24 December 2005
An international visual arts conference aimed at initiating discussion on generative systems in the electronic arts is being held in Melbourne later this month.
Generative systems are used in computer programs that create images and sound automatically from rules set by the programmer, usually inspired by natural factors such as evolution, growth and mutation.
The conference will explore how these systems are being used to model the growth of language and social and cultural networks and the ways in which generative systems have been applied to digital games.
Monash University's Centre for Electronic Media is the major sponsor of Third Iteration, which will feature three high profile international guest speakers -- Mr Casey Reas (US), Mr Peter Bentley (UK) and Ms Machiko Kusahara (Japan).
Held over four days from November 30 -- December 3, Third Iteration will investigate three major themes -- human computer creativity, generative meaning systems and the computational sublime (when the output of generative systems transcend the limits of human perception).
Mr Troy Innocent from the Department of Multimedia and Digital Arts said the conference followed on from First Iteration (1999) and Second Iteration (2001).
Guest speaker Mr Reas is a teacher in design and media arts at the University of California, Los Angeles, and has spent the past 28 years drawing, playing video games and designing information systems. As an artist, Mr Reas has been exploring the use of computers as a medium for artistic exploration.
Dr Bentley is a Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Computer Science, University College London. His research investigates areas including evolutionary algorithms, computational development, artificial immune systems, novel robotics and nanotechnology. Dr Bentley is a well-known international speaker in the field of evolutionary computation.
Ms Kusahara is a scholar in media art and theory who has worked to connect art, science, technology, culture, and history. Since her involvement in computer graphics in early 1980s, Ms Kusahara has received international publishing success in digital media and culture, co-authoring books including The Robot in the Garden and Art and Science.
For further information or interviews contact Mr Troy Innocent on +61 3 9903 2881 or Media Communications on +61 3 9905 9314.
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