I think this has something to do with computation. I am excited to learn about triggers and generated randomness.