[Music] hello so I’m an artist who creates
hello so I’m an artist who creates
hello so I’m an artist who creates things by growing them but growing them
things by growing them but growing them
things by growing them but growing them algorithmically inside a computer what
algorithmically inside a computer what
algorithmically inside a computer what really fascinates me are the types of
really fascinates me are the types of
really fascinates me are the types of forms that you see in nature
forms that you see in nature
forms that you see in nature particularly the types of forms that
particularly the types of forms that
particularly the types of forms that when you see them you know instinctively
when you see them you know instinctively
when you see them you know instinctively that they’ve been created by a living
that they’ve been created by a living
that they’ve been created by a living thing through a process of growth and
thing through a process of growth and
thing through a process of growth and what is it that’s different about that
what is it that’s different about that
what is it that’s different about that type of form compared with man-made
type of form compared with man-made
type of form compared with man-made structures created by traditional
structures created by traditional
structures created by traditional top-down design and construction what is
top-down design and construction what is
top-down design and construction what is it about natural forms that resonate so
it about natural forms that resonate so
it about natural forms that resonate so deeply with us I think there’s something
deeply with us I think there’s something
deeply with us I think there’s something about natural organic form structure
about natural organic form structure
about natural organic form structure that we’re particularly attuned to from
that we’re particularly attuned to from
that we’re particularly attuned to from things we find quite beautiful to things
things we find quite beautiful to things
things we find quite beautiful to things that we find disturbing why is it that
that we find disturbing why is it that
that we find disturbing why is it that they used harder forms elicits such a
they used harder forms elicits such a
they used harder forms elicits such a strong range of aesthetic reaction the
strong range of aesthetic reaction the
strong range of aesthetic reaction the other big thing that I’m really
other big thing that I’m really
other big thing that I’m really interested in is the idea of emergence
interested in is the idea of emergence
interested in is the idea of emergence the idea that rich complex structure
the idea that rich complex structure
the idea that rich complex structure ordered or even disordered structure can
ordered or even disordered structure can
ordered or even disordered structure can often come from incredibly simple
often come from incredibly simple
often come from incredibly simple processes so what I’m doing is I’m
processes so what I’m doing is I’m
processes so what I’m doing is I’m writing code in the computer that
writing code in the computer that
writing code in the computer that represents rules for how things grow so
represents rules for how things grow so
represents rules for how things grow so I’ve got two our cells and cells need
I’ve got two our cells and cells need
I’ve got two our cells and cells need food to grow and food can be created by
food to grow and food can be created by
food to grow and food can be created by various different means such as light
various different means such as light
various different means such as light rays coming in from outside hitting
rays coming in from outside hitting
rays coming in from outside hitting cells and the cells they get the most
cells and the cells they get the most
cells and the cells they get the most light rays create the most food and then
light rays create the most food and then
light rays create the most food and then cells can be greedy and take all that
cells can be greedy and take all that
cells can be greedy and take all that food themselves or they can be
food themselves or they can be
food themselves or they can be cooperative and share the food with
cooperative and share the food with
cooperative and share the food with their neighbors
and then various different things could
and then various different things could affect how the cells develop how they
affect how the cells develop how they
affect how the cells develop how they grow such as which direction does a cell
grow such as which direction does a cell
grow such as which direction does a cell splits in when it divides does it split
splits in when it divides does it split
splits in when it divides does it split in the direction of most tension in the
in the direction of most tension in the
in the direction of most tension in the structure or least tension or does the
structure or least tension or does the
structure or least tension or does the curvature of the surface affects
curvature of the surface affects
curvature of the surface affects direction of splitting or gravity so
direction of splitting or gravity so
direction of splitting or gravity so lots of different things all of which
lots of different things all of which
lots of different things all of which could potentially change how things grow
could potentially change how things grow
could potentially change how things grow in interesting but also very difficult
in interesting but also very difficult
in interesting but also very difficult to predict ways so what I’m doing is I’m
to predict ways so what I’m doing is I’m
to predict ways so what I’m doing is I’m writing code in the computer to
writing code in the computer to
writing code in the computer to basically examine explore this space of
basically examine explore this space of
basically examine explore this space of possibilities well you could consider an
possibilities well you could consider an
possibilities well you could consider an artificial biology so what you’re seeing
artificial biology so what you’re seeing
artificial biology so what you’re seeing on the screen are some my simulations
