[-empyre-] Process as paradigm

sawatzky.jacky sawatzky.jacky at gmail.com
Mon May 24 03:32:37 EST 2010 

Hello Eileen and all,

I am jolting down some thoughts.

In an "algorithmicly"  processed image, the algorithm as well as the  
machine 'computer' play an important part in the materiality of the  
image. A computer is a translation machine of an input to an output.  
These translations  are imbued within  'cultural codes' that  
determines the outcome of the image.  (an example is an image on a  
screen consist of an array of pixels with values for Red, Green and  
Blue, what Blue is , is determined by the white balance, what is the  
right white balance? )

An image on a screen is constantly refreshed and depend first of al  
electricity and many elements to be able to communicate in the  
world.  A paper image has so much more flexibility as to which  
environments it can exist.

The situation of the making plays an important roll  , Leonardo had  
specific materials available , for example  the scarcity of certain   
pigments, this now lives on as a  trace and this trace enables the  
relationship with an audience to evolve.

In between the image and the viewer a complexity happens that is not  
static and evolves over time(s). Which is where I think  the agency  
moves.

Agency is dependent on the work, which includes the materiality, the  
environment it lives in, the history, context , the value system, (am  
I missing something)  as well as the viewers, with all her/his  
complexities.

The computer image can only evolve within a a very specific  
environment (machine, electricity, ext) but it can be placed in  
various environments simultaneous as well as in very different  
situations, (institutional, home, ext) It also is time dependent  
(computers get faster which will determine the processing and thus  
the experience of the image), and even no existence if the  
electricity is cut, the machine outdated.

A painting like the Mona Lisa, is a one of, but it can also move  
environment and has moved through time(s), the current monetary and  
cultural value imprison the work. These restrictions  are obstacle  
that can prevent an active agency to develop.

Sorry if it's incoherent  I hope it adds to the discussion.

Thank you for the interesting discussion


Jacky

On 21-May-10, at 11:18 PM, Eileen Reynolds (Asst Prof) wrote:

> Hi Erika,
>
> The image as output seems to me the most active agent because it is  
> out in the world communicating.   However, if one is more  
> interested in the the data set being "algorithmicly" processed  
> through a computer, then why waste the paper to create an image  
> that is non active at the end?  If the production of the image is  
> just a remnant and record of the computer's processing, then no, it  
> is not an active agent, and only proof of the actively processing  
> computer and its ability to do something.
>
> My other thought is the old classic - "the computer is just a  
> tool".   And since we place these tools on such a high pedestal,  
> perhaps the Louvre should instead display the paint brush that  
> Leonardo used to paint the Mona Lisa rather than just the 30 × 20  
> inch remnant of the pigmented data set that he "algorithmicly"  
> processed through the bristles. But I'm not too certain that would  
> interest very many.
>
> -Eileen
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________
> From: empyre-bounces at lists.cofa.unsw.edu.au [empyre- 
> bounces at lists.cofa.unsw.edu.au] On Behalf Of Erika Jean Lincoln  
> [fur_princess at yahoo.ca]
> Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 11:38 PM
> To: soft_skinned_space
> Subject: Re: [-empyre-] Process as paradigm
>
> Hi Maria, Yann,
> Isn't it more precise to say that the data set of the digital image  
> is "algorithmicly" processed through an computer which leads to a  
> different data set which is then represented as an image?
>
> To me the image is not the active agent.
> Thoughts?
>
> Erika Lincoln
> Electronic Media Artist
> Winnipeg/Manitoba/Canada
> http://www.lincolnlab.net
>
>
> --- On Thu, 5/20/10, Maria Verstappen <notnot at xs4all.nl> wrote:
>
>> From: Maria Verstappen <notnot at xs4all.nl>
>> Subject: Re: [-empyre-] Process as paradigm
>> To: "soft_skinned_space" <empyre at gamera.cofa.unsw.edu.au>, "Yann  
>> Le Guennec" <y at x-arn.org>
>> Received: Thursday, May 20, 2010, 11:37 AM
>> Dear Yann,
>> In the context of this exhibition the notion of "generative
>> image" can be taken quite literal as a still image that
>> generates the next image in real time. Subsequently this new
>> image forms the basis for the next image, etcetera. In case
>> of a screen based work, the viewer experiences this ongoing
>> sequence as a dynamic animation.
>> Maria
>>
>> On May 19, 2010, at 10:09 PM, Yann Le Guennec wrote:
>>
>>> Hello dear Empyreans,
>>>
>>> systems are open;
>>> entropy is a mistake;
>>> boundaries are in the mind (of the 'modelizer'=
>> someone making a model);
>>> every process is part of n systems;
>>> quantum physics is a biface (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biface);
>>> we build tools we need, to prove what we think;
>>> we use tools someone built (some day), to prove what
>> we thought (some day);
>>>
>>> but ... i would still like to know what is this: a
>> 'generative image';
>>>
>>> http://www.laboralcentrodearte.org/en/714-catalogue
>> (PDF p: 55)
>>>
>>> Do you mean a picture can generate something, or, an
>> image is necessarily a mind projection ? in the future
>> (unforeseen) ?
>>>
>>>
>>> best,
>>> yann
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> empyre forum
>>> empyre at lists.cofa.unsw.edu.au
>>> http://www.subtle.net/empyre
>>
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