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fractured landscape (2004)
pen and acrylic ink on paper, 24x18 strathmore paper

the algorists show - discussion with david ng (los angeles times)

dng: i'm interested in learning more about the current art exhibit the algorists -strings, strokes and structures at ucsb. i was wondering if you might explain the motivation for the new exhibit

jph: we all concentrate on line drawings. our work process was very different from the mainstream and remains pioneering. showing as a group gives more strength to the statements implied by our works:

1- drawing is often considered the result of gestures; but is more exactly the result of thoughts or impulses capable of initiating gestures. these are born in brains, not muscles. drawings are pre-gestural, intellectual decisions before being physical.

2- such thoughts or impulses or decisions may be conveyed to the artist's hand, but also to anyone's hand, and even to devices. their intent can be executed by proxies. there is a world of machine drawings as well as of hand drawings.

3- such thoughts or impulses can come about instinctively and spontaneously; they can also be the result of an analytic process, refined and expressly defined in precise systems, procedures, rules, recipes, algorithms. there is a world of algorithmic drawings as well as of non algorithmic drawings; algorithms are a powerful source of abstract and concrete art.

4- as nature's works using algorithms such as fractals or L-systems are interesting and beautiful, art works created from similar paradigms can be interesting and beautiful algorithmic art can be puzzling, challenging for the mind, and is deeply connected in many dimensions.

5- we demonstrate that intellectualized, abstract, mathematical processes create enjoyable and valid art. this art can exist simply as concept (channa's legend; or the others' software). it can also exist on paper (or other media) by instantiating the concept into the visual, physical world, when the concepts direct the hand or drive the appropriate rendering device.algorithmic works start with an algorithmic concept, but can.

dng:what themes you are addressing?

jph:hans dehlinger: random, stochastic and chaotic compositions with lines

jean-pierre hébert: geometric structures shaped by time, motion, randomness and force fields

channa horwitz: color layering through number plays

roman verostko: mirrored symmetry, code as art and art as code

together we address the complementarities of hand and machine drawings, mathematic and art, black and colors, drawings and prints, rules and code. behind these visible themes: of course several of us believe also that numbers and mathematical structures have deep spiritual resonances and a cosmic nature. they emerge with equal power in the arts and the sciences. thus it is perfectly fitting that a show on algorithmic art would happen in an institute for theoretical physics.