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Tim Armato MFA Images

Thesis Exhibition : December 2004 : Minneapolis College of Art and Design

L-System Triptych 2004
Mixed media

Living Form 2004 Custom software

The goal of my work is not creating objects but creating systems that generate form and aesthetic experience. The physical forms or images we see are simply different manifestations of these processes.

In his book Metacreation: Art and Artificial Life, Mitchel Whitelaw describes such work “that seeks to imitate not only the appearance of nature, but its functional structures.” This contemporary mode of artistic expression was foreshadowed by early 20th century artists such as Paul Klee and Kazimir Malevich in their development of non-objective art. Malevich wrote of abstract form as an approach to nature’s underlying dynamic. Klee exclaimed “…form is the end, death. Form giving is movement, action. Form-giving is life.” It is from this perspective that I generate my work; Inspired by the beauty of natural forms, I am driven to understand the systems that create them. Armed with these techniques I am not limited to merely mimic nature, but to create along with nature.

(Note on L-System Triptych: In a 1968 article Aristid Lindenmayer proposed a mathematical system for describing the branching structure of plants. Now known as L-systems (for Lindenmayer) these forms are related to fractals in that they are recursive and self similar. An advantage of L-systems is that a simple equation can describe a very complex form. Computer modeling of L-systems allows us to “grow” branching structures that develop according to the same rules as their organic counterparts.)
 
1.
L-System Triptych and Living Form (installation view)
Digital mixed-media installation
Variable dimensions
   
2.
L-System Triptych and Living Form (reverse installation view)
3.

L-System Triptych (detail)
Computer animation projected on white acrylic
36" x 48"
4.
L-System Triptych (detail)
Quicktime movie file of projection
5.
L-System Triptych (detail)
Gypsum
4" x 3" x 9"
 close up photo of white twig
6.

Living Form
Custom software compiled as Java applet
640 x 480 pixels

7.
Living Form (installation view)
   
 
Mid Program Exhibition - September 2004
8.
Bifurcating Form Analysis (installation view)
Video projection, twigs, MDF, acrylic, gypsum, laser prints
Variable dimensions
9.
Bifurcating Form Analysis (installation view)
120" x 24" x 48"
10.
Bifurcating Form Analysis
(installation view)
11.
Bifurcating Form Analysis
(detail)
12.
Bifurcating Form Analysis
(detail, 1 of 8)
13.
Bifurcating Form Analysis
(detail, 1 of 8)
Laser prints
12" x 18"
14.

Bifurcating Form Analysis
(installation view)
Video projection of computer animation
48" x 96"
15.

Bifurcating Form Analysis
(installation view)
Quicktime video of projection

   
 
Other Works
16.
Splitting Log   2000
Wood, electric motor
18" x 7" x 5"
17.
Splitting Log
(detail)
18.
Splint   2003
Wood, wire, LEDs, vinyl tube, BASIC Stamp microcontroller, custom software
15" x 8" x 24"
19.
Waterchime   2003
Light sensors, water, acrylic, BASIC Stamp microcontroller, custom software, MIDI electronics, speakers 18" x 24" x 48"
20.
Waterchime
(detail)