Gloomy

Various kinds of drawing machines have been created as works of art throughout history. Harold Cohen, who was highly regarded as a painter, developed AARON by translating his own artistic knowledge into a program. His focus was on the question of how subjects such as humans and plants are structurally composed. As an externalization of the knowledge of a single painter, AARON can be seen as presenting one possible answer to the question of “the value of a machine-made painting,” which inevitably accompanies the existence of drawing machines.

In contrast, this work focuses on how the machine behaves during the act of drawing itself. The program continuously makes real-time decisions based on multiple factors, such as how much time has passed since the drawing began and how much of the surface has already been filled, determining what action to take next. Each resulting drawing is different, covering the entire surface with fairy-like figures possessing faces and limbs. True to its name, Gloomy, the machine continues its process of painting in a seemingly melancholic manner. The work received the Department Award from the Department of Design Informatics at the Musashino Art University Degree Show 2020.