[-empyre-] Process as Paradigm

[Edo Paulus]

Hello,

My first post too, on this list. And thanks Lucas and Suzanne for inviting me here.

Let me start by responding to some previous posts about the Conditional Design manifesto ( http://www.conditionaldesign.org/manifesto/ )  that Luna Maurer, Roel Wouters and Jonathan Puckey  and I wrote (Luna and I are participating on this list).

Thank you for the good question, Casey.
Yes, we make a clear distinction between logic and the non-logic in the manifesto.
With 'logic' , as used in the manifesto, we mean our human ability to structuralize and control, to have a rational grasp on the subject one is dealing with. Intuition, gut-feeling (in humans) and things like the behaviour of nature and the ungraspable complexity of our society, these are not* part of the 'logic' we refer to in the manifesto. I am very aware these aspects might have some very logic fundamentals (I think human Wisedom has some very Logic fundamentals to it, and nature abides to laws of nature) but we as humans are limited in fully understanding these aspects in a rational way - it remains, at least partly, mystical to us.

The 'logic' we use in the manifesto is something we can clearly pinpoint and talk about. But we don't* deny everything outside of it.
First, yes, as you stated 'intuition and variation come through Input'.
But also, when we as creators design a process or somehow frame a process, we offcourse make many desicions, many of these desicions do stem from intuition and gut-feeling. See point 5 in the manifesto: "Even though a process has the appearance of objectivity, we realize the fact that it stems from subjective intentions."
And also, the goals we like to achief by the things we create are also very much outside the realm of 'logic'. Point 7 in the manifesto: "Logic is our method for accentuating the ungraspable. A clear and logical setting emphasizes that which does not seem to fit within it." You might think of this as unexpected emergent behaviour that comes out of very logically structured, designed, processes.

I usualy think of it in this schematical way (I hope the picture makes it through the mailinglist):
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For us logic is simply a tool, albeit an essential tool. See point 6 in the manifesto: "Logic is our tool."

I hope to later add some more to the interresting discussion here. When time allows me too.

Best, Edo.


On May 14, 2010, at 3:00 AM, Reas / Reas.com wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> This is my first post on the list. I want to first thank Susanne for the introduction and invitation to discuss the topic.
> 
> I wasn't aware of Luna and Edo's work and their Conditional Design Manifesto until today. Now, I'm an enthusiastic fan after following the link from their bios: http://www.conditionaldesign.org/manifesto/
> 
> I'd like to question them about the emphasis on Logic in the manifesto.
> 
> In discussing Process in a broad sense, I see the balance between Logic and the opposite of Logic as the interesting component. Yet, the manifesto seems to deny everything except the purely rational? This ignores so much potential. Does intuition and variation only come through the Input? What am I missing?
> 
> Casey
> 
> 
> On May 13, 2010, at 9:30 AM, susanne jaschko wrote:
> 
>> Hello,
>> today we welcome some more invited guests to our discussion that is slowly evolving. With Luna Maurer, Aymeric Mansoux, Casey E.B. Reas and Isabelle Jenniches we asked a number of artists participating in the exhibition Process as Paradigm to join the debate. Edo Paulus works together with Luna Maurer as Conditional Design. And Raquel Renno is currently collaborating with LABoral and the UOC - University of Cataluyna to set up a blog that will also feature the exhibition.
>> 
>> Here are some brief biographical notes of our new guests. Please excuse if they are not complete -- we wanted to focus on their (artistic) practice.
>> -----------------------------------------------
>> Luna Maurer
>> Trained as a graphic designer, Luna Maurer works as an independent designer in the field of interaction and media design in Amsterdam. Her interests lie in technological developments that transform our media into fluid digital environments, and finding design solutions for it. Central to the work of Luna Maurer is the theme of 'control'. This leads to design methods in which
>> designing the environments for visualisation or creation of content is more important than designing the end product.
>> http://www.poly-luna.com
>> http://www.conditionaldesign.org
>> -----------------------------------------------
>> Aymeric Mansoux
>> Aymeric Mansoux and Marloes de Valk are an artist duo whose main project has been Metabiosis (2006-2008), a series of projects investigating narration through digital processes and machine theatre. Anthropomorphism is used to create a tension between fantasies about computers and artificial life, and the fact that these are simply projections of our ideas and thoughts onto objects.
>> http://pzwart.wdka.nl/networked-media/2010/01/02/aymeric-mansoux/
>> -----------------------------------------------
>> C.E.B. Reas focuses on defining processes and translating them into images. In 2001 Reas initiated Processing.org with Ben Fry. Processing is an open source programming language and environment for creating images, animation, and interaction. He is a professor in the department of Design Media Arts at the University of California, Los Angeles.
>> http://reas.com
>> -----------------------------------------------
>> Isabelle Jenniches
>> In her studio practice she appropriates online cameras(webcams) to create monumental composite images.
>> http://www.9nerds.com/isabelle
>> -----------------------------------------------
>> Edo Paulus
>> Edo Paulus is specialised in the use of generative processes for the creation of sound-installations, automatic music-generating software, live music performances and (interactive) music for imagery (website / computer game / film). Currently, he is  incorporating the natural dynamics of human behavior into processes. In 2008 Edo has joined with Luna Maurer, Roel Wouters and Jonathan Puckey to write the Conditional Design Manifesto. It promotes the idea of designing conditions rather than end results.
>> http://www.eude.nl
>> http://www.conditionaldesign.org
>> -----------------------------------------------
>> Raquel Renno
>> She is consultant teacher at Art and Technology courses at UOC (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya), researcher at CNPQ and also member of art group in digital art research at ZZZINC (Barcelona, Spain). She has experience in communication, focusing on digital arts and urban spaces, acting on the following subjects: communication, urban spaces, digital culture, visual arts and
>> advertising.
>> http://www.raquelrenno.com
>> 
>> Greetings,
>> Susanne
>> -- 
>> susanne jaschko
>> www.sujaschko.de
>> 
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> 
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