Creating a form in non-linear dynamic systems
Self-organizing painting involves all painting techniques that use physical attributes of the applied objects to create a form, while these objects produce a non-linear, dynamic system which forms with its temporal course patterns that can be used as motives.
Intermediate and balance states
The principle attribute of this system thus is the dynamics of creating a form by inherent physical forces, which is according to a self-organization of the equivalent materials. Proceeding from an initial state such an dynamic system evolves independently or by regulation from outside, whilst a sequence of intermediate states will be run through until a balance is reached. This balance mostly owns only little interesting aesthetic attributes so that the intermediate states are the motives that are the main interest of the artist. Exceptions are for example certain systems that use the surface stress to drive on the self-organization process and in which a balance is reached that has a bigger complexity than the intermediate states (picture 1).
The tasks of the artist
The tasks of the artist in between this self-organizing process is firstly in the preparation of the used objects which are mostly liquids. The objects are put into physical relation in certain amounts and in certain configurations. This is equivalent to the initial state of the self-organizing.
Proceeding from this initial state develops the process of creating a form, while the artist can influence the self-organization by regulations, like for example adding new objects or physical reconfigurations of existing objects.
The sequence of the single intermediate states is in the most dynamic systems that are examined here, temporal irreversible, e.g. arisen states only appear one time and are lost afterwards. This attribute makes a kind of documentation of the intermediate states necessary, while photographing and filming or video are suitable methods. The task of the artist exists in this relation in the classical decision how to compose, in which he must decide when a cut of an object or of a happening should be photographed or filmed.
The resulting records shall be seen as raw-material, with which the artist goes on working, whilst he involves his subjective evaluations and thus he selects certain records and others he throws away. The chosen material can be used by the artist in many difference ways, whereby the digitalisation and the using of the motives in a further process that is supported by computer is possible. Using motives from a self-organizing painting in a computer aided, evolutionary process exactly is the way that is chosen in my data orientated, computer aided, evolutionary art.
Self-organising and interactive partner
As the material owns its own dynamic in the self-organising process it becomes an active interaction partner in the interpretation of the process of art as interaction or communication (in german).
Another artist who deals with the self-organizing process is Volkhard Stürzbecher from Neustadt an der Weinstraße (Reichert 1996).
Creating patterns by using surface stress
The process of creating a form that is used by Volkhard Stürzbecher, means the creating of patterns by using the surface stress. When two or more liquids meet together with different kinds of surface stresses the try to reach a balance by creating ramified fingers (picture 1).
1) Creating patterns by using surface stress
© 1996 by Spektrum der Wissenschaft
Viscous fingering
Another process of creating a form that is used by Volkhard Stürzbecher is the viscous fingering, in which is a viscous liquid between two glass tops where another liquid with a smaller viscosity is injected. Moving border parts will grow between both liquids which keep on growing like plant structures (picture 2). While the artist chooses the liquid, e.g. fixing the initial conditions, and while the glass tops are drawn away from each other in a certain rhythm, exist possibilities to influence the process of creating patterns.
2) Viscous fingering
© 1996 by Spektrum der Wissenschaft
Reichert, Uwe: Bilder, die sich selber malen - Gestaltbildung in nichtlinearen dynamischen Systemen. In: Spektrum der Wissenschaft, September, 1996, Seite 115.