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Recognizable Earthly Art ? Recognizable Earthly Art ? Carlo H. Séquin EECS Computer Science Division University of California, Berkeley

Recognizable Earthly Art ?

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Recognizable Earthly Art ?. Carlo H. S é quin EECS Computer Science Division University of California, Berkeley. The Question. Which of the artworks produced by the human race might be recognizable as “ART” by some future visiting foreign intelligences ?. Is It Art ?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Recognizable Earthly Art ?Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Carlo H. Séquin

EECS Computer Science DivisionUniversity of California, Berkeley

Page 2: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

The QuestionThe Question

Which of the artworks produced by the human race might be recognizable as “ART” by some future visiting foreign intelligences ?

Page 3: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Is It Art ?Is It Art ?

Page 4: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Sometimes “art” is indistinguishable from its surroundings

Page 5: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Is this “Art” -- Is this Special” ?Is this “Art” -- Is this Special” ?

YES – if it was done by your own child !

Page 6: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Another “Special” DrawingAnother “Special” Drawing

Medhia Mahmood, age 5, Gainesville, VA

Page 7: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Why are These Paintings “Special” ?Why are These Paintings “Special” ?

Page 8: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Is This “Special” ?Is This “Special” ?

They were painted by an Elephant in Thailand

Page 9: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Is This “Special” ?Is This “Special” ?

YES – painted by a robot

Page 10: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

““Robotic Action Painter”Robotic Action Painter”

and its inventor / designer: Leonel Moura

[email protected]

Page 11: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Painting by “Robotic Action Painter”

Page 12: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Is This “Special” ?Is This “Special” ?

YES – painted by someone famous

YES ! – done by Jackson Pollock

Page 13: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Is this also “Special” ?Is this also “Special” ?

Perhaps … – believed to be done by Pollock

Page 14: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Is This “Special” ?Is This “Special” ?

NO – just a piece of a lab coat

Not really! – done by an on-line applet !

Page 15: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Pollock GeneratorPollock Generator

http://a.parsons.edu/~can/code/intro.html

Page 16: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Now also as an iPhone AppletNow also as an iPhone Applet

Page 17: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Importance of Background InformationImportance of Background Information

Background Knowledge is often the only reason why something is considered to be

– “art”

– or valuable

– or at least “special”

But what if no such information is available ?

Then the artwork/artifact has to speak for itself …

Page 18: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Little Background AvailableLittle Background Available

True for our most ancient known art pieces

Page 19: Recognizable Earthly Art ?
Page 20: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Cave PaintingsCave Paintings

30’000 years old

Page 21: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Little Background AvailableLittle Background Available

True for our most ancient known art pieces

25’000 years old Discovered 1908

Page 22: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Is This Something Special ?Is This Something Special ?

Archeologists debate whether this modified stone was meant to represent a woman.

Was there a conscious mind at work to shape this stone into a tool ?

300’000 years old

Page 23: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

SCIENCE VOL 323, Feb. 6, 2009SCIENCE VOL 323, Feb. 6, 2009

77’000 years old

Page 24: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Our Question -- AgainOur Question -- Again

Which of the artworks produced by the human race might be recognizable as “ART” to some future visiting foreign intelligences ?

By looking back we can gain some insightsof what it might be like for future intelligences

to puzzle over artifacts left by today’s civilization.

First of all, our “art” must be able to survive!

Page 25: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Whirled White WebWhirled White Web Breckenridge 2003 Breckenridge 2003

Page 26: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

12:40 pm -- 4212:40 pm -- 42° F° F

Page 27: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

12:41 pm -- 4212:41 pm -- 42° F° F

Page 28: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

100’000 Year Doomsday Scenarios100’000 Year Doomsday Scenarios

Some virus wipes out almost all of mankind( as in George R. Stewart’s “Earth abides”). Civilization, as we know it, disappears.

Giant volcanic eruption covers everything with many meters of ash.

Some man-made stupidity destroys our habitat.

