Defining Generative Art.

Defining Generative Art
For class we all submitted our definitions of Generative art, then used a program to make a collage of the most used words in our definitions.
The definitions where posted here : http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pyJVUWmv2G10ePngeMwJdXQ

My definition was:
Generative art is the product of a process which is an autonomous system created by the artiest. The extent of the artist's responsibility is to either have a part creating the system, or recognizing that an already existing system is creating something which could have beauty. The product of the system could easily be just the the motion of they system, and could be art by the aesthetic beauty of the motion.

After reading through some of the other definitions here are some other ideas that jumped out at me…
Alex Fogel said that it was an artist that relishes in randomness. This I don’t entirely agree with, since a lot of generative art is created by simple algorithms creating immensely complex system it could be that it is entirely predictable. This is generative art as seen in Choas theory. This distinction dates back to the discussion on the first day of class whether there is no such thing as randomness or only randomness. Only definition that Alex Fogel did give Generative Art was “Once removed artistry.” I really liked this and thought it was an exhalant summation of the idea of Generative art. It brings attention to the concept of the removal of the artist from the creation of it, and the final product of system is once removed from the creator.

This Idea of art once removed reminds me of Plato’s theory of art, that it is a corrupt imitation of reality. Since it is removed even further from the artist it is removed even further from the reality that it imitates… Interesting…

Larry Johnson defined Generative Art as “the nexus of improvisation.” I can agree with this, with the same reservation I did with Alex Fogel’s definition. It is partially improvised, but the end result can theoretically be discerned by the rules of the system (physics) meaning that they are predetermined, but unpredictable because the computation and production necessary to predict it. Again bringing the idea of chaos theory into art.



Wikipedia’s very specific definition of Generative Art is:
“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 randomized autonomous processes.”

In important connection that can be made with all of these definitions in the idea of a “mathematical or mechanical or randomized autonomous process.” Created by a computerized system or any autonomous process. Whether or not it is theoretically predictable isn’t really important considering that the best way to see the end result is to let the system run, and view it.

“Generative Art refers to any art practice where the artist uses a system, such as a set of natural language rules a computer program, a machine, or other procedural invention, which is then set into motion with some degree of autonomy to or resulting in a complex work of art.” (Philip Galanter).