Can't see the forest: Using an evolutionary algorithm to produce an animated artwork

Abstract

We describe an artist's journey of working with an evolutionary algorithm to create an artwork suitable for exhibition in a gallery. Software based on the evolutionary algorithm produces animations which engage the viewer with a target image slowly emerging from a random collection of greyscale lines. The artwork consists of a grid of movies of eucalyptus tree targets. Each movie resolves with different aesthetic qualities, tempo and energy. The artist exercises creative control by choice of target and values for evolutionary and drawing parameters. © 2010 Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.