on the screen are some my simulations
on the screen are some my simulations running and they all start with a small
running and they all start with a small
running and they all start with a small ball of just 42 cells and then over time
ball of just 42 cells and then over time
ball of just 42 cells and then over time the cells split and over thousands of
the cells split and over thousands of
the cells split and over thousands of time steps this develops into a
time steps this develops into a
time steps this develops into a structure with over 50 million cells and
structure with over 50 million cells and
structure with over 50 million cells and what I’m doing is I’m influencing things
what I’m doing is I’m influencing things
what I’m doing is I’m influencing things in the way that maybe a plant breeders
in the way that maybe a plant breeders
in the way that maybe a plant breeders could try to create new plant types so I
could try to create new plant types so I
could try to create new plant types so I might grow generates few hundred
might grow generates few hundred
might grow generates few hundred particle seedlings basically forms with
particle seedlings basically forms with
particle seedlings basically forms with a million cells in them and then on
a million cells in them and then on
a million cells in them and then on those seedlings I might look at and
those seedlings I might look at and
those seedlings I might look at and finds okay they’re just a few of them
finds okay they’re just a few of them
finds okay they’re just a few of them that I think look particularly
that I think look particularly
that I think look particularly interesting like a crossbreed them with
interesting like a crossbreed them with
interesting like a crossbreed them with each other to hopefully produce ceilings
each other to hopefully produce ceilings
each other to hopefully produce ceilings which are even more interesting and if I
which are even more interesting and if I
which are even more interesting and if I find a seedling I really like I come
find a seedling I really like I come
find a seedling I really like I come might be able to generate randomness
might be able to generate randomness
might be able to generate randomness around it almost like mutate its
around it almost like mutate its
around it almost like mutate its artificial DNA to see where that produce
artificial DNA to see where that produce
artificial DNA to see where that produce is no more interesting variety around it
is no more interesting variety around it
is no more interesting variety around it so you can see what was what I’m doing
so you can see what was what I’m doing
so you can see what was what I’m doing is more like a artificial version of
is more like a artificial version of
is more like a artificial version of natural selection or you could describe
natural selection or you could describe
natural selection or you could describe as being survival of the intriguing
as being survival of the intriguing
as being survival of the intriguing rather than the survival of the fittest
rather than the survival of the fittest
rather than the survival of the fittest so everything I’ll be showing you so far
so everything I’ll be showing you so far
so everything I’ll be showing you so far all the ill the cells are the same in
all the ill the cells are the same in
all the ill the cells are the same in the structures so just like structures
the structures so just like structures
the structures so just like structures with just one cell type now I’m going to
with just one cell type now I’m going to
with just one cell type now I’m going to show you what happens when you start
show you what happens when you start
show you what happens when you start introducing more cells
introducing more cells
introducing more cells to the structure now she these are
to the structure now she these are
to the structure now she these are structures where I’ve they’re just
structures where I’ve they’re just
structures where I’ve they’re just actually two different cell types where
actually two different cell types where
actually two different cell types where I call hybrid forms so they start with
I call hybrid forms so they start with
I call hybrid forms so they start with skin their small ball of cells but the
skin their small ball of cells but the
skin their small ball of cells but the cell at the top has one set of
cell at the top has one set of
cell at the top has one set of properties and the cell at the bottom
properties and the cell at the bottom
properties and the cell at the bottom has a different set of properties and
has a different set of properties and
has a different set of properties and then over time as the cells develop
then over time as the cells develop
then over time as the cells develop they’ve basically the different cell
they’ve basically the different cell
they’ve basically the different cell types can grow in different ways so
types can grow in different ways so
types can grow in different ways so potentially make different geometries or
potentially make different geometries or
potentially make different geometries or different structures or grow at
different structures or grow at
different structures or grow at different rates
different rates
different rates I think to be compete with each other
I think to be compete with each other
I think to be compete with each other for space as the form grows and I think
for space as the form grows and I think
for space as the form grows and I think that you can see is what you get from in
that you can see is what you get from in
that you can see is what you get from in such a small addition to the system just
such a small addition to the system just
such a small addition to the system just one extra cell in the mix are
one extra cell in the mix are
one extra cell in the mix are surprisingly lifelike structures but
surprisingly lifelike structures but
surprisingly lifelike structures but mostly it really surprised me I mean I
mostly it really surprised me I mean I
mostly it really surprised me I mean I was expecting more variety but the
