The story of generative art is complex; let’s review its past and present.
Generative art is created using an autonomous algorithm, adding an element of chance to the artwork. Let's review its origins and evolution.
Generative Art Pioneers
Early generative artists faced significant criticism for allegedly dehumanising art, and this debate is still ongoing.
In the 1960s, the editor of ARTFORUM magazine wrote a rejection letter to the groundbreaking artist Charles Csuri. The letter stated: "I can't imagine ARTFORUM ever doing a special issue on electronics or computers in art, but one never knows..."
Meanwhile, also in the 1960s, Harold Cohen created AARON, the first software to use AI to generate artwork. The program produced portraits with distinct physical features and facial characteristics, complete with a wide array of hairstyles.
Vera Molnar’s journey began in the late 1950s when she devised her own programming language, laying the foundation for generative art. Her mesmerizing series "Interruptions," created in 1968, was crafted using FORTRAN, an early computer programming language.
The advent of personal computers in the 1980s brought a seismic shift for Molnar. "It changed everything," she recalled in 2022. From the comfort of her home, she continued to create masterpieces like "Hommage à Dürer" (1989–2004), using plotters and embroidery to explore recursive variations.
Frieder Nake and Grace Hertlein also contributed significantly to the field.
Contemporary Generative Artists
Nowadays, we see many artists experimenting with generative art, using AI and creative coding. Creative coding is a complex process that requires a lot of time and effort to create a single artwork. Vivid Gallery is pioneering this space on Bitcoin Ordinals. I had the chance to interview some of the artists represented by the gallery.
CyberSea
CyberSea is a generative artist and software architect who created complex code for his “Deus Ex Machina” collection, where the speed of the gears' rotation and the release of steam in the artwork represent the blocks of Bitcoin mined. I asked him about the future of generative art:
“I strongly believe that generative art will increasingly utilize the possibilities given by blockchain. Artists will truly use blockchain as a canvas and data as pigment in their artwork, creating art that is native to this unique medium. Art will follow innovation, exploring new possibilities and playing with this new genre.”
My full interview with CyberSea is available here:
Harto
Harto is a multidisciplinary artist, mainly working with generative art. His recent collection "FLORAFORMS," created in partnership with the Belvedere museum, represents the beautiful connection between the traditional and digital art worlds. Harto also commented on inscribing generative art on Bitcoin Ordinals.
“Ordinals are shaping innovative forms of collaboration on the blockchain. Through recursion, we are establishing an open-source network of creative individuals.”
Medusa
Medusa, a former software engineer turned generative artist, also teaches introductory classes on creative programming at institutes. I asked him to share some tips on how to start your creative coding journey:
“I would say that generative art is not only easier to understand than people may think, but it is also a powerful tool for learning programming.
I have had the opportunity to teach two creative programming workshops, and in both of them, the teacher emphasized how beneficial it is for the kids to understand the logic and structure of programming. Often, when we start learning to program, everything is too abstract and confusing. Creative coding allows us to visualize directly what we write in our code; if I write in the code that the program will draw ten lines in the center, we will see ten lines on the screen. This makes learning super entertaining and visual. I deeply believe in teaching through practice and visual correlation.
If you want to embark on an adventure in creative programming, generative art, or just learn programming in a fun way, I recommend starting with p5.js and “The Coding Train” videos. I think any generative artist would tell you that it is a good way to start. I also recommend the book “Generative Design” by Benedikt Groß.
Finally, I recommend an exercise that I sometimes do, to improve the skills of any generative artist. Take any object that catches your attention at home and try to draw it through code. Abstract the main shapes and give it some detail. You may end up with something unattractive, but it is a great training exercise.”
The evolution of generative art, from its controversial beginnings to the innovative works of today, showcases the powerful synergy of human creativity and technology. As more artists venture into this field, we can anticipate even more groundbreaking and diverse creations that will continue to shape the art world, demonstrating its enduring and evolving impact.
