Earlier this month I was working on an algorithm to modify the rendering perspective on a drawing of a tree. A programmer never gets the expected result the first time: he tries, he adjusts, as a sculptor would push the clay to gradually and organically model the shape he has in mind. When a bug happens, he fixes the program and continues to progress towards his destination.
Generative art by introducing the component of chance does not however ignore everything of its destination. Chance is under control, and that is the whole point: the randomness is not free to destroy a work; the artist imposes as many safeguards as necessary in order to guarantee a result that corresponds to his intent, or at the very least, that doesn’t crash the system.
When this bug, and this image, appeared, I saved the image and rather than modifying the code I archived it along with its precious flaws.
The buggy tree was majestic, as if torn, pierced and yet upright, as if screaming and yet silent. Dignified. Graphically striking, conceptually significant. Figurative and yet abstract.
Chance pointed me at, precisely, where I wanted to go without knowing, or even asking.



— Generative drawing
— Made with wonky Javascript code
— Format JPG 6300 × 4500