was expecting more variety but the
was expecting more variety but the structures as bases real emergence
structures as bases real emergence
structures as bases real emergence because I was expecting more variety but
because I was expecting more variety but
because I was expecting more variety but it’s far far richer than I expected it
it’s far far richer than I expected it
it’s far far richer than I expected it would be just introducing one extra cell
would be just introducing one extra cell
would be just introducing one extra cell into the into the system and one idea of
into the into the system and one idea of
into the into the system and one idea of things very interesting this is the idea
things very interesting this is the idea
things very interesting this is the idea that how nature potentially works is by
that how nature potentially works is by
that how nature potentially works is by creating them as a system that can
creating them as a system that can
creating them as a system that can create rich possibilities rich order
create rich possibilities rich order
create rich possibilities rich order what the experimental biologist Stewart
what the experimental biologist Stewart
what the experimental biologist Stewart Kauffman calls order for free and then
Kauffman calls order for free and then
Kauffman calls order for free and then evolution through natural conception can
evolution through natural conception can
evolution through natural conception can basically choose between these
basically choose between these
basically choose between these possibilities instead of having to
possibilities instead of having to
possibilities instead of having to design everything it’s choosing between
design everything it’s choosing between
design everything it’s choosing between possibilities which have Vantage for the
possibilities which have Vantage for the
possibilities which have Vantage for the creature have all things that help it
creature have all things that help it
creature have all things that help it survive and was following this idea
survive and was following this idea
survive and was following this idea could we use similar ideas ourselves
could we use similar ideas ourselves
could we use similar ideas ourselves when we as designing and creating things
when we as designing and creating things
when we as designing and creating things so instead of designing everything for
so instead of designing everything for
so instead of designing everything for the top down was coming up the blueprint
the top down was coming up the blueprint
the top down was coming up the blueprint all the components and how they will
all the components and how they will
all the components and how they will assemble together coming up with the
assemble together coming up with the
assemble together coming up with the process and exploring and trying to
process and exploring and trying to
process and exploring and trying to influence that to do the things that
influence that to do the things that
influence that to do the things that we’re interested in so what I’m next
we’re interested in so what I’m next
we’re interested in so what I’m next going to show you are some the recent
going to show you are some the recent
going to show you are some the recent experiments that I’ve been doing in that
experiments that I’ve been doing in that
experiments that I’ve been doing in that direction where when I’m trying to
direction where when I’m trying to
direction where when I’m trying to create our was like VARs like sculpture
create our was like VARs like sculpture
create our was like VARs like sculpture is that potentially could be fabricated
is that potentially could be fabricated
is that potentially could be fabricated as actually as physical sculptures and
as actually as physical sculptures and
as actually as physical sculptures and what I’ve been intended to work with is
what I’ve been intended to work with is
what I’ve been intended to work with is this robotic machinery that works by
this robotic machinery that works by
this robotic machinery that works by depositing layers of material at a time
depositing layers of material at a time
depositing layers of material at a time and there’s some limits to what you can
and there’s some limits to what you can
and there’s some limits to what you can fabricate with this type of machinery in
fabricate with this type of machinery in
fabricate with this type of machinery in particular so that you can’t have more
particular so that you can’t have more
particular so that you can’t have more than a certain overhang because every
than a certain overhang because every
than a certain overhang because every layer needs to have at least something
layer needs to have at least something
layer needs to have at least something underneath it to support the next layer
underneath it to support the next layer
underneath it to support the next layer so they’re sort of come constraints and
so they’re sort of come constraints and
so they’re sort of come constraints and limits that you can actually fabricate
limits that you can actually fabricate
limits that you can actually fabricate with I’d so what I’m trying to do is
with I’d so what I’m trying to do is
with I’d so what I’m trying to do is influence the growth in the ways they
influence the growth in the ways they
influence the growth in the ways they might try to influence the plant growing
might try to influence the plant growing
might try to influence the plant growing by almost having wires for the blower
by almost having wires for the blower
by almost having wires for the blower plant to grow on or more or less
plant to grow on or more or less
plant to grow on or more or less nutrient in different areas where you
nutrient in different areas where you
nutrient in different areas where you want to encourage the plant to grow in
want to encourage the plant to grow in
want to encourage the plant to grow in some places maybe discourage it in
some places maybe discourage it in
some places maybe discourage it in others so what I wanted to create these