Page 29: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Some Things That Will NOT Survive:Some Things That Will NOT Survive:

Magnetic Tapes

CDs and DVDs

Books and Journals

Unprotected Paintings

• Today’s New-Media Art & Installations

Page 30: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

More Stuff that Will Not Survive:More Stuff that Will Not Survive:

Page 31: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

100’000 Years in the Future100’000 Years in the Future

Only inorganic materials survive

All museums have caved in

Most written / printed information is lost

Tapes, CDs, DVD’s are all unreadable

No background information available !

What objects can speak for themselves ?

Page 32: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Among the Artifacts that Do Survive,Among the Artifacts that Do Survive,

What Makes an Object “Special”?What Makes an Object “Special”?

It must stand out from its surroundings

Page 33: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Something that Stands OutSomething that Stands Out

Big stone structures in a flat landscape

Page 34: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Nothing Special . . .Nothing Special . . .

Just some dirty sidewalk with typical 20th century junk

Page 35: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

A Precious Instrument …A Precious Instrument …

…with a sensible cover (Joseph Beuys: Center Piece)

Page 36: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Among the Artifacts that Among the Artifacts that DoDo Survive, Survive,

What Makes an Object “Special”?What Makes an Object “Special”?

It must stand out from its surroundings

Should not look “accidental”

Page 37: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

““Unfinished Construction Site”Unfinished Construction Site”

Another installation by Joseph Beuys

Page 38: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

A Manufacturing Mishap ?A Manufacturing Mishap ?

Page 39: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Why could the walls not be made straight ?Why could the walls not be made straight ?

Richard Serra

Page 40: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Richard Serra: Richard Serra: Torqued EllipsesTorqued Ellipses

Page 41: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Among the Artifacts that Do Survive,Among the Artifacts that Do Survive,

What Makes an Object “Special”?What Makes an Object “Special”?

It must stand out from its surroundings

Should not look “accidental”

Should exhibit a plan, conscious thought

Page 42: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Clearly a Special DesignClearly a Special Design

Nazca Lines in Peru

Page 43: Recognizable Earthly Art ?
Page 44: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Art or Wallpaper ?Art or Wallpaper ?

Drawings by Sol LeWitt

Page 45: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Among the Artifacts that Do Survive,Among the Artifacts that Do Survive,

What Makes an Object “Special”?What Makes an Object “Special”?

It must stand out from its surroundings

Should not look “accidental”

Should exhibits planning, conscious thought

Appears to require some special skills

Page 46: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

How Did They Build This ?How Did They Build This ?

Only a few thousand years ago,and we already have trouble figuring out how it was done

Page 47: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Anybody could do this …Anybody could do this …

Richard Serrra: Lead Piece, 1968

Page 48: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

How Did They Build This ?How Did They Build This ?

Page 49: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Among the Artifacts that Do Survive,Among the Artifacts that Do Survive,

What Makes an Object “Special”?What Makes an Object “Special”?

It must stand out from its surroundings

Should not look “accidental”

Should exhibits planning, conscious thought

Appears to require some special skills

Other . . .

Page 50: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Missing Background InformationMissing Background Information

. . . will lead to misinterpretations !

Page 51: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Discovered in NYCDiscovered in NYC

Celebration of . . . ?

Page 52: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

And what might this be ?And what might this be ?Celebrating the end of the war with the Indians ?

Page 53: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

??????

Some special Antenna from the Electronic Century ?

Page 54: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Another Mysterious ObjectAnother Mysterious Object

Propeller for motor boat ?

Grinder head ?

Galactic force concentrator ?

Page 55: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Hyperbolic Hexagon II, BronzeHyperbolic Hexagon II, Bronze

Installed Feb. 27, 2009 CITRIS headquarter reception area, U.C. Berkeley.

A collaboration between: Brent Collins

(sculptor), Steve Reinmuth

(craftsman), Carlo Séquin

(computer scientist).

Page 56: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Brent Collins: Brent Collins: Hyperbolic Hexagon IIHyperbolic Hexagon II

Page 57: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Brent Collins: Stacked SaddlesBrent Collins: Stacked Saddles

Page 58: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Scherk’s 2Scherk’s 2ndnd Minimal Surface Minimal Surface

Normal“biped”saddles

Generalization to higher-order saddles(monkey saddle)“Scherk Tower”

Page 59: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Hyperbolic HexagonHyperbolic Hexagon by B. Collins by B. Collins

6 saddles in a ring

6 holes passing through symmetry plane at ±45º

= “wound up” 6-story Scherk tower

Discussion: What if … we added more stories ?

or introduced a twist before closing the ring ?

