EEGB

Statement

Edmund Eva and George Baldwin studied BA(Hons) Drawing at Falmouth University, first learning the skills and craft of drawing by hand. Later they pushed their understanding of the genre, Baldwin pursuing programming as his medium and Eva building mechanical tools to create imagery. Driven by overlapping interests the two artists formed the research group eegb.

We build machines and robots that draw. We are interested in the anthropomorphic qualities of machines, how the act of drawing applies human traits and characteristics. This in turn instigates a reflection on our own relationship and fascination with mark-making.

We are researching abstract models that use mathematical language to describe the behaviour of a system. These models range from those found throughout the natural world to those describing manmade constructs such as economics, sociology and politics. Each of these systems contain their own intrinsic aesthetic which we can visualise and investigate through drawing.

GlogauAIR Project

The project we propose to Glogau is called ​Gestalt ​ . “Gestalt” is a philosophical principle which refers to our tendency as humans to perceive patterns, order and meaning within chaotic environments. With our Gestalt ​ project we aim to create a swarm of robotic agents which interact with each other. We can alter the behaviour of these agents by introducing algorithms abstracted from natural and human constructs. The agents draw onto a surface mapping their movements. The drawings will be subject to image recognition software. This process emulates the phenomenon of pareidolia in humans by finding and highlighting recognisable forms within the chaotic patina.

This process of drawing and perception is repeated, forming a continual loop of artificial creativity. We utilize and translate data from a variety of sources, ultimately visualising this through the movements and interactions between robotic agents. This process of generating behaviour exposes a method of understanding complex adaptive systems and allows us to exploit the intrinsic aesthetics within.

The performative aspect of this project is a hybrid of virtual and physical representations. By bringing these simulations out of the computer and into the physical world, it enables the work to have an impact which is more attune to the human experience. The aesthetic judgement of the robotic agents is ours but the performance and resulting drawing remains out of our control, an emergent anomaly of the initial algorithms. We hand further creative control over to the image recognition software, Google Deepdream. Deepdream, a form of artificial intelligence perceives forms and structures within the drawings. The A.I sends information to the robotic agents, morphing the drawing into recognisable structures and in turn further altering the A.I’s perception of the image. By having the robotic agents draw we introduce an additive process, an analogue disruption to the A.I’s perception, broadening the concepts of the work by introducing elements of metaphysics, ontology and epistemology.

Gestalt ​ is a project constructed from existential and generative concepts. Deepdream perceives and creates structure and the robotic agent’s perform complex behaviour dictated by simple interactions. These force us to confront the nature of reality and human perception, reflecting on our own compulsions to understand and organise our surroundings. The abstraction of natural behaviour and the use of Deepdream forms a creative process, producing investigative drawings and performances. These form a rich resource in which to study a facet of artificial creativity.

CV Summary

Education

• George- b. 1991, United Kingdom
  • Falmouth University
  • BA (Hons) Drawing 2014
  • Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art & Design) 2011
• Edmund- b. 1991, United Kingdom
  • Falmouth University
  • BA (Hons) Drawing 2014
  • Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art & Design) 2011

Exhibitions

• Golden Thread Gallery, “Analogues” Belfast 2015
• Catalyst Gallery, “Generate” Belfast 2015
• BP Loud Tate “Code” London 2014
• RK Burt showcase “Scope” London 2014
• Fascinate Digital Arts Conference, Falmouth 2014
• BA(hons) Drawing Degree Show, Falmouth 2014
• The Ariel Gallery “Render” Totnes 2012
• RK Burt “Render” London 2012

Residencies

• Digital Art Studios, Belfast, Spring 2015

Publications

• Visual Artist Ireland Digital art enthusiasts 2015
• Ba Drawing Catalogue 2014
• How does complexity emerge 2014
• An exploration of the systems drawing genre and the technological influences 2014

Funding Awarded

• Digital Arts Studios equipment grant 2015
• IdeasTap Innovators Fund 2015
• Fascinate Conference 2015

Gallery