others so what I wanted to create these
others so what I wanted to create these these VARs like structures with was like
these VARs like structures with was like
these VARs like structures with was like a flat bottom and a flat top so I’m
a flat bottom and a flat top so I’m
a flat bottom and a flat top so I’m starting with a tubular structure and
starting with a tubular structure and
starting with a tubular structure and the cells at the top and the cells at
the cells at the top and the cells at
the cells at the top and the cells at the bottom have to basically stay in two
the bottom have to basically stay in two
the bottom have to basically stay in two planes and then their various different
planes and then their various different
planes and then their various different influences which are hopefully going to
influences which are hopefully going to
influences which are hopefully going to modify how it grows to naturally create
modify how it grows to naturally create
modify how it grows to naturally create FAR’s like structures without me
FAR’s like structures without me
FAR’s like structures without me dictating exactly what that means
dictating exactly what that means
dictating exactly what that means so firstly cells towards the top can
so firstly cells towards the top can
so firstly cells towards the top can grow faster than cells towards the
grow faster than cells towards the
grow faster than cells towards the bottom so maybe you’re likely to get
bottom so maybe you’re likely to get
bottom so maybe you’re likely to get shapes which have broader wider at the
shapes which have broader wider at the
shapes which have broader wider at the top and the bottom then the rate of
top and the bottom then the rate of
top and the bottom then the rate of growth can also be affected by as the
growth can also be affected by as the
growth can also be affected by as the cells grow outwards to potentially limit
cells grow outwards to potentially limit
cells grow outwards to potentially limit the growth so that it doesn’t grow too
the growth so that it doesn’t grow too
the growth so that it doesn’t grow too far and then finally also introduced an
far and then finally also introduced an
far and then finally also introduced an influence so based on the angle between
influence so based on the angle between
influence so based on the angle between the cells so as the angle between the
the cells so as the angle between the
the cells so as the angle between the cells gets beyond certain limits that
cells gets beyond certain limits that
cells gets beyond certain limits that can slow down the growth
can slow down the growth
can slow down the growth – hopefully naturally create structures
– hopefully naturally create structures
– hopefully naturally create structures that would be fabric Obul with the
that would be fabric Obul with the
that would be fabric Obul with the machinery that I was intending to use so
machinery that I was intending to use so
machinery that I was intending to use so what I got was I expected but really not
what I got was I expected but really not
what I got was I expected but really not in the way I was at almost hoping
in the way I was at almost hoping
in the way I was at almost hoping originally what I got with these
originally what I got with these
originally what I got with these structures that start growing these was
structures that start growing these was
structures that start growing these was like really intricate branching tendril
like really intricate branching tendril
like really intricate branching tendril like structures and what was happening
like structures and what was happening
like structures and what was happening here there’s actually
here there’s actually
here there’s actually I’ll give my code so that a cell that
I’ll give my code so that a cell that
I’ll give my code so that a cell that sticks slightly a further out than its
sticks slightly a further out than its
sticks slightly a further out than its neighbors tends to grab all the food so
neighbors tends to grab all the food so
neighbors tends to grab all the food so sense be the focus where all the growth
sense be the focus where all the growth
sense be the focus where all the growth happens and also the way that I’ve
happens and also the way that I’ve
happens and also the way that I’ve thought about doing influencing the
thought about doing influencing the
thought about doing influencing the growth based on the angle between the
growth based on the angle between the
growth based on the angle between the cells I hadn’t quite thought through
cells I hadn’t quite thought through
cells I hadn’t quite thought through carefully enough it was having the
carefully enough it was having the
carefully enough it was having the effect of almost solidifying almost like
effect of almost solidifying almost like
effect of almost solidifying almost like making sort of slight solid rock any
making sort of slight solid rock any
making sort of slight solid rock any cells which are tending towards
cells which are tending towards
cells which are tending towards horizontal so basically I’d accidentally
horizontal so basically I’d accidentally
horizontal so basically I’d accidentally created rules to growth these branches
created rules to growth these branches
created rules to growth these branches some real emergence I hadn’t
some real emergence I hadn’t
some real emergence I hadn’t deliberately programmed it to create
deliberately programmed it to create
deliberately programmed it to create these structures the the system almost
these structures the the system almost
these structures the the system almost had exploited my bugs to do it now I do
had exploited my bugs to do it now I do
had exploited my bugs to do it now I do think they re quite beautiful so useless
think they re quite beautiful so useless
think they re quite beautiful so useless to make sculptures with least the
to make sculptures with least the
to make sculptures with least the current machinery has tended to use but
current machinery has tended to use but