Page 60: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Closing the LoopClosing the Loop

straight

or

twisted

“Scherk Tower” “Scherk-Collins Toroids”

Page 61: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Brent Collins’ Prototyping ProcessBrent Collins’ Prototyping Process

Armature for the Hyperbolic Heptagon

Mockup for the Saddle Trefoil

Time-consuming ! (1-3 weeks)

Page 62: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Sculpture Generator 1Sculpture Generator 1, GUI , GUI

Page 63: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

V-artV-art

VirtualGlassScherkTowerwithMonkeySaddles

(Radiance 40 hours)

Jane Yen

Page 64: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Collins’ Fabrication ProcessCollins’ Fabrication Process

Example: Vox Solis

Layered laminated main shapeWood master pattern

for sculpture

Page 65: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Slices through Slices through Minimal TrefoilMinimal Trefoil

50% 10%23%30%

45% 5%20%27%

35% 2%15%25%

Page 66: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

One thick slicethru sculpture,from which Brent can cut boards and assemble a rough shape.

Traces represent: top and bottom,as well as cuts at 1/4, 1/2, 3/4of one board.

Profiled Slice through Profiled Slice through HeptoroidHeptoroid

Page 67: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Emergence of the Emergence of the Heptoroid Heptoroid (1)(1)

Assembly of the precut boards

Page 68: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Emergence of the Emergence of the HeptoroidHeptoroid (2) (2)

Forming a continuous smooth edge

Page 69: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Emergence of the Emergence of the HeptoroidHeptoroid (3) (3)

Smoothing the whole surface

Page 70: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

The Finished The Finished HeptoroidHeptoroid

at Fermi Lab Art Gallery (1998).

Page 71: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Construction Photos from Construction Photos from

Steve Reinmuth Bronze StudioSteve Reinmuth Bronze Studio

Eugene, OregonEugene, Oregon

Page 72: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

The Master Mold for The Master Mold for Hyperbolic Hexagon IIHyperbolic Hexagon II

Page 73: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

A Clean Wax CopyA Clean Wax Copy

Page 74: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Adding Sprues and RunnersAdding Sprues and Runners

Page 75: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

First Sprues and Runners AddedFirst Sprues and Runners Added

Page 76: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Details of Sprues and RunnersDetails of Sprues and Runners

Page 77: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Into the Kiln – Burning out the WaxInto the Kiln – Burning out the Wax

Page 78: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Bronze PourBronze Pour

Page 79: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Polish and PatinaPolish and Patina

Page 80: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Hyperbolic Hexagon IIHyperbolic Hexagon II at CITRIS, 2/27/09at CITRIS, 2/27/09

Page 81: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Will this survive ?Will this survive ?

Will it be recognizable as something special ?Will it be recognizable as something special ?

Yes . . .

if it is not turned into bullets for some future war!

or will be used as a source of copper …

Helaman Ferguson: Work in stone !

Page 82: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Helaman Ferguson: Helaman Ferguson: Two CanoesTwo Canoes

Page 83: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Keizo Ushio: Keizo Ushio: Oushi Zokei,Oushi Zokei, Ono City 2004 Ono City 2004

Page 84: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Q U E S T I O N S ?Q U E S T I O N S ?

Page 85: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Helaman Ferguson: Helaman Ferguson: Two CanoesTwo Canoes

Original model by Helaman Ferguson, 1995

Page 86: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Helaman Ferguson: Helaman Ferguson: Two CanoesTwo Canoes

How it was assembled

Page 87: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

ISAMA, San Sebastian 1999ISAMA, San Sebastian 1999

Keizo Ushio and his “OUSHI ZOKEI”

Page 88: Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Schematic Model of 2-Link TorusSchematic Model of 2-Link Torus

2 knife blades rotate through 360 degreesas they sweep once around the torus ring

360°