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Roman Verostko and the Epigenisis of Algorithmic Art
Margaret Martinez
Art Studio 122 Winter 2004
Professor George Legrady
introductionRoman Verostko is an artist, historian, MCAD Professor Emeritus and a founding member of the informal group of artists, "The Algorists". Working with algorithms and code based programs since the 1980s Verostko creates his art through code and algorithms, which are then visually created through pen plotters which skectch the by-products of his coded creations. Verostko intertwines many aspects of the liberal and scientific arts and looks at his work from a biological point of view, whereupon his algorithms is considered the genotype, and the tangible, physical creations, the phenotype.
terms
epigenetic: chain of developmental processes in epigenesis that lead from genotype to phenotype after the initial action of the genes.
genotype: all or part of the genetic constitution of an individual or group
phenotype: the visible properties of an organism that are produced by the interaction of the genotype and the environment
algorithm: a detailed step by step procedure for carrying out a task
code: instruction or algorithm in its notational form, a specialized language for precisely representing the instruction
the artist
Roman Verostko terms his art as "epigenetic", whereupon the algorithmic program that he has created, "Hodos", is the genotype, or raw physical data produces his works which he regards as the phenotype. Referncing the theories found in automatism and generative art, Verostko believes that his works represent visualizations which exist within the consciousness. His writings make it very clear that it is not the generated image which is the art form, but rather it is his coded procedures which are his true art form. In his essay, "Epigenetic Painting: Software as Genotype, a New Dimension of Art", Verostko explains the processes by which he came to work with computers as well as his form generating program, "Hodos", which consists of a personal computer and a computer driven 14 pen plotter. In a later essay, "Algorithms and the Artist", Verostko explains the influences of algorithmic art, its early foundations and the idea that all art is fundamentally based on coded procedures. Verostko terms his software program, "Hodos", as an integrated program of algorithms written in elementary BASIC with plotter commands in DMPL. What follows is an excerpt from one of his coded algorithms:
RAD(SID)=(INT(RND*(RMAX-RMIN))+RMIN*10
THETA(SID)=INT(RND*(DEGEND-DEGBEG))+DEGBEG
XQ=X1:YQ=Y1
JX(SID)=X1+INT((RAD(SID)*STRETCH)*COS(THETA(SID)*(PI/180))) JY(SID)=Y1+INT((RAD(SID)*SIN(THETA(SID)*(PI/180)))
X1=JX(SID):Y1=JY(SID)
This code determines a loop that specifies the radius, an angle and the co-ordinates for control points in a pen stroke. It is in this manner that one realizes that Verostko's artwork and algorithms deal with the very complexities of the art of drawing. Regarding this aspect of his work the artist has stated that, "When you start working out a procedure for generating a new form you are forced to think in elementary ways about the very nature of the drawing process[...] you learn a lot about how to draw by writing drawing code and you can learn a lot about how to write drawing code, by drawing." In this respect one looks at Verostko's work as not only a representation of algorithmic art, but also as an exploration into the complexities of one of the most fundamental aspects of art making in general. Verostko considers the code for every single line that is represented in his work, and thus, each individual mark of the pen plotter is an art work in and of itself.
links
"Algorithms and the Artist"-http://www.verostko.com/alg-isea94.html
"Epigenetic Painting: Software as Genotype, A New Dimension of Art"-
http://www.verostko.com/epigenet.html
Artist's Statement-http://www.dam.org/verostko/biog2.htm
"Epigenetic Art Revisited: Software as Genotype"-
http://www32.brinkster.com/blueplane/aec03/verostko1.txt