current machinery has tended to use but idly just really quite beautiful in
idly just really quite beautiful in
idly just really quite beautiful in their own way and I think also more
their own way and I think also more
their own way and I think also more subtle than if I deliberately tried to
subtle than if I deliberately tried to
subtle than if I deliberately tried to create branching structures I don’t
create branching structures I don’t
create branching structures I don’t think I would have created things
think I would have created things
think I would have created things nearly as interesting and natural and
nearly as interesting and natural and
nearly as interesting and natural and subtle to them so one thing about being
subtle to them so one thing about being
subtle to them so one thing about being arts this has almost become like an
arts this has almost become like an
arts this has almost become like an accidental sort of extra art series so I
accidental sort of extra art series so I
accidental sort of extra art series so I can’t fabricate these are sculptures
can’t fabricate these are sculptures
can’t fabricate these are sculptures they can exist virtually digitally so
they can exist virtually digitally so
they can exist virtually digitally so I’m presenting these as stereoscopic
I’m presenting these as stereoscopic
I’m presenting these as stereoscopic installations so you can perceive them
installations so you can perceive them
installations so you can perceive them three dimensionally but in a virtual
three dimensionally but in a virtual
three dimensionally but in a virtual space I then went back to the code and
space I then went back to the code and
space I then went back to the code and had a look at it and learning from what
had a look at it and learning from what
had a look at it and learning from what I had seen basically fix the bugs and
I had seen basically fix the bugs and
I had seen basically fix the bugs and change the influences and now I’m
change the influences and now I’m
change the influences and now I’m getting forms like these which were much
getting forms like these which were much
getting forms like these which were much more what I was initially hoping for
more what I was initially hoping for
more what I was initially hoping for heavy fabrica build sculptural shapes
heavy fabrica build sculptural shapes
heavy fabrica build sculptural shapes and I’m now actually starting to
and I’m now actually starting to
and I’m now actually starting to fabricate these so these are still at
fabricate these so these are still at
fabricate these so these are still at present just about 40 centimeter high
present just about 40 centimeter high
present just about 40 centimeter high quite small sculptures but I’m hoping
quite small sculptures but I’m hoping
quite small sculptures but I’m hoping now to be able to fabricate these much
now to be able to fabricate these much
now to be able to fabricate these much bigger and I think one thing I’m seeing
bigger and I think one thing I’m seeing
bigger and I think one thing I’m seeing is a really interesting range of natural
is a really interesting range of natural
is a really interesting range of natural form in these structures clearly on
form in these structures clearly on
form in these structures clearly on different growth rates in different
different growth rates in different
different growth rates in different areas seems to produce interesting
areas seems to produce interesting
areas seems to produce interesting variation and contrast of likes
variation and contrast of likes
variation and contrast of likes moving us in detail and also the
moving us in detail and also the
moving us in detail and also the structures often have I think are
structures often have I think are
structures often have I think are potentially eerily interesting
potentially eerily interesting
potentially eerily interesting structural properties things like
structural properties things like
structural properties things like grooves like bark which potentially are
grooves like bark which potentially are
grooves like bark which potentially are really strong when they’re fabricated so
really strong when they’re fabricated so
really strong when they’re fabricated so one thing I’m learning from these
one thing I’m learning from these
one thing I’m learning from these experiments is how powerful this idea of
experiments is how powerful this idea of
experiments is how powerful this idea of emergence is the idea of creating things
emergence is the idea of creating things
emergence is the idea of creating things through generative systems and
through generative systems and
through generative systems and influencing the results another big
influencing the results another big
influencing the results another big thing I’m learning is that you often
thing I’m learning is that you often
thing I’m learning is that you often need to tread quite carefully it’s very
need to tread quite carefully it’s very
need to tread quite carefully it’s very much a process of learning a process of
much a process of learning a process of
much a process of learning a process of discovery finding out what happens and
discovery finding out what happens and
discovery finding out what happens and appropriate ways of influencing with the
appropriate ways of influencing with the
appropriate ways of influencing with the results complex systems are capable of
results complex systems are capable of
results complex systems are capable of doing amazing things there’s also in
doing amazing things there’s also in
doing amazing things there’s also in their nature to do the unexpected
their nature to do the unexpected
their nature to do the unexpected of course this can also be great leading
of course this can also be great leading
of course this can also be great leading you in new directions that you never
you in new directions that you never
you in new directions that you never imagined were possible thank you
imagined were possible thank you
imagined were possible thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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