Complexification
By Brent Diggs on Feb 19, 2007 in Reviews, Science, Very Cool Things
Friends, today I would like to tell you about Jared Tarbell, the artist/programmer behind the stunning exhibits featured at Complexification | Gallery of Computation.
This man, this beacon of light in the otherwise poorly-illuminated field of computer programming, rips math from the daunting clutches of boredom, and infuses it with the spark of life, loveingly crafting it into art.
His work quickens the pulse, quivers the ribosomes, and releases endorphins of majestic quality.
His gift is to transform disturbingly dull equations like this one supplied by Peter De Jong:
xn+1 = sin(a yn) - cos(b xn)
yn+1 = sin(c xn) - cos(d yn)
Into breathtaking compositions like this:
His City Traveler series is a graphic representation of the simulated journeys taken by simulated inhabitants of similarly simulated cities, which unlike the non-simulated cities that we are familiar with, are themselves also in constant motion.¹
This vertigous interaction of variables creates stunning works of beauty, allowing unassuming mortals to view complex systems in a fashion normally reserved for God.²
These are not just pictures, they are snapshots of ever-evolving systems. And if you like, you can even run an applet of the algorithm on your own personal computer (or private Mac, depending on your preference) to watch the equations work themselves out in a mathematical blizzard of silent beauty.
Summary: This site rocks.³
It receives the first ever Ken Houle Award for Scientifical Excellence.
Translation: “This is Six”
¹ Actually, as the more scientific and argumentative among us would point out, physical cities are also in constant motion, but we’re talking about art here, so anything imperceptible by human senses simply does not count.
² For any highly religious individuals who might be looking for something to protest, allow me remind you of Proverbs 25:2 which states that, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” Which makes Tarbell a king, and me his humble chronicler.
³ If my wife is reading this, let me casually mention that prints of these works are available for sale and, as a strange coincidence, my birthday is also on the way. Hmmmm.
Related Articles:
RSS
Email
Reminiscent of my budding curiosity in foreign culture and religion, this post takes me back to a special place…the realization of how complex and simple life can simultaneously present itself.
Tarbell’s, Peter De Jong, while breathtaking, reminds me of my evil, ominous, confrontation with a deadly sea nettle jellyfish. I had the misfortune of placing my delicate feminine phalanges right in the middle of its flapping cilia! The painful poison wrought by this beautiful sea creature (then known as Satan’s rhythmic wave) threatened my very existence, and its sting spawned a very uncharacteristic expletive outburst. As with any life altering experience, I began to ponder my simple place in this enormously complex universe.
Nicknamed, Peter De Bong, my college buddies and I admired Mr. De Jong’s mandalas. Not understanding, at the time, the significance of these ritualistic geometric shapes as symbolic universal meditative avenues perhaps used by the Dalai Lama himself…I just thought they were p-r-e-t-t-y (?)
It is somehow comforting to know that there are individuals out there (Kings…as Brent so eloquently stated) like Tarbell who have the capability to understand and expand on this beautiful expression of life and all its related activities.
My favorite piece is Offspring.
If your wife has already purchased your birthday gift, maybe one of your good friends (the one that bears a striking resemblance to the honorable Ken Houle) could show his gratitude and surprise you with a Tarbell original!
Brent, as usual this post has left me with ridiculous glee…
Wow, You are right. This site really does rock!! Your wife would have to be blind not to obtain one for you. What a work of art!!!
Awesome!
Debbie,
I like Offspring as well, but I think my favorite is Node Garden.
I think part of what makes these pieces so beautiful is that they are so ephemeral. Many of the pictures seem to be “taken” at the midpoint of the program cycle, which like a dust-devil of spiraling air, suddenly dissipates leaving you only a memory of beauty.
Lynn,
I never lie about a rock assessment. If I say it rocks, it rocks. There was no rock-modifier added, such as “it hardly rocks,” or even “it rocks heartily.” That sentence was possibly the only simple declarative statement I managed to write. And it was completely true.
I also have absolute faith in my wife’s powers of vision. She is very good that way.
Brent, I must admit I had to look up the word ephemeral. Now it all makes sense.
Still very much enjoying the Gallery of Computation, a site I would never would have found on my own so thanks.
hi nice site.
Thank you, Alex.
Come back any time.
hi all.
hi
Hi Robert. We are glad that you are here.